Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-05-06
c o N G R E. S S.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MospAr, AprilY.
SPANISH AFFAIRS.
DEBATE on the motion of MI. J. Randolth
fohn6ish she Presidents Message.
Mn. DANA said he was happy they
were enabled to take a direa vote on The
publication ofthe message. On the vote
just taken he had fel, himself bound to
consult the opinions Of gentlemen who
had thought when the injunction of Sc
crecy was taken of, it did no, apply 10
the publication of the message. The
9aestion'now presents itself directly for
consideration, whether it would be most
! expedlent to publish it. II appears to
me-, said MIR. Dana, that there will be no
breach of confidence in publishing it, If
in private life one man makes a commu
nication to another, and The person who
receives 1t SAYS he will not pledge himself
to Keep IL secret, there is no obligation
on him not to divulge il, and should he
dlvuige 1t there VIII be no question about
the violation of confidence. Under wat
form then, was the communication ofthe
President made TO This House is there
any thing in the constitution relative TO
The Presidents communicating any thing
10 either House in confidenc and abso-
lutely prohibiting either House from dis.
closing 1t! 1T there is no such thing in
the constitution the disclosure must be
'eie TO our discretion, Of the proprie,y of
which we must be the Judges. In the
hrst Place, the constitution Of the United
States provides for such communications
to Congress as the President may see fit
to make--it also declares that each House
shall be governed by such rules as they
shall make. Now when this message
was received, the rules of the last House
were adopted, and are such as are now in
force. What is the rule applicable 10
the present pointi
Whenever confidential connmunicati
ons are received from the President OF
the y. States.the House shall be cleared
OF all persons except the members and
the Clerk, and 30 continue during the
reading of such communications, and Gun
less otherwise direcfed by the House)
during all debates and proceedings TO be
had thereon. And when the Speaker, or
any other member, shall inform the
House, that he has communications to
make, which he conceiyes ought to be
kept secret, the House shall, in like rr,a,i
ner, be cleared till the communication be
made the House shall then determine
whether the matter communicated re
qnires secrecy or not, and take order ac-
cordiHgly."
he President can make no conmuDi
Cations to us except under this rule. 1t
was under this rule that this message was
communicated. What is the inference
The rule was peremptory, so far as il re,
CURED the communication of the presi-
dent to be read with closed doors blu,
| alter having been so received, tits stricf
~ within the power of the House To de,
eide whether it shall continue private, or
be published. The Pre,iden, must have
communicated the message under this
impression. No obligation of confidence
can be infringed by publishing it. Be
lieving, therefore, that the publication
will be no violation of condolences, and be.
lieviDg that it will be for the public good
l shall vote for it.
Mn. SLOAN. shall as decidedly AZ
the gentleman from Conneeticu, vote a.
gainst the publication of the message |;
and on principle which IL behoyes me
never to abandon SO long as hold seat
on this floor. II understand any thing
lof the matter, il was communicated 10
the House by The President in confidence
that II would not be published; and if |
have any idea ofpropriety, it ought to be
still kept secret, as the reasons which FIRST
made it so still continue. IF we are not
constitutionaIly bound to keep tbs com
rnunica,ions made by the President Sc
cret, do conceive we are under an obi
CATION of,resPeG to the other branches Of
the government, not TO betray the conf
dence reposed in US and should this
communication be published the other
branches OF the government ought FIRST TO
sanction IL. Such course would, in my
opinion, have dreel tendency, to de-
slroy our confidence in the President, and
our diplomatic characters abroad.
Mn. J. RANDOLPH. Before the
question is taken have few obscryati.
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