All those extra sessions except the one in Mr.Van Buren's Administration had been held in May, and even in his case the proclamation summoning Congress was issued in May.

No wonder, therefore, that ill-luck came to be associated with that month.

When the necessity of assembling Congress was forced upon Mr.Lincoln by the firing on Sumter, Mr.
Seward warned him that in any event he must not have the session begin in May.

It must be confessed therefore that the precedents were sufficiently alarming to influence Mr.Johnson against an extra session.

Nor was there any popular demand for it because the President's policy had not as yet portended trouble or strife in the ranks of the Republican party..