Year: 1859

The meaning of this word appears to be gen. erallv misunderstood. It simply means to fix or state day. Then the phrase to "adjourn sine die" or without day. is a contradiction in terms When a member of an assembly moves that it adjourn until Monday next, he means other words, that the meeting shall then sepa- rate under an agreement to meet at that time. To adjourn then is to fix day to meet again as is shown by the etymology of the word.

 There is no power given to any President or Governur in the United States to prorogue a legislative body. A propagation is dismissal of the conciave, it puts an abrupt end to its session. All business ceases and the members of the body go home without day set for their return. They cease to exist as such a body.

 To show the peculiar style of the logic of the Gazette, We make the following extract from that paper:

 We have used the term 'porogue,' in al- ludng to the action taken by the Governor, as more expressive of what he actually did than the word aqJouyn' For the legislature has been 'p,0rogxet to a certain day. As we get both the custom and the term from England, let Us see what Blackstone says is the effect ot a propagation of Parliament See WendelPs Blackstone, vol. 1, page 1S6."

 Now, such thing as propagation to cer- tain day is impossible. And to prove it, the same paper quotes the following passage from Blackstone:

 "An adjournment is no more than continu- ance of the session from one day to another as the word itself signifies; and this Is done by the authority of each house separately every day; and sometimes for fortnight or month together, as at Christmas or Easter, or upon other particular occasions. But the adjourn ment of one house is no adjournment of the other. It hath also been usual, when his ma jesty hath signifed his pleasure that both or ei- ther of the houses should adjourn themselves to certain day, to obey the kings pleasure so signiied, and to adjourn accordingly. Other wise, besides the indecorum of refusal a pro soqation would assuredy follow; which would often be very inconvenent to both public and private business. For prorogatioa, puts an end to the session; and then such bills as are only begun and not perfected, must be resumed de nOvO Gf at alp in subsequent session; whereas, after an adjournment all things continue in the same state as at the time of the adjournment made, and may be proceeded on without any fresh commencement"

 Blackstone says that propagation puts an end to the session. The Gazette says that the Go- vernon prorogued the session because he continued t.

 To use homey illustration, the Queen of England, when she prorogues parliament says: Gentlemen, go home and stay there-the session is at end' Gov. Conway in his proc lamation virtually says: Gentlemen the ses- sion is not yet closed and the business is un- finished aud you will therefore meet here on the l7th day of January to complete it." If ever two things were totally unlike, with no feature in common, it is the adjourning and the propagation of body. One is a command to quit work and discharge from service and the other command to return at certain time and finish certain work

 We have no disposition nor the space to ar que the constitutionality of tho act, but will remark that we have American decisions on that point, which can be produced no doubt.- As to the language of the constitution vesting the power in the Governor to adjourn the Gen. eral Assembly in certain event, referring only to called session, it is a far fetched and fanci- ful idea. We apprehend that the gentleman whom the Gazette so fourishly indorses as standing high in the democratic party and be- ing lawyer of no mean repute," was throwing sand in the eyes of the juvenile editor.