Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-05-13
PHILADELPHIA, APRIL 3

PHILADELPHIA, APRIL 8.
1t is impossible not to smile at the
naivette with which some of the men,
bers OF the House OF Representatives, at
Washington, have spoken on the floor,
Of the dscourses which they had prepar-
ed on the amendment OF the Constitution,
but which they were prevented from de.
ivering by the success Of the hrevions
question, moved on Saturday. They
should be compensated and consoed for
the grIeyous disappoinlmenl-as far as
it is compensate and con.olable-by
precedence, as orators on the Panama
question and, considering tina, bound
less latitude Of depression in debate is
DOW claimed and admitted, they might
introduce much OF what they had con-
cocted on the Other subject.--Say wha,
the Constitution is; then, what it ought
TO be; then how Mr.. Clay elected Mr..
Adams, SC.
Each OF the two grea, topics--,he re-
formation Of the currency and perseye-
rance in the removal of commercial re-
striclions-lately engaged the most anx-
lous attention of the British government
and people, was fully discussed and sa-
,isfactorily decided in two nights in the
House of Commons, larger number OF
members being present than our Con-
gress contains. No one, we venture to
assert, who reads the reports O. the de-
bates on them, can perceiye-pregnan,
and nom entous as they are--that any
fact, illustration, or argument, was omit
ted, which could be deemed material or
espcdient, in the discussion. But when
a question of rca or imaginary impor-
lance is submitted 10 the House oil Rep
rescntstives at Washington, it is not IL
nally disposed of in 7yceks OF months. A
long harangue is pronounced about II one
day another the next day, or with an
interval OF several days--,he Speaker
or chairman mods at length, and the seats
in the Hall are deserted, while the Pc
riodical dissertation is uttered: and u III
mately, i, becomes indispensable "to use
the gag" as the phrase is, before the
subject can be set aside. Moreover,
what has been spok en-, is not in general,
reported a, once; bu, each orator writes
out his DISCOURSE either from his own
notes or those of the slenographer, modl-
Tying, expunging, or adding as he lists ;
and the ora,orical esss, appears separate
ly in the Intelligencer or Journal, no, al
ways during the session, but, perhaps, in
the succeeding dog-days, to be peruscd,
" between sleeping and waking" after
dinner. Cannot reformation be at least
attempted. Mar. Ga=.
This sntjcc, 1.-THE power OF the Execu.
tive in the appointment Of Ministers. was
examined and settled in the Congress OF
1895. The House Of Representatives
were dissatisfied with the treaty formed
with Great Britain, and requested the
President to furnish them with copy
of the instructions of tho Minister who
negotiated it. General Washington, in
assigning his reasons Ter refusing TO com.
ply with the request, states that
"Having been member OF the &C.
neral Convention, and knowing the prin-
ciplcs on which the Constitution was
formed, have for ever entertained but
one opinion on this subject, and from
the first establishment oil the governm ent
to this moment, my conduc, has excm.
plified that opinion, that the power OF
making treaties is exclusively vested in
the President, by and with the ADVICE
and consent Of the Senate, provided two
thirds Of the Senators present concur /;
and that every treaty so made aud pro-
me lga,ed, heDceiorward became the law
OF the land. 1t ~ thus that the treaty
making power has been understood by
foreign nations; and, in all the treaties
m ade with them, we have declared, and
they have believed, that when ratified by
the President, with the advice and con-
sent Of the Senate, they became obIiga-
tory. In this construction OF the const!-
tuition, every House Of Representatives
has heretofore acquiesced, and until the
present time, not a doubt or suspicion
has appeared, to my knowledge, that this
construc ,ion was not the true one. Nay,
they have more than acquiesced; for,
till now, without controverting the obli-
cation Of SUCH trealies,s they have made
all the requisite provisions for carrying
them into effect"
And, in conclusion, no adds
"As, therefore, it is perfectly clear to
my understanding, that the assem- Of,
the House OF Representatives 10 not nc.
to the validity Of treaty as
the treaty with Great Britain exhibits