The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-08-01
OTHER EXTRA SESSIONS.
Only Eleven Have Been Previously Called
in the Country's History.


Mr.. Cleveland's call for an extra ses-
sion issued yesterday was the twelfth
proclamation of that character put
forth since the foundation of the gov
ernment. There is no better informed
man on the history of extra sessions
| that have assembled than Mr. Harry
II. Smith, Assistant Register Of the
Treasury and late Journal Clerk Of the
House of Representatives, who gave to
a Post reporter some timely facts last
evening
The first extra session called was by
President John Adams, TO meet on
May Is, 1897, in view of the suspension
of diplomatic relations with France. 1t
adjourned on July 10, the same year.
The second session assembled at the
call of President Jefferson, and con-
veued October II, 1903, being called on
account of trouble growing out OF the
cession of Louisiana by Spain to France,
ajjourning March 81, 1904.
The next extra session was called by
Mr.. Jefferson, and convened October
26, 1907, having been made necessary
by our disturbances with Great Britain.
The fourth extra session convened,
In response to proclamation by Presi-
dent Madison, on November 4, 1911,
the call having been issued July "a.
The meeting lasted until July 6, 1912,
and was also made necessary by dis
turbed relations with Great Britain.
Mr.. Madison called another session
to convene September 10, 1914, the ses-
sion lasting until March 3, 1915.
President Van Buren, called the sixth
extra session of Congress to convene
September 4, 1887, q period Of twenty
three years having elapsed since such
action had been taken. Itlasted forty
three days, and was called on account
of the suspension Of specie payment
and the generally serious condition Of
the country's finances.
The seventh extra session wa con
vened by President Harrison on May
81, 1841, the proclamation having been
issued on the 18th Of March as a result
Of the threatening condition OF the
country's finances and revenues. This
case was perhaps more analogous to
the present situation than any other
extra session
On the 21st of August 1886. the
eighth extra session, called by Presi
dent Pierce, met on account of a failure
in the previous session to make appro-
priation for the army, as a result of
the Kansas trouble. The Wings, who
had control of the House, had put a
''rider" on the army bill forbidding the
using of troops to enforce what was
known as the LIE Compton constitution,
which caused the bill to fail. The extra
session thus called lasted but nine days
and the bill became law without the
rider"
President Lincoln called the ninth
session to meet on July 4, 1861, the
cause being the insurrection in the
Southern States. It lasted thirty-four
days.
The tenth extra session was called
by President Hayes, for October Is,
1877, on account Of the failure OF the
previous session to make appropria-
tions for the army. The Democrats
controlled the House and the Republi
crns the Senate, the latter refusing to
agree to a rider" go called, in respect
to the using of tloops at the polls.
The last extra session was convened
March 18, 1879, having been called by
President Hayes By reason of the fail
ure of the Forty fifth Congress to make
appropriations for the legislative,
executive and judicial depar m3nts, as
well as the army expenses. >
The general idea that thirty days
notice is required to call an extra ses-
sion together is erroneous. It was the
practice in the early days Of the coun-
try, when means of transportation and
communication were slow, to give a
notice of two or three months, but the
Forty third Congress was called on a
notice Of but three days, while an ex
ira session called by President Hayes
assembled on a notice of fourteen days.
Washington Post.
MADISON COUNTY MEETING.