Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-08

know the resolution s Il may be to appropriate money
70 present officers, ID may be TO appoint
new one do not know what Is its nature. may be OPP
49, but that i not the question. The question is,
i M ..;s any business which may now be done under
in ssns, from the business which must be done
that rna Iha and whether this resolution comes within
nressry,,or the Senate must necessarily have self
e ma IVA NM. Empowers under the constitution. Il seems
.s,ioo and A. .ush this preliminary process of organ
incident TO every BODY be necessary for that purpose IL
powers. "e Au NAa' = A'1's na'e A0se
nation ys,s - he msds expel member. Suppose
LII -, ...S;e a' sxpei member for any cause
hi. consituen,s would Lavender would have right and
sdered IL open session Thgh to have his claims con-
which must be considered in ns'''0' '0'n'
| Mr. UNDERWOOD. | con- r.;,h III .sr,lam.o f,o,
rs.,ra, a.,n ha u' az, converting us cannot
al charter when we together. ., i hs foundation
of our power; and not the procamEn TLs President
therefore, has no power to say, "whek come tooether
you shall not act up to the functions hch hs Canal,
tuition invests you, but shall be subject ;n.s S;,n
That is the position of the Senator from Ind under
stand it. Why, surely the creatuK &C h pre;
dent in that sensehat he convene us and G an, ~
whatever ne chooses we shall act upon, and ude evev
thing else II be can do that cannot try Lmhar a.
suggested by the Senator from South Carolina CANNOT
expe member we cannot raise question upon adm;s
sion Of member if do nothing but attend to S he
President may in his proclamation, in his letter coninu
repudiate that idea totally and entirely. defer tba
decision Of the Chair with very great respect
Chair whenever but, in this instance really tinL
the Chair IL wrong Let give case, which think I'm
demonstrate 1t to be So Your executive session, SO caA
Is not matter of constitution In reference to its secresy bS
it is matter Of rule and regulation entirely So Suppose
were to get up this morning and says members have
toore avoved themselves this floor am opposed herea
to having any secret sessions and this mere MAJ
ter Of rule, of Senatorial regulation want 10 bring 10 the
Tho ifu
with closed DOORS could be said that have no power to sub
NIT proposition of that sort Whe could restrict me Who
could say that It matter which should be considered in
secret session. Il 10 Of regulation and Of rule
and have the right to discuss those rules it seems
me- under the constitution, matter Of public business
Now the formation Of these rules belongs every body its
organization, at the very commencement Il is the very
first thing which Legislative body has do to make the rules
which shall regulate its conduct and these secret sessions are
nothing but matter of rule. Have not right to get up
and propose publicly to change that rule It to me that
have And how could be restricted offering PROPOSE
ton Of that in session cannot understand be-
eve that whatever belongs the Senate Senate distinct
from its union with the other branch Of the Legislative depart
ment OF the government transact just well without
the other branch being in session as could they were in
session. As was very properly suggested by the honorable
Senator from North Carolina whatever do ourselves
when the other House in session. we can do by ourselves
when the other House not in session. Nothing can be
palmer than that.
According my view Of the constitution this Senate has
sccSouos
gslative proceedings into Congresses matter growing
out Of the constitution except far divides the House
OF Representatives into Congresses every two years. The
Senate BY the constitution, is perpetual body Look at
the instrument itself What does say That Senators
should be elected for six years and that when they first met
they should be divided into three classes the term Of
class expiring at the end Of years the terms Of another
class at the end of four years. and of another class the end
OF six years. This division made the beginning for
the express purpose of pepeuang the body and bringing in
tvyn thoro-S
fore perpetual body third of the Senate H brought in
every two years. and thus go perpetualy. All the
functions given by the constitutions which we can exer
else independently of the House and with
out their co-operaon can be performed by this body which
IS created for perpeuity, well time as at another
Lme You may have law, if you choose, requiring the
Senate to meet for the peculiar purpose for which now
convened on the fifth Of March, every fourth year, and they
nay act independently of the House of Representatives
hese are my views think whatever business can be per-
ormed by the Senate alone under it's constitutional powers
IAN be as well done now as at any other time.
Mr. DAVIS, of Massachusetts,. In aid of my memory
rave been turning over the pages the
We were in session number Of days in ls49 think as
ate as the 10th of March, II will be found on looking at
ne files Of the negence containing the debates Of that
ession which are recorded there that day after day we sat
yaou. going INTO sesssaR a. ~ 'ef noun ini-
lois (Mr. SHIELDs) to his seat-whch question very
agey debated, and considered day after day without going
INTO executive session. We considered also proposition to
publish the decisions Of the Supreme Court which was de-
,ated large The debates here. We also agreed to
publish very well remember and sorry that have
not here, volume containing various public docu.
nents. Therefore it seems to that our practice has
to into open session and remain in open session
Until the motion made and carried to 60 into ex-
cuve session. In many instances have sat mauy days,
Turing such sessions this without going into executive
session. We have had all kinds Of business which
sen with the organization of the Senate alone under the
constitution. believe that has been the practice, and it
right then, believe it to be right at the present time
Mr. CLAY. wish to present some precedens which,
hink, will be entirely decisive Of the point. bold in my
hand legislative journal Of called session in 1925, from
which will read and it will be that its business was
lone in open Senate
"The oath prescribed by law administered to Mr..
Gaillard, Mr. Lloyd, of Maryland. Mr.. Marks, and Mr..
Mason their credentials having been read and filed during
the last session.
aThe Hon. Dudley Chase appointed Senator by the Lee
Beren appointed Senator by the Legislature Of the
State of Georgia the Hon. John Rowan appointed Senator
the Legislature Of the State Of Kentucky the Hon. Will
liam Henry Harrison, appointed Senator by the Legislature
the Legislature Of the State Of Indiana and the
Hon. Elias p Kane appointed Senator by the Legislature
Of the State OF Illinois, respectively for the term of years.
this day. produced their credentials which
read and the oath BY law was administered to
The President laid before the Senate letter from the
Hon. David Barton communicating letter addressed to him
the Clerk Of the House Of Representatives Of the State Of
Missouri informing him Of his reelection Senator of
the United States for the term OF six years. commencing this
The letter was read and notion the oath prescribed
law administered Mr. Barton and he took his seat
in the Senate"
The journal goes on thus and then it contains an address
delivered by the Vice President (M Calhoun and the n
augual address Of the President of the United States The
a ~ a ~ "a -