Middletown transcript., 1869-12-11
CenErss.-Ths Mes.age-Departm,t Rsport,

censress-rhe Message-Departm't Reports
The second session of the 10th Congress
commenced at Washington on Monday.
A quorum was present in both Houses.
Messrs. Sumner and Drake both brought
in bills, on the first day of the session, to
deprive the Supreme Court of the United
States of the power to declare invalid any
act or resolution of Congress. If these
bills pass, the Judicial department of the
Government will have been annihilated at
a single stroke. The Constitution, the
organic law Of the land, seems to have no
more power to restrain or control the ac-
tion of this body, than if there was no
such instrument. The will of Congress
has become the supreme law of the land,
and if this revolutionary body is not check
cd in its course, the whole structure of
our government viii be changed.
The first annual message of President
Grant was communicated to both Houses
on the first day of the session. It was in
manuscript. the President having pru-
IDENTIFY kept it out of the. hands of the prin-
ters, to prevent it from being stolen and
published in all the daily papers before its
delivery to Congress. The document is
not as brief as We expected it would be,
its volume being very respectable. 1t has
been variously received and commented
upon by the press, according to political
bias, some indulging in fulsome, indis-
criminate praise, others in censure. The
message is plain but comprehensive state
paper without any rhetorical pretension,
just such an one, in this respect, as we
expected from President Grant, who is a
plain man, and unqualified, both by edu-
cation and profession, for any very bril-
liant achievements in the field of literary
composition. Its main features are, a re-
commcndation of return to specie pay-
ments, resumption of negotiations upon
the Alabama claims, the construction of n
canal across the isthmus of Darien. strict
neutrality towards Cuba, the admission Of
virginia and the rejection of Georgia, the
continuation of the odious income tax. the
payment of the whole public debt in coin,
and the repeal of the obnoxious Tcnure-of-
ONCE Act. This act, it will be remem-
oered' was passed by the Radicals in Con-
gross to put shackles upon the wrists Of
PRESIDENT johnson, and the present wear
er, feeling them chafng him sorely, cries
out against the abrasion. The act will be
repealed, and would never have been pass.
cd had enlightened statesmen instead Of
vindictive factionists held seats in the
halls of Congress
The message and accompanying docu-
ments from the several heads of depart.
ments embody vast amount of informa.
tion exhibiting the entire operations of the
government in all its branches. Had VIC
space we would like to spread these docu,
ments before our readers in erteaso. Blu,
we must content ourselves with the brief
est mention of them, knowing that mos
OF our readers have access to them through
the daily journals.
The report of the Postmaster General i.
On able state paper containing suggestion.
of several much needed reforms. Mr.
Creswell urges Congress to abolish tn,
franking privilege, which is exercised By
more than 10000 officials, at an expens,
to the country of S., 900. 900. This don,
and the Post Office Department would b,
self-sustaining. The revenue for the fis
= cal year ending june Both, was $18, ,344,
$40; the expenditures $23, ,69S, 131, show
ing deficit of $5.353, ,921. The sug
gestion of the repeal of the franking priv
ilege is good one, but Congress vii
probably shrug its shoulders and leav
things as they are. It will adjourn, it i
believed, about the 18th, until some tim
in January.
1t is stated that the Ways and Mean