Thursday, November 21st, Congress reassembled, pursuant to the
resolution adopted July 20th. According to existing law, the
regular session would commence on the first Monday of December.
November 26th, Mr. Grimes, of Iowa, moved the adjournment
of the two Houses on Monday, December 2d, at half past
eleven o’clock, A. M. Mr. Sumner suggested “twelve o’clock,”
remarking,--
I question whether we should leave even the break of half an hour
between the two sessions. The point is just this: Will you leave to
the President one half-hour within which he may take advantage of the
absence of Congress, and issue commissions which would perhaps run--I
do not decide the point now, but which, I say, might run to the last
day of the next session?--that may be midsummer or autumn. I take it
that an appointment during that interim of half an hour might possibly
be valid to the last day of the next session of Congress.
MR. EDMUNDS [of Vermont]. But the law takes no notice of parts
of a day.
MR. SUMNER. That is a technicality. Why open the question?
Mr. Grimes, following the suggestion, altered his motion to
“twelve o’clock.” A debate ensued, in which Mr. Sherman, of
Ohio, Mr. Fessenden, of Maine, and Mr. Trumbull, of Illinois,
took part. Mr. Sumner followed.
I hope that what we do will be for the welfare of the country, and with
no reference to mere rumors or reports. There I agree with my friend;
but then I do not agree with him, when he says, Give the President
another chance. We have been giving him chances, and we cannot act now
without taking into consideration his character and position, which
have become matters of history. I would speak with proper delicacy,
with proper reserve, but I must speak under the responsibility of
a Senator. A large portion of our country believe the President a
wicked man, of evil thoughts and unpatriotic purposes, in spirit and
conduct the successor of Jefferson Davis, through whom the Rebellion is
revived. Such are the sentiments of a large portion of our people.
MR. DIXON [of Connecticut]. I desire to ask the Senator if that
is the opinion of a majority of the American people, in his
judgment.
MR. SUMNER. It is unquestionably the opinion of a large portion of
the people of the United States; whether a majority or not the future
may disclose. I will not anticipate any such judgment. I speak now
with reference to what is before us. The question is, whether we shall
give him another opportunity. I say, No. And here I act on no floating
rumor, to which the Senator from Illinois refers; I act with reference
to the character of the chief magistrate, displayed in his public
conduct. It seems to me that it will be something like rashness, if the
Senate concede to him another occasion to practise on the country in
carrying out his policy, as we know he has practised in times past.
We must stop the way. We should not give him a day; we should not give
him five minutes,--I am ready to say that,--not five minutes, for the
chance of illegitimate power. I will not allow him to exercise it, and
then take my chance hereafter of applying the corrective.
And that brings me to the exact point as to whether the present session
should expire precisely when the coming session begins. I see no reason
why it should not. I see no reason why we should interpose the buffer
even of five minutes. Let one session come close upon the other, and
then we shall exclude every possibility of evil consequences. In
France, during the old monarchy, when the king died, the moment the
breath was out of his body the reign of his successor began, so that
the cry, “The king is dead,” was followed instantly by another cry,
“Long live the king!” Now I know not why, when this session expires,
we may not at the same time announce its expiration and announce a new
session.
The resolution was agreed to, and Congress adjourned
accordingly.