The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-05
THE COMMITTEE.

The Official Organ" continues to pour out its
crocodile lamentations over the recent appointment
of the Investigating Committee, and the burden of
its to be- that the trident has been struck
from the Speakers hands, and the House of Repre-
sentatives has had the boldness and audaciy TO APP
point, for itself, Of its own committees Most
unparalleled uSurpation-most wonderful impu-
dence! 1t is not difficult TO penetrate the hidden mo-
tives which lie at the bottom Of all these grevous
complaints of the Globe poured out in such daily
profuson. 1t the commencement that resistance
TO inordinate Executive power-to exclusive omni-
poence, which must result in the restoration Of those
powers TO the Legislative department and the people,
which the Executive has, by degrees, so largely and
so nsidiously usurped; and which the Globe, above
all things, does not desire to see restored. Who is
the Speaker He is the Executive officer of the
House. What are his powers2 Those which are
delegated to him by the House. To whom is he re-
sponsble 7 To the House. and the House alone;
Tor al their hands, and theirs alone, he holds his
place How then, can it be, even plausbly contend
ed, that the Speaker is responsible to the people,
when they have no part nor lot in his election.
For the purpose of showing how gradually, and
how firmly this principle of Executive supremacy
has crept into and is fastening into our political sys
tenn, we here quote from the rules of the irst Con-
gress, that which applies to the appointment of COM
mtees il reads thus: Committees of more than
three members shall be balloted for By The House" The
caution with which the members Of the first Con
gress melted out the power Of the Speaker in the
appointment of committees, is here strikingly mani
fest, and indicates jealousy Of all classes of En-
eeutire poncezy well worthy the deep consideration
and the emulation Of the statesmen Of the present
day. As the number Of members and committees
increased, from considerations of time and conve-
nience the present rule of the House. comforting on
the Speaker the power of appointing all committees
not otherwise ordered by the House, was adopted
The rule reads thus "AH committees shall be appoint
cd by the Speaker unless otherwise specially directed bv
The House; IN 1chtch case then shall be Amounted by
ballot" Suppose this rule had not been adopted how
would the committees have been appointedl Ger
tainly by the House; for without the order of the
House, the Speaker has no power whatever to ap-
point committee. Then the original power be-
longs to the House ITSELF and can only be exercised
by the Speaker, under its authority. What rights,
then, of the Speaker have been usurped None
whatever. The House then, in express accordance
with one of its standing rules has specially ordered
that very important committee shall not be appoint
ed by the Speaker; and in doing this, it has only
done that which il had right to do, in relation to
every committee OF the House. What then is the
unpardonable sin against which the sanity Globe
lhundcrs out its mighty anathemas7 Why, this
order Of the House prevented the Speaker from APP
pointing majority of the Sub-treasuryites on that
committee, by which the numerous and heavy de-
alcaions, which have so sensibly shocked the pub
lie ear, would have been laid at the door of the
Stale bank deposiie system, an object so desirable to
the Globe. This was sore disappointment, and Is