Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-13


posed. He did recoIec instance and he had been
somewhat industrious in searching the records the foun-
daton Of the Government when the grant had been opposed
And had been unusual thing grant the power The
Senator from North Carolina said he conceived il be
practical abdcaon OF legislative power il true,
often willing to surrender any portion OF power il is
common but he for one this occasion,
perfectly willing surrender il the Vice President of the
United States He did consider that the argument Of the
Senator from North Carolina, in this point of view emit
tied to any particular weight How would their power be
abdcated surrendered, essened 1t was not to be pre-
sumed that the Vice President would appoint committees
the majority OF whose opinions would be with
majority OF that body and he could conceive any
difference whether the appointments made by the Senate
or by the presiding officer
With regard to the responsibility he thought the Senator
fom North Carolina had been abundanty answered by the
Senator from Ohio. Talk about responsibility To whom
IS the temporary presiding officer responsible To you
Senators they might depose him, deprive him Of temporary
power but the question of responsibility vastly greater
when applied to the Of the Vice President Instead
being responsible to fifty -four persons he is responsible
millions OF American people, and would it not be safer
trust to him than to majority of Senators who vote by ballot
so that the public cannot ascertain how they discharge their
responsibility while he above board and in view of the
vast responsibility by which he is surrounded For his
part he could sort Of valid objection why the power
should not be conferred But the precedents Here Mr..
D. entered upon review Of the former proceedings Of the
Senate of the United States relation this subject Com
mencng at the earliest period which standing committees
/ were appointed
The question before the senate
an important he deemed proper that he should
make few remarks thereon and show what had been done
in similar twenty years back He read extract from
the Register of Debates of the 18th of April 1885, contain
ing the remarks made by JoHN RANDOLPH then in the Sem
ate upon giving notice that he would for the
the rules of that body which gave the presiding officer
the appointment Of the committees, and the control the
journal Of its proceedings Mr. RANDoLpH strongly opposed
the system then in practice (vestng the appointing power
the Vice President and contended that the appointing power
should be restored to the Senate.
The following the extract from the Register Debates
the proceedings OF the Senate Of the 18th of March, 1885,
by Mr.. Benton
On motion of Mr.. Randolph Senate then proceeded
to consider the motion submitted by him rescnd the
rules OF the Senate which place the power of appointing the
committees and the supervision Of the Journal with the pre-
siding officer.
A debate of two hours duration place on this mo-
ion in which Mr. Randolph spoke repeatedly support of
the expedency and constitutional necessity Of the proposed
change in the rules rather their restoration what they
had been and in explanation of his views in regard
amentary formo the rights and duties of presiding officers
and members Of legislative Enthusiastically of those Of the
POSITIONS that is the Duty the right of the President
the Senate to call member to order until the call be made
BY member, and an appeal be made to the chair, Sc.
Messrs johnson, of Kentucky Holmes, Mills, Van Bn-
ren Eaton and Hayne entered also into the debate chiefly in
explanation Of the considerations that led the Senate make
the existing change its rules their experience of the effects
Of the change and their views of its proprey mpropre-
~ the comparative of the modes of appointing
committees, &c.
the debate large has been reported proper
to state that all the gentlemen who favored the notion
as well as the who opposed it, discamed the
tenton to mpute the Vice President improper
Of the duties devoyed him by the rules The change
supported the of its abstract propriey and that the
took occasion express satisfaction the motion had
proceeded from intimate friend of the Vice Pres
dent which itself would contradict the presumption that any
conduct Of that officer had induced the proposition
division OF the question being demanded, il first
the Of and 70 the
ITSELF and decided in the Affirmative by yeas and nays,
follows
Chandler Chase Clayton, Cobb, Dckerson, Edwards Find
lay, Harrison, Harper, Hayne, Hendricks Holmes Johnson
Of Ksntusky Johnston Of Louisiana Kane King Lloyd, Ma
Sandford Seymour, Smith, Tazewell, Thomas Van Buren,
White, Wiley, Williams, and woodbury--4o.
g NArs-Messrs. Eaton and Ruggles.
The question then taken the second branch Of the
proposition viz To take from the President of
the control the journal of proceedng
Z. YEAs-Messrs. Barton Bell, Branch Chandler Chase
Dekerson' Edwards, Fnday, Harper, Harrison, Hsyne
Louisiana, Kane King Lloyd, Macon Marks, Mills Noble
Randolph, Robbins, Sandford Seymour Smith, farewell
Thomas Van Buren,, White, Wiley, Williams, and Wood
"NArs-Messs Chambers, Clayton, Cobb Eaton, Rowan
and Ruggles-5
" The resolution having been agreed to-
The Vice President rose and said he trusted that the
Senate would indulge him in making few observations before
he resumed his the debate the subject just decided
had relation necessarily the duties Of the Chair No
said the Vice Presden can he more deeply impressed than
self with the great truth that the of
penis mainly on their That nation deserved to
quer the world which called its and will
the nation deserve that its liberty shall be immortal which
lays the foundation OF its system OF government the great
principles that power ought be delegated which be
fairly exercised by the constituent body and that ought
to be delegated but responsible agents These have
been maxims through the whole OF political life aud
should be inconsistent with myself il did give my entire
assent to the principles upon which the rules question have
been rescinded"
Having concluded the reading Of this extract
Mr.. BESTos sid that he believed the views expressed
therein by MIR Randolph and the precedent set be
feet and ne would therefore vote against the resolution
The question then taken by yeas and nays and decided
follows
itAS-Aiessrs Alen Ashley Achison, Atherton Breese
cameron Cas-, Chalmers Colquitt DIX Fairfield Jenness
Levy Lewis Niles, Semple SEWER Speight Sturgeon, Tur
NAis-Messrs, Archer Bagby, Benton Thomas Clayton
IorSn Irttenden Davis Dayton Evans Greene HAYWOOD
Ssnag'n, Johnson, Of Maryland, Johnson Of Louisiana
Mangm M'iier' Pesrce Phelps Simmons, Upham, West
so the resolution was rejected
on motion q Mr.. MANGUM II was resolved that the
standing committees be elected on Monday next
The Senate then adjourned over until MONDAY
| WAR STE,MERs-The attention Of the British Govern
ent has recently been directed the importance Of fitting
with n;.cos al