Mr. GRIMES. Yes sir, long sessions and short sessions both. The Senfrom Illinois says it has been stated that it is necessary that we should know now whether this resolution is going to pass or not, because gentlemen are unwilling to wait until the 20th shall arrive. That is a wholly gratuitous remark. I do not propose to go away; I never have gone; but I have colleagues and the Senator has colleagues who desire to go to their families. Heretofore, when we adjourned only for one week, from the 25th of December until the 1st of January, gentlemen who are Sens&Reps from the States along on the sea board had an opportunity to run home, but gentlemen from Illinois and Iowa, who are just as much attached to their families, and whose business it is just as necessary to look after as it is to look after the business of these gentlemen along the sea board, had not any such opportunity, because it takes 3 days and nights to make the trip each way. It was for that reason, and to accommodate them as much as for any other purpose, that I am willing to extend this time. I think that all these gentlemen know, every one of us who has been here for the last 6 or 7 years knows, we are not going to transact any business if we remain here, and there is no use of our making a pretense of virtue when we have not got it. o Mr. CONNESS. Mr. President, I happen at this time to be one of the persons falling under the description in part made by the honorable Senator }. Illinois, except that part of it which the Senfrom Iowa has called gratuitous and I agree with him that I am now desirous to know what day we shall adjourn so that I may go at once. It happens that I have not been absent from the Senate a day, I believe, since I have had the honor of a seat in it, during its sessions, and that now there is a need that I should be absent for a little while, and I was rather desirous to know what day the Senate would adjourn, so as to make my arrangements accordingly, not wishing that my State should be unrepresented here. But I assure the honorable Senfrom Illinois that I am as willing under ordinary circumstances to remain here, though not as useful while here, as he is. Much has been said and much stress has been placed upon this matter of long adjournments during the holidays being of recent occurrence, or being instituted a year since. That is not so. such adjournments have been made every year since I have been in the senate, now the 4th year. Last year we adjourned on the 21st of December to meet on the 5th of January. This year it is proposed to adjourn on the 20th of December to meet on the 3d of January, not as long an adjournment as the adjournment of last year. There has been no difference between the adjournments made annually for the last 4 years; certainly no greater difference than that of a day or two. Although I concede the greatimportance of the business stated so elaborately by Senators as being before the body, I doubt very much whether we shall not come to the transaction of that business with more directness by such an adjournment as is proposed than by sitting here. If the honorable Senator joi. were so situated this year as to have his family in Illinois, he would perhaps desire to go out there; but it may be, I do not know, that his family reside here at present. If so, there is a convenience in remaining here, and it is really inconvenient to be idle for 2 weeks, particularly with the habits of work of the honorable Senator. But I think we should invite and expect to enjoy his liberality toward us who happen to desire or absolutely need the absence. I hope, sir, that the resolution will pass, and I believe that the work of the country will not be the less performed therefor.