Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-06-08

those illustrious sages and patriots did not
contemplate the purchase of an Arabia De-
serta, or even an Arabia Felix. u They did
not make Il the duty of the executive to
make tteaties to, buy territory or 70 buy
peace. yet It IS only upoa the ground Of
an imaginary, but clearly extra. constitutions
al, connexion between the treasy-making
power, and the communication, by the
department. Of the government which pos
sesses that power, of I" administration to
congress, in the shape of diplomatic doeu-
ments, that the friends Of information pre-
tend to justify even the house Of repre-
sentativea in imposing perpetual injune'
ton of secrecy in relation to the contents of
those documents. The present writer does
not hesitate to deny, with at least equal
boldness, and he hopes more coseus rea-
soning, than what sir Francis Barde.s has
displayed in questioning the right Of the
British house of commons to inprison a
British subject, the, constitutional and legal
power Of the house Of representatives to-
imposes uch an injunction. He has alrea-
dy totally denied the right of the president
to exercise this power. He now denies its,
existence in the house Of representatives,
as the constitution, the laws, and the rules
of that house, have hitherto stood. But
he does not affect to be wiser than sevea
men zvho can render reason. He will not
resort TO-
Arguings that are unintelligible,
And mysteries nice ofquirk and bubble.
But will give the reasons for the political
faith that is in him upon this subject, with
his usual conciseness and simplicity.
It is certain that there are but two con.
ssitu,ional provisions which brars upon this
point That which is contained in the Sc
coad clause of the fifth section of the first
article, in these words: Each house may
determine the rules Of ns proceedings ;.pu.
Eishits members for disorderly behaviour !;
and, with the concurrence OF two thirds ex.
pei ns mber - And that which follows
in the very next clause, " Each house shaH
keep aiournal Of ito proceedings; and from
time to time publish the same, excepting
such parts as may in their judgment require
secrecy: And the yeas and nays, OF the
members of either house, on any question,
shall, at the desire Of one fifth Of those pre-.
sent, be entered on the Journal" Now, a.
the house mightdp business without any set
tied rule, except perhaps tina, Of vesting ,he
speaker with sort of absolute power, and
is only bermitted'to "determine the rules OF
its proceedings" tits clear as light that this.
PERMISSION to make nAes of form, has M
natural cennsxion with the COMMAND, 20
keep journal, which is rule Of substance
prescribed by the cons ti!u,ion ITSELF. and Of
course necessary and indispensable one.
The rules approaching are to govern mem ..
bers only, and only while members. Ehe
right to keep a part of the Journal secret
must bind all men aeall times. If exercised
corformably TO the constitution, it must be
gross contempt of the house to purloin or,
copy that part of the journalfor publication.
Blu, it is the journal" alone that is held
sacked. 1t is those parts ofths Journal on.
ly which the house may determine Git would
seem by an express vote to be improper to
be PublishstL' & not any other papers what.
ever, which are not entered on the journal,
that are thus protected by the shield Of the
constitution, and, scheened from the vulgar
gaze. What is /" a journal Of proceedings ~
Certainly neithe: more or less than arecord