The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-12-26
From the Boston Daily Advertiser.
DEBATES IN CONGRESS.

We have the satisfaction to announce, that
the gentlemen employed by US to report the
proceed ngs IN Congress have been admitted,
after some unexpected delay, by permission
of the Speaker of the House OF Representa-
tives, to convenient seat on the floor OF the
House. We hope hereafter to be able to pre-
sent to our readers such a journal OF the De-
bates aad Proceedings of the House OF Rep-
resentatves as will be entirely satisfactory.
We have already stated briefly the reasons
which have induced US to undertake the ex-
pense of procuring a report OF debates ex-
clusively for our own paper. But 1t may be
proper to state these reasons a little more at
large. 1t is well known that almost the only
account of the proceedings Of Congress, for
many years past, has been derived from the
National Intelligencer. This paper has en-
loved the confidence of all the branches OF the
government, and has been considered AS the
official paper. 1t has been conducted with
good deal of ability and industry, and with
fairness and impartiality which have entitled
it to as much confidence, perhaps, as any pa
per ever published in this country. 1t has
been for several years the only paper publish
ed at the seat of government entitled to the
least consideration, and the only one which
has acquired any extensive circulation.
But although the lntelligencer has been re-
lied upon for almost the only account with
which the publick has been furnished of the
proceedings of Congress, and although that
account has been, in general, fair and impa--
1ial. it has been nevertheless extremely I'M
perfect 1t has not furnished such a narrative
of proceedings from day to day, and such a
sketch of the debates AS ought to be laid be-
fore the publck In the more important de-
Al, If ;n1i Yalc b-~ haa Az
at the time rarely reported at all and this de-
ficency has been only supplied by the ppbli-
cation of long speeches, often several months
after the question debated had been decided.
The motives of members, i'll the votes which
they gave, have been often misunderstood,
aud wrong motives have been attributed 10
them for want OF a full report of the debates.
Every one who las watched the course OF
proceedings of Congress for the last few years,
must be sensible of this deficiency. We, do
not complain of the Editors Of the Intelligent
Ger for this deficiency. They have done as
much, perhaps. as they have been compensa-
ted for, or as the puhlick have had right to
demand of them. We know Of no reason
why they should be required to be the exclu-
sive reporters of Congress. The proceedings
of this body are pubick, and ii IS as much
the duty, perhaps of an Editor, who does not
reside at the seat of government, but who
wishes to embrace every opportunity to lay
before his readers full and satisfactory into-
nation on all subjects, to cooperate IN report
ing the proceedings OF the National Leglsla'
ture. as it is Of one who resides on the spot
1t is, perhaps, only by a competition between
the publishers Of several papers, that such Z
publication of the proceedings of Congress, a.
will meet the wishes Of the publick, can be
obtained. The Editors of the lntellgencer
we understand, have employed an additional
reporter for the present season; their report
will. therefore, undoubtedly be more full thar
1t has been for some years past. There il
reason to presume, however, that there vii
be room for further improvement, and wheth'
er our present attempt shall fail at the expira
ton Of the pre- sent session, or whether we re-
ceive encouragement to continue it perma
ncntlv, we shall no doubt render service by
procuring in future years, directly or indirectly
!: more full publication Of the proceedings o
Congress than has been made hitherto.
The report of proceedings for the lnteHigen
Ger, and the only account heretofore laid be
fore The American publick, it is Understood
has been entirely furnished by the Editors o
the Iatclligencer, personally, III the midst o
their other avocatons. The amount OF labou
bestowed upon this Important duly has beei
mauifestly too small to admit of its being per
formed in very ample and satisfactory man
ner. The proceedings Of the British farlia
ment, it is we'll known, are reported mde
pendently for several different daily papers
and each of these papers employs twelve Q
fourteen reporters. The proceedings OF thu
French Chamber Of Deputies are daily pub
lished at full length, including the speeches
all the members. In the same manner tn
proceedings Of the Netherlands States Gencr
al arc daily Published, both in the French AM
Dutch languages. There is no National Leg
isature, of which we have any knowledge
tie proceedings Of which have been so impel