Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-19

Vice President the U. S. a copy that letter
IS herewith enclosed. which, if you think it
relating to subject of sufficient interest'to the
public TO deserve place in your paper, YOU
are at liberty TO publish.
Washington, 1Jth Jan. 1922.
WASHINGTON, Dec %, 1919.
the VICE PRESIDENT 0CMe u. $.
Dear Sir: Ithas been suggested to me, that
some of the members of the Senate, entertain
Ing the opinion that formal visit In person or
by card Is due from each of the heads of the
Executive departments, at the commence
mcnt of every session of Congress. to every
Senator upon his arrival ut the seat of govern
inent, have considered the omission on nv
part, to pay such visits, rs the Withholding
from them of proper mark of respect, or
even as Implying pretension to exact such a
lorinalIty from them. Disclaiming every such
pretension and every such claim on my part,
take the liberty of submitting to you the fol-
lowing explanation OF the motives which
have governed my conduct in relation to this
subject:
L have invariably considered the govern.
ment OF the United States as government
tor the transaction of business, and that no
ceremonial forthe mode or order ofinterChang-
lng visits between the persons belonging to
the respective departments in it had ever
been established. | was myself five wears
member OF the Senate, and at four of the five
sessions of Congress, which attended, was ac-
companied at this place by my wife Durng
that time, never once received first visit
from any one of the Heads of Departments
nor did my wife ever receive a first visit from
any one Of their ladies, except perhaps once,
when she was sick, from Mrs. Madison. We
always called upon them soon after our ar
rival at Washington, not from any opinion
" Dn fInn Of I,tfu Inn
we understood and believed it To be- usual
aud because we did not think it improper
We made all exception. after the first session.
with regard to Mr.. Gallatn, who, never hav-
lng returned my first visit, was supposed not
10 incline 10 that sort of Intercourse with u.s.
When l came To reside at this place, two
years since, was under the impression that
the usa5es, with regard to visiting, Were, as
had known and practsed them ten years be-
tore, that, as member of the administration,
had no sort of claim to first visit from any
member of either house of Congress, but that
neither had any member OF Congress any
.elrIm 10 first visit from me--that the in
terchanGe and order of visits was entirely
optional Oh both sides, and that 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 course of the winter of 1878.
| entertained the highest respect, and with
one of whom had had the pleasure of sitting
several years IN the Senate, called at my Office,
and Informed me that there was Il minute OF
rule agreed upon, not officially, but private
iy, by the members of the Senate of the first
Congress, that the Senators of the United
States paid the first visit to no person except
the President of thc United States. observ-
ed to them, that, as during five years service
4
this rule, could hardly consider it as having
been much observed that could, however
have no possible objection to the Senator
prescribing to themselves any rule Of visiting
4 winch they might think proper. But, asked
them II they understood the rule as implying
an order that other persons should FIRST vsii
them? They answered, If recolIect right
by 40 means. And supposed they viewed
the whole affair as did, that is, OF very little
Importance. | have, therefore, paid no visits
of form to members Of the Senate and
although always happy to receive and return
the visits of those who pleased to call upon
me, and happy TO invite TO my house every
member of the Senate, whether lac had or
had not paid me visit, who would give me-
the honor of his company, yet always res.
pected the motives Of those who declined pay.
lug me any visit, or even freuuentine mI
house at all. | exacted nothing from them
which they might think incompatible will
their dignity. / presumed they would exac
nothing from me, not within the line of m,
Official duty soon learnt, that if should
make 1t a rule to pay the first visit to ever,
senator at each session, the same complimen
would be claimed, if not by all, at least by
large proportion Of the members of the Hous
OF Representatives and | could fnd no re
publican principle which would, to nv owl
mind, justify me 10 refusing to the member
OF one house that which / should Weld a
due to the members Of another. At The com
fnencement OF each session, ! have visitet
the presiding member Of each House, no
from sense ofobligatiou, but Of propriety.-
have not feltit my duty to pay FIRST visits +
any individual member of either House no
has 1t entered my imagination, that fir.
visit was due from any member OF eithe
House to me
1t there is a body Of men upon earth, 70
whom, more than for any other, ought {
enepsn every feeling of attachment supefaC
ued TO every sentiment Of reverence it is IN
Senate Of the United States It's importanc
anu dignity, as one Of the branches OF the i,
gislatore, a. one of the component parts ,
the Supreme Executive, and as the tribup
OF official honor and virtue, cannot be mo,
highly estimated by any man than by me-
Ny father had the honor of being lis fir
presiding officer. | had, for FIVE years, that
Deng one ofits members and through ever
successive administration of this eoverBmer
from the e establishment of fhe n.ffierai cn,