Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1810-07-09
Letters upon French influence.
NUMBER VI.
70 The PeoaLe Of tse United States.


Although the writer of these letters has
come to the conclusion, in his own mind
tliat tie is under no obligation to keep con-
scaled, either the secret documents upon
which Congress have acted, or the secret
dc bates ofthat body, yet various considera-
tions'seem to require, previously to enter
ing upon the developement which must
result from such a determination, that GER
tain objections to this course Of conduct
should DC met and resisted
Each member Of Congress, as the solemn
duties of his high station, is obliged to take
an oath TO support the Constitution of the
United States. In addition, therefore, to
those poweri1lmotives TO duty which are ey-
CT operative upon an honorable mind, in
every scene and situation of life, the man
WHO Is called by the people to perform a
part OF the great task OF Legislation, must
commence his work by calling God to wit
ness that he will at all times support the
constitution from which he derives his pow
or, in IT'S trse spirit, and all ITS parts. 1t will
be said that although the letter of this con.
sutution only authorlSes Congress 10 keep
secret portion of their" Journals, !" vet the
fair construction is that their documents
and debates should also remain undivulged.
This must be mere matter OF opinion. One
VIII think the spirit u the constitution is one
tblng, another that it is something else
To the writer 1t appears that the spirit OF
the constitution Is publicity, and that the
power to keep even the journal secret, is an
anomaly in the system. With linn this i'm
portant consideration derives new force
from the reflection, that the secret proceed
ings to which lie is inclined TO direct his
FIST attention. respecting the exercise of
powers peculiarly belonging 10 the House
Of Representatives, as the guardians of the
public treasure. Could it ever nave been
contemplated by the people, during the for
NATION of the constitution, that LAWS should
be passed with closed doors, laws, too,
which should impose heavy contributions on
the Pablo purse Laws which should drain
the treasury for ~ SEES which no mortal
could have bad iA ,lew, at the time OF the
Organization ot the government Laws cal
culaleu to abandon the high character of
the nation, IS All independent republic, and
70 CONVEX. the people, not emily against their
viii, but without their knowledge, into
hamSe supphsn,s for favour ahd mercy at
the feet 81 = toreiS "a power
Guild such things be,
And overcome Us, Ike a summers cloud,
Without our special wonder
IL is Impossible that such can be the spir-
j of our excellent frame Of government. II
. spirit OF liberty, not spirit Of despo-
sissn. 1t is spirit ofratiopal limitation, not
q spirit OF indefinite extension. Ii is a spir-
1t Of Republican honour, not spirit Of de-
graduation.
Again, i viii be said, that although the
letter Of this part Of the Constitution may
Justify the course which IS nov pursued,
set the letter Of another part Of that instru.
lnent Is conclusive 20 the contrary. Zach
House may determine the rules of its pro
cceaings," *. l. win be conicnded that
the House OF Representatives having estab-
ilshe certain rifles upon this point, and hay-
Ing thGs acted clearly within the puryiev
frs institutional powers, us ACT in that
case as valid and binding. At al times, ani
npon all persons This objection has beer
anticipated, and has already been met BY
the obvious, and il is hdmbiy presumed
unAns werah,e remark. that the rules of tbs
House are bindiag upon members only, anc
upon them only While they continue mem
bers. The rules are made for the purpose
o. regula.iAr debates AMI decisions. The,
are in no s~asc laws OF the land. 1t is
laie, that members shall ADDRESS tie Speak
er IN crrtasA manner 1t Is another tia
they shall speak in Il carous style, anC
shall be sslenced il they ID not; u i ano
ther, that they SHAH speak bur certai,
number Of times upon question il IS ano
Their, that their votes shall b. collected, an
the decision announced, in q psrticula
form Taese, and every other +" rale