The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-18
20 he motion 70 take up was agreed 10.

20 the motion 10 take up was asrssdto.
The bill was considered In committee Of the
whole, and sfter the adoption of suDdry amend
ments moved by Mr.. BREEsE, from the Committee
on Public Lands, il was passed by informally until
tomorrow.
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS.
Mr.. ALLEYS resolution abolishing hs secret
sessions OF the Senate was then taken up,
Mr. ALLEN rose and said that he should not en-
ter into any discussion Of the resolution Senator'S
minds were made up on il, and anything he could
say would not change their opinions On several
previous occasions he had submitted similar resolu-
lions, not however including the secret discussions
Of treaties, which embraced in the present reso-
luton. The experience Of the past had shown that
the closing Of the doors Of the Senate was a mere
sham. Everything relating TO treaties Of any
importance was published in the public prints
just as if the doors were open. So il
had been on a recent occasion. He would
not say how true the statements were, as that
would be to disclose the secrets Of the Senate
but he would say that SO long such statements
were allowed TO pass uncontradicted, they did the
Senste-at all events, they did individual members
great in ustice He wished he was at liberty to point
out wherein the matter To which he had had refer.
ence differed in point Of fact from the reports I'D
given in the public prints He was the more desi-
rous that the matter II really existed in fact should
be communicated TO the public, from the circum.
stance that the two leading papers Of this city had
given, by Implication their version Of the treaty by
copying the statements Of other newspapers. II was
thus impressed on the public mind that the state
ments Ia question were correct. What good end, he
asked, was subserved by secret session None
What bad endsl Many. The public mind thus
became preoccupIed with error. But he proceeded
on sul higher grounds than mere expediency. He
commended that these secret sessions adverse "a
the genius Of free institutions. They msrred the
symmetry Of that Deral and popular form Of gov.
eminent Of which they boasted. There was proper
and wholesome craving in the public mind to know
all the acts Of the representative Of the people. Not
only II desirable TO know the thing when il WA
done, but to know It when in the act Of being done
II had, indeed, been said with all imaginable CRAWL
~, that people must acquiesce in thing when done
because IL was 'done," no matter how unjust in IL.
self-no matter how opposed 10 the popular rights
and the popular will That was a principle, he need
hardly say, which possessed fraternity with the
free institutions Of the United States nor to any sys.
tenn OF government in Europe south Of Russia, or
west Of COnstantnople. Political questions were
never done" IN this country. Every act was sub
jet 10 the revision Of the people; and that ever.
active, overriding power the foundation Of their
liberty. Suppose they would say that the Tariff was
thing done," and therefore not to be touched; or
that the surrender Of Detroit by General Hull, be-
cause thing done, was never 10 be condemned
He hoped the resolution would pass, but, as he had
said, he would not go into any discussion Of its mer-
its. He called for the yeas and nays.
The call for the yeas and Rays being seconded,
they were orderedi and, being taken, resulted as
follows;
.YEAs-Mossn. Allen Atchison, Atherton Brress,
Dickinson, Fairfield, flanagan, Jenness Niles Semple
Sturgeon, Tumey, and Westcott-l3
NAYs-Messrs. Archer. Ashley, Bsgby Barrow Benton,
Berren Calhoun Cameron Cass. Chalmers Thomas Clay.
ton John NJ Clayton, Corwin, Davis Dayton Dix Evans
Greene, Houston, Huntington Jarnagn, Johnson OF Ma.
ryand, Johnson Of Louisiana, Lewis Nc Dufe Mangum
Miller MoTehead, Pearce, Pennybacker Phelps RuSk
SEWER, Simmons, speight. UPham Webster, and Yulee
IS.
So the resol ution was rejected.
THE WAREHOUSE BILL.
Mr.. DIX moved the Senate to take up for con
sideration the warehouse bill which was no
agreed to.
On motion Of Mr.. ARCHER, the Senate then
went into executive session, and after some time
spent therein the doors were opened, and
The Senate adjourned.