The Helena independent., 1893-07-01
BUT TEN EXTRA SESSIONS
The Number That Havo Been Held
UP to the Present
Time.
Eight Presidents Before Cleveland
Called Congress to Meet
Emergencies.
John Adams Was tho First to Do 1t and
Rutherford u. Hayes Was tho
9 Last.

President Cleveland's call for an extra
session of congress in August has induced
those most interested. whether opposed to
tho idea or not. TO hunt up the causes which
have led other presidents to issue special
summons TO tho senate and house OF repre-.
sentatives. 1t is expected that the coming
extra session will be principally devoted to
the repeal of the sherman silver law, and
to the framing. discussion and passage OF
general tariff bill. A glance Mt the records
of the nation for the past century reveals
the fact that no extraoid dinnry meeting has
ever been held for the express purpose OF
revising tho thrift, In nearly every instance
of the calling of IN extra session the causes
assigned were the raising of troops and
money. the prosecution of n wax. the settle
ment of international disputes or tho max
iup of appropriations refused ut previous
sessions. Only eight presidentshav found
1t necessary to summon congress together
to meet emergencies. These we're John
Adams. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison
(twioe), Martin VanBuren, "Old Tippe-
canoe" Harrison. franklin Pierce, Abra-
ham Lincoln and Rutherford b. Hayes
(twice).
The revolution OF 1776 had ended, and
the independence of the American colonists
had been acknowledged by Great Britain.
when our governments became involved in
perplexing controversy with France. John
Adams was then president. France had be-
come a republic. and because of lthe dis
pute between America and France, James
Monroe, our minister to that country, WAS
of u
Carolina, was sent in his place. After
Mon 90 had sailed for this country tho
French government announced its inten-
ton to receive no mole American ministers
until gyiey snces alleged to have been suf-
fcred under the celebrated DAY treaty had
been redressed. When Minister Pinckney
reached Paris he was ordered TO leave the
county, at once.
President Adams. on hearing of this,
called an extra session of Congress for May
Is 1897. 1t met in Philadelphia. In his
message President Adams notified congress
Of has intention to send to France COM
mission, with authority to treat for peace.
Congress acquiescsd. The commission had
hardly landed when 1t was ordered to quit
French territory or 1t would be elected BY
force. All relations with France were
broken of, and preparations for war begun.
Two regular sessions of congress inter-
vened, at which no formal declaration of
war were made. Soon after, Napoleon
averted. Thomas Jefferson found it i'm
perative to summon congress for an extra
ordinary session on July II, 1903. to con-
slider the purchase OF Loui1ana. James
Monroe. who had meantime taken advant-
age of Frances need Of cash in order TO re-
new her war with Great Britain. secured
pledge from France to sell Louisiana for
100000. Congress ratified the bargain
and mads appropriations for the purchase.
President Jefferson. on July 30, 1907, pro-
voked by English depredations uvon Amet-
lean merchantmen. issued proclamation
warning all British armed vessels to keep
out Of American ports. He also called
congress in extraordinary session on Oct.
26 of the same year and recommended the
passage OF a bill providing that American
vessels should be prohibited from leaving
foreign ports foreign Vessels from taking
carRoes from the United States. and that
all coasting vessels be compelled to give
bond that they land their cargoes in the
United States. This was the famous en-
barge bill. which for a time destroyed
American commerce. aroused the bitterest
kind of party feeling and for a time seemed
TO threaten the life of the union. 1t was
argued in behalf of the bill that its passage
furnished the only means Of forcing Eng
land TO come to terms. Congress passed the
could suspend 1t whenever he deemed it
best.
Nearly ono thousand American vessels
were captured either BY the English or the
French between 1903 and 1908. President
Madison determined to put stop to this.
even if 1t was necessary to declare wa.
Congress- was convened in extra session
Nov. II, 1911. William II. Csawfo d, of
Georgia, WAS chosen speaker of tho house.
Bills were passed to enlist men, organizs
militia and strengthen the navy. On Juno
18. 1872, war was declared against England.
10 the war proclamation Madison owed hia
reelection. Elbridge Gerry being made
vice president. Madison was again com
PEELED to convene congress- in extra session
to consider means for ca rying on the war.
From 1914 until twenty-five years after
there seemed to be no occasion for IN extra
session. The administration of Andrew
jackson passed without one being called.
When Martin Van Buren, was made presi-
dent, however, the excessive 1870 of paper
money produced great financial distress.
Property value were enormously inflated.
Banks which had no government deposits
were ruined. When business men discov-
cred that government deposits and their
own had been employed by the banks as
capital they Withdrew them. The resul,
was the panic of 1887. When President
Van Buren called an extra session for Sept,
not directly interfere with the monetary
situation, expressing the belief that il
would speedily adjust itself. Acts were
passed, however, which caused the distri-
button of the revenue among the state
banks to cease, authorized the issue of SlO,-
OO0,OOO in treasury notes and gave rner-
chants further time on their revenue
bonds. Van Buren, advocated the estab-
lishment of an independent treasury. A
bill providing for this was passed by the
senate. but was smothered in the bouse by
Three years later the scheme went through.
The tinsncial policy Of the wings at this
extra session proved SO popular tha,
in 1S4o William II. Harrison was tri-
umphantly elected president. Demo
cratic electors were chosen by only
two northern and five southern states,
Soon after this inauRu' alton President Har.
rl6on summoned congress together for the
purpose OF further improving the financial
laws of the government. The senate and
the house had hardly convened when the
although he had pledged himself to carry
out his predecessors policy, got into row
With the wings which did not end until hi
administration expired. Both houses o.
congress passed n bill TO abolish the sub
treasury. established by the previous nd
ministration, and it WAS approved by tn,
president. Then Tyles vetoed bill to in
corporate the fiscal bank of the United
States The whig leaders insisted thel
that the president should furnish them nj
outline of such measure as he would sign
He suggested one. but afterwards vetoe
the measure which wes passed. Then th
cabinet. except Secretary of State Danie
Webster resigned. The whig congressms
Issued circulars announcing that all polit