Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 14 (of 20)Sumner, Charles
History
Charles Sumner: his complete works, volume 14 (of 20)
Sumner, Charles
Slavery -- United States; Speeches, addresses, etc., American
March 26th, the House resolution was reported by Mr. Trumbull,
with a substitute adjourning the two Houses “on the 28th
instant, at twelve o’clock, meridian.” Debate ensued, when Mr.
Howe, of Wisconsin, moved an adjournment on the 29th of March
until the first Monday of June, and on that day, unless then
otherwise ordered by the two Houses, until the first Monday of
December. After debate, this amendment was rejected,--Yeas 17,
Nays 25. Mr. Morrill, of Vermont, moved to amend the substitute
of the Committee by adding “to meet again on the first Monday
of November next,” which was rejected,--Yeas 16, Nays 25. Mr.
Sumner then moved to amend the substitute by adding:--
“_Provided_, That the President of the Senate _pro tempore_
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives may by
joint proclamation, at any time before the first Monday
of December, convene the two Houses of Congress for the
transaction of business, if in their opinion the public
interests require.”
Here he said:--
I am unwilling to doubt that Congress may authorize their officers to
do that. I cannot doubt it. Assuming that we have the power, is not
this an occasion to exercise it? I do not wish to be carried into the
general debate. I had intended to say something about it; but it is
late.… I will not, therefore, go into the general question, except to
make one remark: I do think Congress ought to do something; we ought
not to adjourn as on ordinary occasions,--for this is not an ordinary
occasion, and there is the precise beginning of the difference between
myself and the Senator from Maine, and also between myself and the
Senator from Illinois.
The Senator from Illinois said, Why not, as on ordinary occasions,
now go home? Ay, Sir, that is the very question. Is this an ordinary
occasion? To my mind, it clearly is not. It is an extraordinary
occasion, big with the fate of this Republic.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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