Mexico weekly ledger., 1892-12-08
MEXICO MISSOURI, 8,
EXTRA sEss,oNs OF CONGRESS-.

EXTRA SESSlONS OF CONGRESS-
| The constitution provides tha
1.-THE congress shall assemble at leas
once in every year, and such meet
ing shall be on the first Monday o
December, unless they shall by Law
appoint different day." 1t further
provides that the president "may
on extraordinary occasions, convene
both houses, or either of them.
Under the first of these provision.
congress has frequently changed the
date for its meeting. The eleventh
and fourteenth congresses assembled
on the fourth Monday of May and
kept in session greater part of the
time, owing to our threatening rela.
tions with England and the war oi
1912 that followed. Twice the first
Monday in November has been ap-
pointed, and three times the 4th OF
March.
Under the second provision of the
constitution above quoted the power
OF the president to convene congress
in special session has been exercised
four times-by John Adams, Van
Buren, William Henry Harrison and
Lincoln. Two of these were on the
occasion of threatened war and two
on account of the financial condition
of the country.
No sooner was Adams inaugural
ed on the 4th of March, 1897, than
word was received that the revolu-
tionary government of France would
not receive our minister, Charles
Cotesworth Pinckney, until the
American government had redress
ed the grievances complained of by
France. Pinckney remained in
Paris for time, hoping to bring
about better understanding, but
was finally compelled to leave after
being threatened with arrest. This
news set the American people in a
blaze and Adams by proclamation
summoned congress to meet on the
31st of May. When that body met,
measures were adopted for the
national defense, and it will be re-
membered that in the irregular
war that followed our infant navy
won its first laurels against the
French.
The next occasion was after Van
Buren's Inauguration in March,
1887. The fight with the United
States Bank was over and the
monster had been slain, but in its
place there had sprung up all over
the country All innumerable host of
state banks. Distribution among
the states of the proceeds from the
sales of public lands had been made,
and then followed a wild era of
speculation. The bubble burst
about the 1st of April, 1887. and a
great financial distress fell upon the
whole country. Under this pressure
Van Buren, on the 18th of May,
convened congress in extra session
for the first Monday of September.
At that session the sub-treasury bill
was passed and some other measures
looking to the relief of the people
adopted.
AS result of the revulsion of
1887 Van Buren was overwhelming
ly defeated in 1910, and for the first
time the Wings came into power.
fore Harrison arrived in Washington
to take his seat the Wing leaders
under the impatient urgency of Clay
had resolved upon an extra session.
Having a majority in both branches
Of congress, they determined with
out delay to repeal the sub-treasury
to restore the United States Bank
and adopt a high protective tariff.
No sooner, therefore, was Harrison
installed than he issued his procla-
nation calling congress to assemble
on the 31st of May. Before that
time he himself had fallen a victim
to the cormorant office seekers, and
congress was met by John Tyler, a
very different person, as the Wings
found out, from the pliable Harri-
son. The history of that formidable
duel between the Wing congress
and the states-rights Tyler is "writ
large" in the annals of the United
States.
The last time congress was con-
vened by a president was the day
of the fall of Sumter. 1t met
on the following 4th of July. Its
history is too recent to be dwelt on
here.
The Fulton Telegraph says: The