The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1845-12-16


first of all, as to the matter Of responsible.
ty, for that was the first point made by
the distinguished Senator from North Car
olina. The gentleman predicted his ar
gument upon the idea that the presiding
officer Of this body does not stand in the
relation Of responsibility to this body
which he would occupy if he were an
officer temporarily presiding and elected
by the Senate itself. His answer was,
that the responsibility of that officer is e.
ven greater that than Of an officer tempo
rally elected by the Senate. The respon-
sibili:y of the Vice President of the u
nited States it is true, not to the SEN
ate, but the Senate's masters-the States
and the People. His responsibility was a
responsibility to the fount, the source, of
all political authority. It was to that
source from which he derived the right to
preside, according to the terms of the con-
stitution, over the deliberations of that
body. Where could there be higher
responsibility, save that to Heaven itself,
thai the responsibility of public officer
to the great mass of the American people!
II was a responsibility which operated
more coercively than that which was due
merely to the Senate of the United States.
But it might be said that an officer Sc
lected TO preside temporarily over the Sen
ate by that body itself, holds more IN
timate relation TO it than the Vice Presi-
dent of the United State can do, and that
for this reason the Senate should hesitate
TO confidle 10 that officer in the same man.
ner and to the same extent as to the tenn
porary one. This would be good argu-
ment enough if the action of the Senate
concerned the Senate only; but when it is
recollected that the Senate is taken from
the pIiiiis..y: source of all authority. and
responsible itself to Ile -12:i:e source
from which the Vice President derives
his authority, the argument ceases to
have any force. Is this an action Of the
Senate which concerns the Senate alone!
No, sir; it has reference to the law-ma-
king power. and that power concerns the
whole Republic.
But it was said there was want of de-
cency in this proceediBg-
Mr.. Mangum. The Senator entirely
misunderstands what | said. said, for
the sake of fdecency | should be unwilling
to presume that so distinguished an officer
of the Government would submit 10 be
dictated to by portion of the bodp over
which he is called to peside.
Mr.. Allen. Precisely; and this is the
best of all arguments why that distinguish
cd officer should have the control of this
matter, because, as the Senator says, he
will act independently Of all dictation. 1t
is the very best Of human reasons. The
very argument used by the Senator in an
argument in favor of the resolution. If
the facts were the reverse of what they
arc-if that officer were subject to dicta-
ton, his argument would be good argu-
ment, as he designed it, against the reso-
luton.
The views Of the Vice President are
understood by the nation to be in con-
formity with the views of majority of
this body. The majority of this body
is responsible to the country for the ac-
ton of the body; and bearing this rcspon-
sibilitv, it is but right that the majority
should direct the action ofthe body.
After some further remarks from Mr..
Allen, Mr.. Breesc made some remarks in
support of the resolution, and was fol-
lowed bv Mr.. Benton, who quoted from
the Register of Debates to show that the
mode now proposed to be pursued was
an unusual one, and that hitherto it had
been considered Objectionable.
The question was then taken by
yeas and nays. and decided as follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Allen. Ashley, Atehi-
son. Atherton, Breese, Cameron, Cass,
Chalmers, Colquitt. Dix, Fairfield, Jen-
ness, Levy, Lewis, Niles, Semple, Sewer
Speight, Sturgeon, Turney-2O.
NAYS-Messrs. Archer, Bagby, Ben
ton, Thomas Clayton, Corwin, Britten-
don, Davis, Dayton, Evans, Greene,
Haywood, Jarnagin, Johnson, of Mary
land, Johnson, of Louisiana, Mangllm,
Miller. Pearce, Phelps, Simmons, Up
ham, Westcott-2I.
So the resolution was re jected.
On motion of Mr.. Mangum, it was re-
solved that the standing committees be
elected on Monday next. a.
The Senate then adjourned over until
Monday.
S0r9idrs GE1efffc