Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-11-25
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appO.UtcU
the President in person. Suppose President
to the conference, what is the consequence The Pre-
sident. speaking the entire executive branch is
bound by what he says unless he and runs
to Inconsistencies bat the Senatorial committee do
bind the Senate at all for after their report of the
conference the Senate decides Just which way il pea-
ses And after getting out of the Executive his senti
uents, It decides against him, the effect Of such vote
is censure passed upon the Presidents understandings
thus degrading him below the Senate with which he is,
by the constitution. made coordinate in other words,
equal Take the course, however, which the Execu>
tive proposed, and the difficulty and degradation va
nish. Mr. Monroe, the Secretary of State being APP
pointed the Presidents committee, would have
the committee of the Senate upon proper terms
enc COMMITTEES would not, in that event, have
been more bound Than the other; each would have
reported to the principal, respectively the Senate
would have procured the information it wanted and
the coordination of the two branches of the govern.
ment, would have been preserved fatter myself
that this exposition of constitutional doctrine is little
more solid, and somewhat more rational than that OF
the honorable Senator
But here Mr. Giles sets up another objection He
argues thaethe Secretary of State is not constituent
part oil the Executive department government as the
committee men OF the Senate u constituent part OF
that body and he urges this portion of his argA
men fac place the head OF the department Of
State on par with the Secretary of the Senate! fan.
cy he IS the only that thinks So He will not find
the same class ct men occupying both stations. Suc
comparison has simiiitude. Do you find Jefersons
Nadlscns, or MonrOes, acting Secretaries Of Se~
nate mean dsrespect to that body /: T wish not
to wound toe feelings of any individual 1t is Mr. Ges
vino forces these illusions from me. The situation Of
Secretary OF the Senate is truly resnectable Bat the
individual that once occupies that post. very like
10 gam the hrst chair IN the foreign office. propose
TO shew with iousness, that the celebrated Ssnatot
of Virginia is mistaken this subject
By the first paragraph, of the second sect Of the Sc
cond art of the constitution of the u 8 the President
nayrequre the opinion, in writing, nf the principal iii.
Ger in each OF the Executive departments uron any su
ect relating to the duties Of the respective oces The
department of State is one and the Chief Of these Ex
ecutve Departments ard the Score ary of State is Of
course, principal Executive officer recognized by the
words OF the constitution whose opinion upon the aairs
OF MS department the President require In writing.
For what purpoe certainly eulghten his sand.
ing What are the Secretary of States duties To SUI
perntt nd all business OF foreign domestic diplomas
TIC or other nature CGnbded MIN the laws and hV tho
President In relation any of this business MS ohios
not mere factsare held in view BY the G. nst IL
ton as essential the President. In this particular
them the constitution indicates the Secretary of State as
participation in Executive deliberations and, if the
President may require his opinions in wiring he may,
oy stronger reason require them verbally. From this
grows up what is called The cabinet its utility is OBJ
Gus. Zach secretary brings Council his eiec-
tons an interchange OF sentiments and opinions takes
| place, aud the nation is thus benefited by d wider
range ct intelligence. Hence it is manifest that the
Secretary Of State is efficient constitutional executive
organ; and although not ordinate with the Pres-
dent is undoubtedly superior committee OF the Se-
nate. For, what is comnittee of the Senate. T. IS
body no where recognized by the CONSTRUCTION: II il not
esaolScd by law it derives It's from the pow
er given the Senate determine the rules of its pro.
ceeding; committee of the Senate is, in TRUTH only
the creature Of the Senate, without original ndepeI
dent authority OF any kind and deriving its import
as well as its very existence from the Senate self
Secretary Of STATE the contrary, has duties assigned
him. as Secretary otState by law So perfectly is ne deD~
tiled as part OF the Executive, that Congress in -
gating frequently assign him business peculiar to his
department, IN express terms, without mentioning tie
PRESIDENT committee Of the Senate has no Dow er
to bind any thing, III Senate Of by vote or rcs-
ton But the Secretary of State by letter under his
hand, Is understood to bind the President Thus,
quo al his functions, he constituent part of the x
ecutive much more than comwittee OF the Senate
is constituent part of the Senate for ne is advered
to by the constitution, acknowledged by the laws aud
known, IN ain circumstance in the government as
an independent coSrelative Of the presidential nd minis
traoI MIR. Giles, nevertheless persists, that as The
Executive is hdfUidUai I've ndiviJbe and cannon
clothe the Secretary OF Staei in form Of mittce
with Us Executive attributes Having distinctly sheWn
that the Serate tTansps their entire attributes
into committee OF their own, and having keHjse de-
monsrated that although the Secretary Of State not
coordinate with the President, yet that lie IS iperior
TO the committee 81 the Senate | might be allowed Ia
pass 10y this objection frivolous WIKI respect to the
question before But do not seek indulgence aud
presume Mr. Giles does not ask to be spared P6v-
scay king, assursdly the PRESIDENT dgiaisl
That IS, you cannot split him IN two, of REM
Der, so that part of his body shall President
and the other his committee: And it is as certain
still hhySicay speaking that tho senate can be divided
one part acting a committee 70 the other, on account
OF It's CONSISTING OF many individuals. It is NOT howe
yer the Hhgsc1 dispute Ii is their 6oHfcaf Compost
ton that IN question. Fofiicay shehkinP the Senat
is init as mach as the President is The usipritv ,
votes expressive cf the majority of the opinions de- h
the nil OF The Senate: And the force of the o. i,,o,
which the President derives from his Secretarie a. t
ting or verbally together with his own dets o;,es :,
7vH OF tire Executive. Il may be said. if ,o, - -
way the Secretaries, perfect President ,yitb en- ~
ecutve powers. still remains So, say ~ - =
Committee Of the Senate, and the Seuaf = 800 -, y
powers, still remains This is vel! e. .s,,,,E W
tice IS, notwithstanding what Mr. Ciss ~ ~ q q
place - TIC general assembly Of Virginia when cont
! p a..
that the conferences OF commP tees Of t, 10,
Congress do not at all Hlerru d the progress Of INA.
in either branch Of that bod 80 - Dus'"e
As the Secretary Of stat is .uperior q, d,
e 70 i' ne speFF to The Secretary Of the SEM
votes AVID resolutions % hnt hodr Le ri, w 0L y