The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-08-13
TIE RECESS GE C0NGRESS.

Mr.. Eoratio Seymour devotes much
space in his letter to q dcuunclatlOn OF
the action OF Congress IN adJournlng from
july to September, instead of December.
According to hi1u it is an ;,ct of despotlsln
for the representatives. of the people,
elected less than two years ago, to hold
themselves legally IN readiness to act as a
National Legislature. But who, that
does not contemplate crime, looks upon
the possibility that Congress mag be in
session with dread? The fact that the
National legislature will meet in Sep
telnber, il necessity demands, may be the
very means OF ayertlng civil war at the
South. There are those there who can
not waltuntll Seymour election, to strike
a blow for independence. The presence
! of Congress is wholesome restraint upon
these ex-rebels, who have learned at last
| that it can find means to execute the laws
| 1t is beca use Is action serves as a restraint
upon his Southern friends that Sey-
mour beWaIlS it so knowingly.
| The constitutional provisions relating
| to the meetings and adjournments of
| Congress are the same now that they have
always BEEN The trainers of the consti-
tuition took especial pains to confer upon
the National Legislature full power to
regulate their meetings and separations,
free from all interference of the Execu-
! tive The early Congresses, which. pos
siDly, had as many patriotic men in them
as the Dem cratic Convention, and men
| who knew their duty TO the people, never
consulted with the President rs to when
they should meet. They never adjourned
! for any length of time without notifying
him Of their intention, but always acted
upon their own Judgment as to the fitness
of things. Thus, the First Congress met
| in March, 1880, and remained in session
2l0 days, until September 30, when they
adjourned until January 1870, when they
remained in session until August-22l
days They then adjourned until Decem-
Der, and remained in session until March
when Congress expired. During all this
Senate sat behind locked doors, and
the House of Representatives was fire.
quently in secret session In 1871 they
met in October, and adjourned in May,
| 1892, until November following. In 1898
they met in December and adjourned In
June, 1894, until November following.
| The Fourth Congress adjourned in March,
| 1897, and the Fifth metin May following,
adjourned in July to November OF the
same year, when they met and remained
in session until July, 1899, thus holding
one of the longest sessl0ns-246 days-on
record.
The first sessions of the Eighth Con-
gress commenced by previous adjourn
ments, in October and November of the
Ninth, in December; Of the Tenth, in
October and November; of the Eleventh
in May, November and December; of the
Thirteenth, in May, December and Sep
tember.
When the two houses felt it to be fol
their convenience or for the public interest
that they should adjourn to fixed day,
they did not hesitate to do 50 and they
have always resented every act of dictation
or interference with their resolutions on
this point by the Executive or by anybody
else They held themselves to be the
representatives. ofthe people, and believed
it to be their duty to meet and remain in
session whenever, in their opinion, the
public might need prompt and vigorous
action.
In those days of national purity nc
statesman sought the Presidency or the
Vice Presidency who was pledged to treat
the laws of Congress as a nulllty, and
who sought to justify his threats by the pit
iful plea that the representatives of the
people assumed "a menacing attitude
because they made provision for reassem-
bling in case the public interests required
it. Such statesmen are the growth of the
rebellion which made bloodshed and vio-
lence heroical, and exalted assassination
and cowarlly brutality into patriotic vir-
tues. Chtcdgo Tribune.