The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-21
Important from WashingtOn-The Question
Dec lSleSl ARalnst an Eura Session.


The President, after several days considera-
ton of the subject in Cabinet Council, has
concluded to dispense with an extra session of
Congress. This decision being the result of
deliberations limited to the financial embsrrass-
ments of the Post Office Department, caused by
the failure of the appropriations from Congress
required for the support of this important service,
it is evident that the question of an extra ses-
sion, touching the critical complications Of the
affairs of Mexico and Central America, is still sub
ject to the Developments and exigencies which
may arise from day to day during the next three
or four months.
The administration, ii thus appears, has deter
mined to assume the heavy task of weathering
the storm without any appropriations for the
postal service, with deficient financial resources
in other respects, aud without any authority or
encouragement from Congress to interpose for
the maintenance Of our rights, or the redress of
our wrongs, whatever may be the provocations
or invitations that may be given us touching
Mexico. Central America or Cuba We presume
that in this decision the President has been, to a
great extent, controlled by the distressed and
pitiful condition of the poor chopiallen demo-
cratic party. With all the efforts and plots Of
the factious leaders and President makers of the
party of the last two years to break down his
adm nistration, Mr.. Buchanan is still inclined to
the exercise Of forgiveness and charity. He is
under no obligations to the party, he has no
favors to ask, nothing to fear from it, and very
little to expect; but as an extra session would
probably be to the party the last parcel which
breaks the camel's back. he will not if he can
help it, saddle the poor beast with the fatal
burden.
1t is generally believed that an extra session
would result in an opposition organization of
the House of Representatives. including an oppo-
sition Speaker for the whole of the next Congress
And when We come to consider the fact, that the
new House may be called upon to eject the next
President Of the United States the organization of
the House becomes a most interesting and i'm
portant matter 1t is supposed. too, that by
holding off till December, the Southern demo-
cracy may be sufficiently restored to their senses
to be competent to save the House, aud thus,
perhaps, the next President. 1t is bare chance;
but as chance. it is something worth looking
after in behalf of the forlorn democracy. And
thus, while the treacherOus and rebelious leaders
and managers of the party in Congress have not
deserved this act of executive olemency In regard
to an extra session, the act should only the more
powerfully operate to bring all concerned to a
realizing sense of their obligations to the admin
istration.
The political events of the next summer in
Europe in connection with the important oues-
ton of the naval and commercial balance of
power in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean
Sea- may reverse the Presidents decision and pre-
cipitate upon him the inevitable alternative of an
extraordinary call upon Congress We know not
what day may bring forth, for revolution and
reconstruction are the orders Of the day, visibly
working, in various forms and combinations
throughout the civilized world.