The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1866-07-21
VOL. XXYI.---NO. /.
Provision for bling.

Several months will elapsc before the
usual time for Congress to re-a assemble
what surfing and periio"s ctcHtS may not
an the mean time occHr ? How entirely the
aspect of affairs may change! AS much as
by the sudden death of President Lincoln!
As much as by the transformation OF the
loudcst nvokcr Of vengeance upon traitors
into their protector and best friend AS
much as by the secession of South Carolina
aud the bombardmcrt Of Fort SUMTER
Andrew johnson may make another descent
in his terrible fall, and his prime minister
may be in ectasies over it, There may be II
more shameless dcScrion by the Govern
Inent of ''the nation wards now so mad
equatcly protected. There may be the out
harSt of a more open and bloody prosecution
of loyal men at the South, or Of that new
resistance to national authority which has
been threatened. We would not anticipate
evil but we ought to be able to meet 1t at
once, if it shall come.
When Abraham Lincoln was OH the l'r"Sl-
dental watch-towcr. he could be trusted to
give faithful warning Of national danger,
and to summon, if needed, the National
Legislature. But now the President is the
very one through whom danger is to be cs
pecially feared; and can he be trusted to
call Congress together for the express pur-
pose Ct acting against himself? Yes, when
Il general will send notice to the opposing
army of an intended nlght.attack.- when
wolves will rouse the shepherds to defend
the flock against their assault.
The Constitution makes the following pro
visions in regard to the assembling and adj
journment of Congress -
"'The Congress shall assemble at least once
in every year; and such meeting shall be on
the first Monday in December, unless they
shall by law appoint different day. "--lH
/, See. t.
Neither House, during the session of
Congress, shall, without the consent of the
other adjourn for more than three days, nor
to any other place than that in which the
two Houses shall be sitting. '-IH /, See !.
ale 1.-THE PRESIDENT may, ON cXtraord-
nary occasions, convene both Houses, or
either Of them. and, in case of disagreement
between them with respect to the time OF
adjournment, he may adjourn them to such
a time as he shall think proper. ''-4H. II,
Sec 3.
However extreme the necessity, there is
now no provision for the re-asscmbing of
Congress before the first Monday Of Decem.
Der, except by summons by the President -
And the greater the necessity, the less in
nined he may be, we have reason to fear, to
issue the summons. If then Congress shall
adjourn, as is now expected, is it not of i'm
perative obligation that they should make
some provision for immediate re-assrmbling,
should Il crisis demanding it occur?
How can this provision he made. is it
asked? We suggest one mode: perhaps II
better will occur to others let the trO
;ioHSeS appoint a JojM C0mmNtcc Of their
best members, the most watchIul, trHSty, and
.judlciouS, say fifteen in number, who shall
continue in session, or hold frequent meet
ings during tho recess: and let tie H,uSc
ddjoHrn subject to the call Of this Committee.
There is nothing in this mode that is not
entirely constitutional Congress must hold
at least ono meeting in each year; but there
is nothing to forbid its holding as many more
as it may please; and at such times, fixed
Or conditional, as it may please. If the two
Houses agree, they may adjourn to such
time and place as they may choose consist
emily with the constitutional provision for a
single annual mrcting1 and these to be de.
termined either by their own definite vote.
or by the Judgment Of Committee to whom
the power OF summons might be committed.
We can conceive Of eNigencicS in which it
might b" important that this Committee
should have the power of assembling Con-
grcss, as in its carly history, at some other
place than Washington. Indeed there is
no" ah express III" IoF 'hSIF m'ellI5 else
where, in certain circumstances.
\ provision such AS we suggest might in
various ways be very useful to the country
during the recess. it would, without doubt,
tend to prevent the very exigcncy against
which it would provide. For Congress to
adjourn for months. without some provision
OF this kind would seem to Us. in the cir
cumSlances. Il &irdnge and incrcuSaJlc nc
gicct, JraU3M rdh peril In the n0tion.
Tile Right Way.