Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1813-12-04

tutional preroSatiycs- Inc Tres0cnt
seems not sufficiently TO have appreei-
ated the distinction, between n confer
euee and a call for Information, aitho'
the distinction seems obvious. The
frSt requires a comparison, and inter
shange, of. opinions. The ether,
statement effncts., Facts are, or IN o.
ther words. inflammation IS not only OF
ten called for, hut directed by either
house oil Congress, from. tho heads Of
departments. But conference, or in
either words, an intsrchanss OF epini-
ons. from the heads OF departments is
never requested by either house OF
Congress. Ii opinions from the heads
Of dspaYtn,cnis should BE- called for,
they are deiiherRted upou BIZ the hoase
caIiiss 10. them bat no opinions OF
Tho house are interchaaged FOR them
The President certainly upon his own
prineinles, mast have overlooked this
distinction, when he permitted his Sc
yretary Of State TO propose in liis stead,
to confer with commi;iee oi the Sc
nate. 1t certainly did not occur TO
him, that IN the contemplation OF he
e,nstitut;cn, his secretary was not SO
co.ordiaaie, con-coriinetNs together ~
-r7fg, ssg5ESrd i'intus, nndcrin ordcr. or
he never could have authorised him 10
coufer VITA committee OF the Senate,
which was clothed, as shall presently
nttemp; TO show gao al hoe, with MI
the attributes of the Senate itself
Nor do conceive, that tue President
has heen more fortunate in aiding his
conclusions, by his illustrations, upon
the principle efanasosy, with the pro-
ceedings of the TIVE houses of Congress
IN relation TO their conferences upnn
disaSreeing votes between them. The
illustrations are cou;ainc,! ia The fol
lowing extract from his message:
The relation between the Senate
and House OF Representatives, in whom
legislative power is conveniently vested
Is sufficiently analogous TO illustrate
that between the Executive and the Sc
nate in making appointments and trea-
ties, the two houses are, in like man
ner independent Of and coordinate with
each other; and the inyariable practice
ofeach in appointing coamittees oreen-
ference ana consultation is to commits
sion thcnl to confer not with the co-or-
dinate body ITSELF, bat with commit
tee of that body. And although both
branches Of the legislature may be too
numerous TO hold conveniently u con-
ference with committees, were they TO
be appointed by either to center will.
the entire body of the other, it may be
fairly presumed that If The whole nam
Der OF either branch were not toe large
for the purpose. the objection 10 sucis a
conference, being against the principle
as derogatory from the coordinate re-
'ations OF tae two Houses, wonld retain
: all It's force.
The reasoning Of the President drawn
S from the asledged analogy is some
what remarkable 1t commences witt,
an effort. to establish distinction he
tween conference conducted on the
part of each hoEse through, tae medium
OF committees, as he without hi, Usual
attention to critical correctness, calls
them. and conference, conducted d.
rectly between the two honses I'm their
entire character and foKnas this dis
t'not,on upon the suggestion, that :. the
invar'ahic practice of each IN appoint
ing committees % conference & consul
tation, is, to commission tsem 10 confer
not with the coordinate body Itself,
bat a committee Of taat body.n ] do
not Know, that either branch of Con-
8rcss gives to It's conferences, commits
sions specifying tie precise tribunal.
with which each is TO confer but in
fact FROM a principle OF convenience,
and reeiProcaie equality Che eonferces do
confer with each other, but e.rpressIy
md practically on tie put ofMeiy res
pectire houses. These cnnTerees are
not properly and strictly speaking
committees al all, nor are they 50 called
an the Journals Of either house, hut
managers on the pert oftbg houses res
peatIrety. The want Of critical at
'eniion TO this distinction may have
been the cause Of an error on the part
OF the president OF this point, il indeed.
1t should be conceived, ae has uninten-
tionaiiy fallen into one. The object Of
ibis arrangement, Is, that the mailarers
on the part each house, may make or
receive propositions for compromising
or IN any wey adjusting the disagreeirg
vote OF the two houses, subject in every
ease to the final control OF tho entire
bodies Of the two houses themselves
and The managers of The cenJeysnce, are
Cor these purposes invested with the
attributes Of The entire houses and com
pietely 50 FAR, indeEtiied with them
ant so scTuDuIOusly Attentive orc fb.