Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-08-12
IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
MONDAY, AUGUST Z. ls4s.

Mr.. BENTON made the following Report:
The Select Committee Of the Senate on the pub
icaon Of the Debates and Proceedings of Congress,
appointed to act with the Committee of the House
of Representatives, respectfully report:
That, on meeting and consultation, the committees
agreed that the subject referred them very pro-
per for the action in Of the Houses but for
their Joint action, and that, consequently, each committee
should report separately its immediate body. But,
while reporting separately in obedience to the constitutional
privilege and duty of each House provide for the pubca
ton its own proceedings they have the satisfaction say
that they agree entirely their opinions upon the matter
ferred to them and make the report to each House
The subject referred them Of great Importance and
has long occupied the aentiono Congress The
publication Of the debates and proceedings Of Congress due
TO the country and 10 the members themselves and
sary proper knowledge Of the action the Government
Public opinion is the judge Of and under
form Of government and the Houses of Congress being
the great forums for the discussion Of public measures
these Houses and what said and in hem that enght
ened public opinion look for much Of the material which
is TO guide lis decision.
The publication Of the debates and proceedings involves
three points Of expense and trouble, wit, reporting print
ing, and circulating and each Of these BESIDES requires
ard fidelity and reporting requires peculiar talent and educa-
ton. Congress, body, could take upon itself the
management Of business requiring much skill, care,
pense trouble and accordingly has attempted IT,
But the publication Of the debates and proceedings in some
form and extent being imperavey required by pub
lie opinion, the newspaper press its and trouble,
especially of government have erdeavored to sup
ply the want but necessarily limited degree and at
great sacrifice Of pecunay interest to ITSELF The oldest esta-
bshed paper in this city, that Of Messs Gales Seaton
alleged have paid out hundred thousand dollars for re-
porting debates Of Congress within the last thirty years and
doubt the other principal papers which undertook give
full reports debates paid in the proportion during the
time Of their reporting This mode Of publishing evidently
too expensive for the newspaper Of this city, and be-
Sides imperfect ard insufficient and withdraws from Congress
the proper control and supervision OF its proceedings
Authentic publications. under the authority Of Congress and
at IL expense has therefore been the mode which has sUp-
gestsd ef the adequate Of making the country ac
quanied with the debates and proceedings Of body entrusted
with the power Of natora legislation and exercising gea,
an influence over public opinion throughout the UnOn and
this mode OF publication has frequently been made the subject
matter Of anxious consideration before the committees Of the
two Houses Plans have been reported by these committees
adopted by the Houses partial system adopted by the
Senate for itself at the last has entirely failed Il has
failed at all the points for which reporting is desirable 10 wit
promp,iude, accuracy, and diffusion among the people
will probably be abandoned The House OF Representatives
has system Of s own and is dependant upon the voun
tay services OF the public press for the publication Of s de-
bates and poceednga service which, howsoever well per-
formed for that House during the present session. ex
pec TO be continued Both Houses therefore wi,hou,
any system Of reporting its debates and proceedings.
BY the constitution each House is to keep journal Of il
proceedings, ard TO publish them II would be very mar
construction OF this clause Of the constitution and very
insufficient communication Of the proceedings Of Congress to
the people, to conne the publication under this clause to The
yeas and nays and the notices Of bills and motions which a
pear the journals is such the practice Reports or
committees and public documents published im
numbers, and at vast expense, and after all without the
great object and advantage Of pubicaonha IL say diff
fusion among The peopuness the newspaper press lends
its aid TO the republication Of what Congress has printed Pub
cy Is the soul Of Government action. The nature OF
Government the interests of the country, and the will Of
the people require publicity and s exaced in form
from all the departments Of the Government All the acts
and communications, with few exceptions Of all the branches
the Government published while in the document form
they by few. II Is through Congressional debates
that the contents of these documents go the country But
for the publication and diffusion Of the Congress debates no