, 1866-11-22
WHEN SHALL THE EOEkTlETH
CONGRESS- MEETf

It L. conceded by all that the people, In |
giving 10 the Republican party the nu1neri- ]
cal strength in both branches Of Congress to
control and dictate the entire policy Of the |
Government, will hold that party rcsponsi-
bic for tho manner in which they execute the |
trust. Andrew johnson confesses that
henceforth during his term he will be bNt 4
cyphcr In the administration Of nattoEal at-
fairs. The opposition have not only the
power 10 defeat all his measures, but they
have the power to carry on the Government
utterly regardless Of his existence. They
have the power to enact all laws over Ills
| vetoes, aud the power at any moment to dis
miss him should he hesitate or fail in exc
| cutting the will of the Legislature. Hc may
| then truly say that he is no longer responsi-
| bic for the policy of the Government, be.
| cause all control in that Government has
been taken from his hands by the people aud
transferred to Congress.
! The people did not effect this revolution
| by accident. They did not do it blindly nor
without purpose. They did it deliberately
and with full consciousness of What they
were doing. They intended by their act to
enable Congress to conduct the Government
with the cooperation Of the Executive If
possible, but whether he co-opernted With
Government. They elected the Fortieth
Congress with the ayoEed intent that that
Congress should dictate the entire policy Of
the Government, civil. military, foreign and
domestic. In the transfer Of the power was Of
coursc inyolycd q transfer Of the RESPONSE
bility.
The Forticth Congress, however, Will not.
according to Law, assemble until December,
1867. The present Congress will expire oil.
cia1lv on the Sd of March. 1867. Between
these two dates the long period Of niue
months will intervene. and, unicss some pre-
ycntivc measures be taken this session, An
drew johnson will have that whole season in
which to swing around the circle in his own
peculiar mode. The Constitution provides
that Congress shall meet at least once IL
every year, and tic session shall commence
| on the first Monday in December, unless d
different day is appointed by law. There Is
therefore, no constitutional difficulty
| in the way Of providing by laN
for the meeting Of the Forfeit
Congress on the first day Of May, 1867. J.
can then meet, and organize and rcgulnt,
its own adjourlmcnts. We can imagine II
: more wholesome rcstratnt upon Anascv
+ johnson than the presence in Washington o
I Congress, and when it is considered that til
II people have directly delegated to Coasres
i the duty OF governing tue country, can Con
5 gress safely undertake to discharge that dut
n by leaving the Government in the hands c
= Andrew johnson during the long yacatio
n from March to Dcccmbere Had Congress
o been in session III the Summer Of 1865, whe
!. the President put his reconstruction polio
/. into operation, wo would have had none {
Is the subsequent troubles. The whole bus
Le ncEs would have been disposed of a yes
,c since. He took advantage Of the long rece:
il Of Congress to inaugurate all the mischi
,c which has since perplexcd and Injured tt
Is country. Warned by the experience Of IL
l. past, and by the desperate spirit Of the maj
d. will Congress be doing its duty to tt
country by giving him like opportunil
b | again?
is We suggest, then, the wisdom, as Pr
Of cautionary measure, Of the present Congre
is providing by law Tor the meeting Of the Fo
of tieth Congress on the first Of May OF Jut
Y, next. The iutersegnum between the close
ID the present and commencement Of the ne:
Of session ought not to be OF any serious
ut ! dangerous length. We do not propose tn
be that Congrcseshall be continuously in sessio
cr But It should be called into official e1isten
be ut an early day, and then 1t could provi'
be for the protection Of the country, and be
Il. check upon the usurpations of the Presidel
to II would add nothing seriously to the cost
th Congress, because members arc now paid
be the ycar, and the saving 10 the country
M other respects may prove Of the most II
.te | portnut character. We make the suggcsti0
at | and believe that II will strike the count
lar | fayora 1ly