The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-06

The PRESIDENT. Ii is moi executive, srctly speak
ng Tor you cannot transact business requiring secrecy
MIR RISK Secrecy is required BY the rules The
power have in executive session Is divided lno TWO
,arts II we have no power TO cause the doofs 70 DC
shut, we have no power 10 buy any stationery
Mr. CLARKE have resolution wish to Be re-,
eived and laid upon the table. II the other dsPosed
Mr. BRIGHT | desire to understand thing.
Does the Chair decide that the resolution IL in ordst
The PRESIDENT. The Chair decides that Il u 70 Tie
opinion Of The Senate that they meet in Legislative ss:
non each morning any proposition which relates to bws.-
mol executive IN lis character can be Tecssvsd
When up Tor consideration il for the Senate 70
consider neither within the range OF It's coast
uliona powers and whether be disposed Of seps
atey from the other House or not tsI y
MI BRIGHT did not know that the Senate had
iecided that meet every morning in open session.
The PRESIDENT. The Chair had entertained = diff
erent opinion-that me, in executive session that
he galleries be cleared and the journal read aad
hat then any proposition might be introduced which we
night think proper to discuss Ii there was anything
necessary be discussed open session, we DID so but
i not proceeded to the consideration OF strictly
iercnt An appeal has been taken, though y Wa no.
persisted in The journal OF yesterday read, and the
Chair stated that appeared to be the general ssase q
the Senate his opinion would doubt be 0verruled,
and he would not be bound the discharge OF his duty
to have the gallery cleared any morning until mcnon
was made 10 go into executive session. II that 10 the
OF The Senate the Chair has announced It, then
this resolution will be in order
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Mississippi. ] think there is mis-
take deciding that meet here every morning in open
session. The Senate may meet IN open session, OF
may meet in executive session Il. when in sxssa.iys
session to day, adjourn meet morrow should
in executive session But the Senate yesterday adj
ourned in open session They met to-day in open SEES
sion, and will remain IN open session until motion
made to close the doors In my opinion II IS IN the pow
of the body 10 adjourn 10 meet in executive session.
and it is not in the power OF the President 10 decide that
can only meet with open or with closed doors ms
morning necessary to transact some business which
could properly be done only III open session. lie 0ath
to be administered and that should be an open trans
action. The oath is not taken for the name OF il merely,
tfSnpr yhanl
the number OF witnesses the better That portion Of oar
proceedings necessarily done in open session The
journal Of yesterday when held also open session
was read We had executive journal yesterday, be-
did not engage in executive business yestertay
The last day executive session was. 30 lar ~
the Senate is concerned yesterday but three yeas mad
INTERVIEWED this being perpetual body, the last excessive
session would be the session OF the day preceding net
in which we met, and It's journal would De read lhs
will be, whether the last day was yeaf
preceding three months; but when go into executive
session. the journal of the last day we were in excessive
ghs'es time have elapsed must es .s
tor from Mississippi that il will involve difficulty To-
day have received these Communications, and raA4
acted business not connected with executive ProeeAo-
ings We 60 into executive session To-mosrowpwe
meet again in executive session What will the Senate
do with the journal lcannot be read. \ 9di ~
MIR. DAVIS. II depends upon the order whether We
meet in executive session or not ..qs1a-
Mr.. BRIGHT. have objected to the reception OF the
resolution Does the Chair decide that shall be re-
The PRESIDENT. The Chair decides that !. shall be
received. a s.ga .s3,lA I,a
Mr. RUsK Unless this decision is appealed from d.
Mr.. ATCHISON | do not think the decision will
effect the object of the senator II does not decide -
understand it. the power OF the Senate to- ACT upon thai
resolution III would myself yo,e y RECEIVE . ,aa'
that the question the Senate Is trying 10 GET
this Has the Senate, now organized and a nov
assembled. the power that the Senate had d~1ing
the last three monhss | know that the Sonata has no
power legislae unless conjunction with the ouse
of Representatives The Senate has exercised the power
II ard f ANSNU
precisely what the IRON North Carolina nov pro-
poses do during the last session. upon various ocea.
sions-ndeed, too often. Now sir, hold that te Se-
ate has the power now upon subjects OF mat khd
that it had during the last session OF Congress they
do anything which they could have done dusing
the last session OF Congress 1t seems to me that the
more than open session. Now the question arises
the Senate make appropriation out OF their con-
ngent fRd for the purchase OF books in executive ees
sion Under our rules, can business OF this kind DO
transacted in executive session. We all admit that i
has not been done under rules and perhaps could
not be under our rules Them comes back TO the real
questionable question started by the President Of the
Senae-ls the Senate in executive session. OF can
the Senate transact anything else but executive business
When it is asseabled by order OF the President. then
arises the real question, The motion made by the soma
tor from Indiana Mr. BRGHTl not to receive the resou
ton seems to me, does not settle the question whether
the resolution be received and acted upon by vote
OF the Senate. i. .Na# - III
Mr.. DOUGLAS Mr. President, the honorable soma
from Indiana [Mr BReHr] seems to be under the nm
preston that we have been here in executive
session do not understand that such the nature of
The call of the President The President has convened
special session OF the Senate OF the United States with
view that the attention of the Senate may be called to
executive business 1t is the Senate OF the United States
that have been assembled apprehehd We meet - the
Senate. We meet under the constitution . Senate.
We together in open session We may do any act,
after we have assembled. which IL competent or The
Senate do by itself. without connexion with tho House
OF Representatives therefore understand that have
right TO bring any resoluonto call upon any depart
for that Information which may relate to the lsgis-
iave business at the next session Of Congress may
feel it my duty TO introduce resolution calling Tor IN
formation, that Il may be ready for legislation n the
next session IL is competent for the Senate TO 40
that as the Senate and when we come to consldet
executive business, II will require a mohon 70 70
into executive session Then the doors will be closed
That motion will be made during this session Of
the Senate. just in the same way a. i was do-
ring the regular session The journals will be kept IN
the way when meet every December. We
together Senate, and the journal OF the open
of the Senate will be read and when we get into
executive the journal OF the secret sesson will
ordinary occasion related to executive business, that
only TO be considered for calling US okethsr
but il does not limit powers our duties 70 these
reasons that he may assign Tor H. any more than an extl
session for legislative purposes, relating 10 dencsencee
appropriations deficiencies Of revenue woud cQnune
our action during that session TO the obJecs
When together our powers are gehssAs uos9
the constitution Therefore regard this call - ceaA0
the Senate of the United Saiesan extra session a the
Senate We meet Senate, and we have I'll TIE
powers of a Senate under the constitutions When We
consider executive business, requireet SPECIAL
believe, is properly offered must vote 10 suslman tbs
decision OF the Chair that the honorable seaatos from
North Carolina Mr.. BApoER1 has a right 70 inHodncs
it, and that any other has right 10 introduce