The New York herald., 1874-11-18
n. Approaching Session OF Congress.

Our respected contemporary. the Erening
Post. continues to urge the expediency of a
session Of the new Congress, to commence on
the &th Of March. But. as there is to be an
intervening session OF the present expiring
Congress. II seems TO rs that the Post would
be more usefully employed just now in giving
sound advice to the body which is about to
assemble. A March session, even If its ex-
pediency were conceded. is not q subject
which need engage the early attention OF the
national Legislature. A law requiring an
nnal sessions in March might as well be
passed In February as At an earlier period Of
the session. aud in the last days Of February
both Congress and the public will be in bet
ter position 10 judge o. the necessity Of such
tho duty q every Congress. assemble at what
times IL may. 10 supply defects in the existing
legislation a the country. and whether
tins Congress wlll 70 far fail IN It's duty as to
call for the immediate convening of its
successor - a question which cannot be
intolligently answered until the approach
ing session Is so near its close as TO enable
the country 10 see what duties il Is likely to
leave unperformed II this Congress should
discharge lie trust with reasonable efficiency
there will be no reason, and therefore no justi-
hcation. for new legislation in March. We
humbiy conceive that the proper business Of
Congress Is not to s.show hands," or execute
partisan nsan9uvres- would be BE-
meath the dignity of so high and grave
body--but 20 pass needful laws. When the
Post advocates March session IL is bound TO
show what the specific laws are which ought
then 10 be enacted But be their character
~hst they may. ii Is equally the business Of
the present Congress 20 enact them at its APP
preaching session. and, until II 10 clearly APP
parent that they will not we do not perceive
the pertinence Of arguments for March ses-
sion. At any rate. IL i'll becomes . republican
journal to virtually declare in advance that
the expiring republican Congress cannot be
expected 10 do its duty.
In Andrew Johnson's time Congress passed
law requiring each new Congress TO assem-
BILE and organize on the next day after expirs-
ton of the old one. II will not be main
tanned by republicans that the reasons for
that act have any existence now. The assem-
bling Of the new Congress was an act Of hos
tility to the President and a declaration that
he could not be trusted without the jealous
guardianship Of Congress There is no reason
for supposing that the republican Congress
about to meet thinks il would be advisable to
exercise the same insulting surveillance over
hat n ,ts
predecessors practised upon President John
son. But unless some special object is to be
accomplished there is no excuse for March
session. For ordinary Legislative purposes .
spring session is inconvenient and unncccs-
sary, as the experience OF seventy-6ve years
has demonstrated The constitution re-
quires annual sessions and fixes their CON-
mencement on the first Monday in
December, unless Congress by Law mp
points a different day. So great is the
convenience Of beginning the regular an
nual session in December. that even while the
law passed to curb Andrew johnson was in
force Congress continued to meet on the first
mess was transacted during those sessions. The
Evening Post cannot expect in the light Of his
tory and experience, that the national legisla-
ton will ever be transacted during annual
sessions beginning in March, and the new law
it advocates can be intended only for the
nonce, to answer a transient purpose Of
party annoyance. Does it beseem the gravity
and dignity of our respectable republican
contemporary to recommend the conyening Of
Congress at an unusual and inconvenient time
for other purposes than legislation, its only
proper business?
True friends Of the republican party. as
well as true patriots, should rather recon-
mend the passage of such measures during
the approaching winter as would dispense
with all necessity for either an extra session
or the convening of Congress at an extra
ordinary time. 1t is important that the most
be made of the brief interval during which
the legislative department remains in har-
mony with itself After the 4th Of March
there will be two years of discord between
the branches of the law-making power, and il
the republican party were wise it would bend
all its efforts to make the most Of this session.
Even if it be expedient, as the Post thinks,
to unmask and embarrags the democrats this
could be done with greater dignity and effect
by more straightforward methods than bear
batting extra session. ostensibly for legisla-
ton, but really to reconnoitre the political
enemy. A journal SO jealous for abstract
principles would act more in character If il
would tell this Congress by what measures,
passed at session when its power will be un-
obstructed, it might command and deserve a
renewal of public confidence. If the President
will reconstruct his Cabinet and bring into il
the foremost statesmen of his party, so that
his recommendations to Congress will be sup.
ported by great and united weight of polti-
cal authority, the HERALD would gladly join