The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-11-19
Meeting Of Congress ss-President Message.

1t has been announced that the President is
engaged upon message to Congress, to be pre-
sented upon an early day to the adjourned session
that convenes on the 21st instant. This announ-
cement does not appear to have any valid toun-
dation There is, in fact, good reason for saying
Mr. johnson has not commenced the preparation
of any such message, and that it is not well set
tied that he will communicate to Congress the
information of the state of the Union, at all
events until some time during the regular session.
1t should be borne i'm mind that the Noyem-
Der session can last but eleven days, including
Sundays, and that there will be but nine work
ing days before the regular constitutional Decem-
Der session must commence. The constitution
says that 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 Congress has not ap-
pointed different day, but has enacted that in
addition to the present regular times OF meeting:
there shall be meeting, etc. etc.
The cOhling November session must therefore
djourn by noon of Monday, December I'd, and
commence regular session at that hour. If
The President shall have any measure that he
deems necessary and expedient to recommend to
Congress for their consideration, they will be
communicated at about the usual period, proba-
bly, in December.
Under the existing provisions ofthe laws there
are several difficulties presented If Congress
shall pass act early as the 2lst day Of
November, the President cannot hold the bill
for the constitutional term of ten days, during
the November session. because after excluding
Sundays, there can be but nine days LEFT; so,
likewise, in the tenure of Office law, which pro-
vides that the President shall report the suspen-
sons of officers and appointments their success
;fbi H.>S aft yoftb tb.,
next meeting of the Senate. By the time that
half of these twenty days shall have expired the
November session must cease by limitation of
law. Such are some of the legal Inconsistencies
which it is argued have resulted from the recent
congressional legislation, and which, it is under
stood, are to be considered in Cabinet tomorrow.
with the view of determining. if possible, what
course the Executive shall adopt to best meet
the requirements of the constitution and the
purposes of late acts of Congress. ...
he report of General Grant in answer to the
inquiry of the President what number of troops
are stationed within the Department of Wash
ington, shows that the whole force amounts to
but little over nineteen hundred men. all told.
in the States Of Maryland and Delaware the
District of Columbia and two counties Of Virginia.
There are three national railway bills awaiting
the action of Congress: First. The Galveston.
Kansas and Little Rock Railroad, eight hundred
miles long. Second. A freight thorouehf;sre
from the Mississippi to the Atlantic, with depots
at New York, Philadelphia and Boston, and
Third. a coal road from the Eastern shore of
New Jersey to the mining regions Of Pennsyl
vania. There will also be presented bills for
railway from Beaufort, S. c., to Raleigh. n. c.,
and thence to Cumberland Gap and Wytheville,
Va, and a connection with the Georgia State
road at Atlanta, and thence to Savannah or
Brunswick