Congress necessarily rose on the night of the 4th of March. You must have learned from my previous letters, that a congress lasts but two years, commencing on the 4th of March of one year, and terminating on the 3rd of March of the year but one following. Of course it would be necessary to convene the new members, in order to proceed in legislation after the prescribed period. This can be, and has been, done, in times of need, but the usual practice is to let the bodies separate, at the end of what is called the “short session.” The terms of short and long session are easily explained. The constitution requires that congress should assemble on the first Monday in December of each year, unless it has adjourned to a different period, or is expressly convened by a call from the president. On the first year of the service of the members, it is plain they may sit as long as they please; but on the second, their term of service expires on the 3d of March. As one third of the senators, and perhaps about the same number of the representatives, usually retire every two years, it would be necessary to summon those who supply their places, should the public service require an immediate continuation of the legislative duties. The senate sometimes sits a day or two after the lower house has adjourned, in order to attend to what is called executive business (the approval of nominations to office).