The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1836-04-08

frmsr ConRrsss. tkink have con
eIrsiseIy shown thsi nc have no poser
over our own journal afler il i made up;
and I am NOT b be understood - m
any respect abandoning the ground as
sumed in relation 10 IL. But all The
reasoning which established that PROPOSE
IiOn acquires an increased force whsn
brought 10 bear on ihe present question.
Some embarrassment 10 GRATED IN the
mind on the FIRST view Of this matter. from
an idea which commonly prevails. Of the
Senate being : permanent body, end that
is journals. from lis creation up 10 this
time, belong 10 il in that character. Bot.
SIR. IL IL evident This position IL only
true When applied TO the Senate IN Its
srsr,iivs capseily. In dlseharging iIs
legislative function. IL has . limited
existence. Il can only ACT for two years
ii time. and al the end Of that period
which terminates a Congress iIs legisla
tive powers terminate, ss those Of the
House Of Representatives do. When u
meets House Of Representatives whose
whole number is newly elected. Il meets
that body With me one. third Of us mem
bers also newly elected. and both form
. new Congress. and are not continue
lion Of the preceding one. The longer
term of service Of the Senators does not
affect the duration Of the Legislature 90
which lhey are dePuIed. nor destroys Il
distinctive character. rhey are members
of several c'"gresses. but several Con
crosses dn not enter inin and merge in q
continuous Senate. The Constitution al
the United States vests the national
Legislative powers IN a Congress COM
posed Of Senate and House Of Re-
representatives.. not IN The Senate and
Hnus, Of Representatives. ! contend.
therefore. SIR. that the Senate OF the Unit
ted States stands precisely in the same
relation tn the legislative Journals nj a
former Congress as the House 81 Repre-
seaIalives does: and that. il the present
House OF Representatives has no author.
Ity 10 alter or deiace the journal of that
branch Of the Legislature II the 23d Con.
gress. this body cannot touch the journal
OF the Senate. which formed part &c IL.
We are the keepers. SIR. no, the ownsrs.
of the volume which contains the pro-
ceedIngs OF that Legislature. Is il pos
slble. sir, the exiTaVsgant proposition
will be maintained that the journals Of
the Senate Of 1890 belong to the Senate
of 1886, and that they have the power
to change or obIuerste what is written
in them. or destroy them altogether At
their pleasure! And yet that proposition
must be maintained. to Justify the act
now proposed to be done. Far from be.
ing our property. they are that Of The
people Of the United States; and you have
just as much right to order. by resOlu.
ton Of the Senate, that one Of the nation
al frigaies should be altered or destroyed,
or one Of the Notifications Of the country
dismantled. as you have TO touch the re- .
cords Of former Senate. Did there ex
ist law Of Congress making il a penal
offence to alter or deface the journal Of
either House Of Congress. and our Ne
cretary. who might COMM, this act by
your order, should be indicted for il. |
deny lha, he could successfully plead the
mandate he received from YOU as a Jus
tihcation. II he offered such plea, and
II was demurred la, hazard llslle in say,
ing. that IN case thr matter we're carried
before the Supreme Court Of The United
States. they would hold ne had no valid
authority for what he had done.
Hr. Porter having here. become Fl.
hausted, motion was made and IMAM,
mously carried. to postpone the subjec,
under debate.