Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-02-19
WASHINGTON, DEC. 80, 1919.
The vlcE President cthe u. S.

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Dear Sir: 1t has been suggested to
me, that some of the members of the
Senate, entertaining the opinion that a
formal visit in person or by card is due
from each of the heads OF the Executive
Departments, at the commencement OF
every session ofConFress, to every Sena-
tor upon his arrival at the seat of govern
ment, have considered the omission, on
my pae 70 pay such Wis ts,as the withhold
ing From them OF propermark ofrespect,
or even as implying pretension to exact
such tormality from them. Disc laim-
ing every such pretcnsion and every such
claim on my part, take the liberty OF
submitting TO you the following explana-
ton Of the motives which have governed
my conduct in relation to this sub
ject:
have invariably considered the go
vernne nt of the United States as go
vernmenl for the transaction of business,
and that no ceremonial for the mode or
order OF in,erchangiDg Wits between the
persons belonging to the respective De
partments in ii had ever been established.
l was myself five years a member of
the Senate, and at four OF sthe five ses-
sions of Congress, which attended, was
panied at this place by my wife.
During that time | never once received
a first visit from any one 9th Heads OF
Departments, nor did my wife ever re-
ceive FIRST visit from any one of their
ladies ,:except perhaps once when she was
sick, from Mrs. Madison. We always
vailed upon them soon after our arrival
at Washington, not from any opinion that
it was an obligation of duty, but because
we understood and believed tito be usual,
and because We did not think it improper.
We made an exception, after the first
session, with regard to Mr.. Gallatin, who,
having never returned my first visit, was
supposed not to inclinc to that sort of in
tcrcourse with us.
When came TO reside at this place.
two years since, was under the impress
sion, that the usaaes, with regard to VI
sting, were, as had known and prac-
Used them ten years before, that, as
member of the administration, l had no
sort of claim TO first visit from any mem
Der Of either house OF Congress, but that
neither had any meHber of Congress
any claim to first visit from me-that
the interchange and order Of visits was
entirely optional on both sides, and tina,
no rule of etiquette whatsoever existed,
which required that either party should
pay the first visit, or indeed any visit, TO
the other.
In the coarse Of the winter of 1917
ID, two members of the Senate, for both
ofwhomI entertained the highest respect,
and with one of whom had had the
pleasure of sitting serera, years in the
Senate, called at my office, and informed
me that there was minute OF rule
agreed upon, not officially. but privately,
by the members OF the Senate Of the FIRST
Congress, that the Senator'S osthe United
States paid the first visit to no person
except the President ofthe United States.
l observed to them, that as during the
five years service as Senator, had
never seen nor heard OF this rule, |
could hardly consider it as having been
much observed; that could, however,
have no possible objection to the Sena-
tors prescribing to Themselves any rule
which theymight think proper.
But, asked them if,hey understood the
rule as implying en- order that other her-
sons should first visit then. They an
swered, i'll rccollect right, by no means.
And supposed they yiewcd the whole
affair as l did, that is, ofvery little I'M
portance. have, therefore, paid no
visits Of form to members ofthe Senate
and, although always happy to receive