Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-06-06
VOTE OF ApPROBATiON,

'ISiSnI wears or tnSreaDOutS an NCcTa-
ton had taken place in the manner Of
doing business ar the commencement
of each session OF Congress. He said
he recollccted when the first Congress
lunder the administration of Mr.. Jeff
!ferson had met at this place, instead
LOT Congress being opened as hereto
fore by the President in person aud
Thy a speech, note in these words had
lbeen received by the Speaker, inclo-
siug-a message from the President /:
s. December 8, 1901.
(" SIR,
I Inc circumstances under which
we find ourselves at this piece render
ling inconvenient the mode heretofore
practissd, of making by personal adj
dress the first communications be-
ween the Legislative ard Executive
branches, havesadopted that by Mes
sage as used en- all subsequent occasi-
ons through the session. In doing
this l have had principal regard to
the convenience OF the Legislature, to
the economy of their time, TO heir re-
lief from the embarra ,ent ut imme-
diate answers on subjects not yet fully
before them, and to tie bene hts thence
resulsiag TO the public AFFAIRS. Truss
:ing thar procedure founded in these
motives WI meet their appreciation, T
Deg leave through you, sir, to cornmu.
nicate the enclosed message, &c"
1t is unnecessary, beieve, (said
Mr.. II. 10 state that the hint contain
ed in the message that no answer was
TO be expected, was taken py the House
md from that day no answers nave
been given tothe messages of tina Pre-
=ident at the opening OF Congress. Is
would Ill become me, ST., who so high
| ~ approved then and who SO highly
approve row the change iniroduced'by
communicating 10 the two Houses by
mes age instead of by spescil, 10 say
aoy thing that might imply a disap-
probation of il. like II, sir. 4 o Tell
tile truth, the stile of communicating
by speech was more in the stiie 81 tns
opening OF the British Parliament by
the kiog therefore like the mode
Of communicates by mess sgs. But
am notso clear, though we were then
{ calf right, that we were wholly right
the On this subject 90 not mean TO
| give definite opinion. No man can
Congresses OF the United States with
out being sickened, fairy sicksnea
with the adulation often repliea Ivy the
! Houses of Congress 20 the President's
communicated. Bat nevertheless
the answer TO an add, ess, although
that answer might finally contain tae
most exceptiouabie passages, was in
fact the greatest opportunity which the
opposition 10 the measures OF the adj
ministratlon had OF cauvassing and
siftiag its measures snd, N my mind.
I whatever goes to take away this op-
| portunity, goes so far to narrow down
the rights of the minority or opposite
on, commonly SO called, and in fact to-
enlarge the rights OF the majority and
ne administrator part, SO called--So
beg leave not to be understood az
speaking OF the SKATE Of parties ut thia
time, but Of that which mas always ex-
listed. This opportunity of discussion
OF the answer to an address, however
exceptionable the address might be.
when 1t had received the last seasoning
tor the Presidential palate, did afford
the best opportunity to make a review
of the measures OF the administration.
to canvass them fully and fairly, with
out there being any question raised
whether the gentlema was in order or
Aot-and believe the time spent i'm
canvassing the answer to speech was
atIeast AS well spent as a great deaf
hat we have expended since we dis
continued the practice. do not saw
that any answer is proper or ought co
be given (; but do believe that when
this Hoase goes int committee of
the hole on the state of the Union.
az is for purposes little more elevated
than to dissect the message OF the Pre-
sldent OF the U. States, or to strip il
up and trausfrr 1t to select and stand@
ing committees. II thar be the whole
lobJect of going into committee Of
the whole on the state of the IIo,oo