The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-04-14
SUMMARY OF THE WEEK.

and also the programme of Cabinet, in who
figure the names of Cass, Corwin, Benton, Wal
Dorr, and Hale! A queer compound.
The Senate, since our last, has entertaine
ITSELF when not engaged in ratifying nomina
tons, with various projects for publishln
books, supporting newspapers, sc. The lates
proposition is to give the Intelhgsneer compen
satiop, at the rate of four dollars q column, 70
the brief reports it has published on its owl
responsibility of the proceedings and debate
of tho Senate, and to pay it seven dollars
column to publish all the rest of the proceed
ings and debates The publication, during thu
summer, of all the Buncombe speeches delivered
by Senators during the last winter, is OF cours'
very important to the public welfare.
1t has found time, however, to consider one
subject of importance, and that is, resolution
submitted by Mr.. Chase, that all proceedings
of the Senate shall be public and open, except
when matters communicated in confidence by
the President shall BIO received and considered
and in such other cases az the Senate by reso-
luton from time to time shall especially order
and 80 much of the 38th, 39;h, and 4oth rules
as NAV be inconsistent with this rule is hereby
rescnded"
The resolution was supported by Messrs
Chase Borland and Sumner. The majority,
as might be expected, is against it, so many
things can be done and said in secret session,
that would not seem fit in open session. But
the time will como, when some such resolution
will pass One effect of the practice of secret
sessions is, that distorted reports of what IS
really done by the Senate are constantly fad
ing their way into the newspapers, and mis-
leading the Public; and another effect is, that
some members appear in the public prints to
be the leaders there, because they report them
selves, while the Huc men may not be heard of
at all, because they feel bound to observe the
rule of secrecy. Notice the correspondence of
the Baltimore Sun. New York Tribune, New
York Herald, and few other papers, and you
will always see certain Senator'S names fgur-
ing largely in connection with something that
has transpired in secret session.
The Administration Party is carrying the
day in the local elections generally. This may
be expected till the Offices have been filed, and
the Administration fairly launched. 10 the mu-
nicipal election in New Orleans, the Pierce
men have elected oil the Aldermen, and all the
Assistant Aldermen but two. In Connecticut,
they have swept the State elcctng all their
officers and all their Congressman, and MAORI
ties in both branches of the Legislature. The
Temperance question entered into tho State
election, and large majority of representa-
tives, it is stated has been returned in favor
of the Maine Liquor Law. The whole Demo
cratic ticket for State officers and Congress has
also been carried in Rhode Island. The Wings
do not seem to be offering much resistance any
where. Why should they What have they
now to fight for!
The Catholic Question raised in Cincinnati
by the attack Of the priests upon the Common
Schools has been settled-as it will always be,
in this country when the People become
acknowledgement the hierarchy. The entire
free-school ticket has been elected, by an over
whelming majority; and Mr.. Piatt, the most
intolcrant opponent of the schools, has been
utterly defeated, in ward where for two years
before no had been elected by a strong ma
jority We are informed that many Catholics
themselves could not be rallied to sustain the
political movements Of the priests. The whole
number Of youth in the State Of Ohio is s3S, 500,
but the entire number Of pupils enrolled in the
common schools is but 4s7,47 This is not
credtable to the people of the State. 1t must
not be forgotten, however, that large numbers
of pupils are in attendance in private schools
| and academies.
The fine block of granite for the Washington
Monument, from the Free Swiss Confederation
was presented in Washington, last week, in
the presence of the managers and large con-
course of citizens, in front of the City Hall, by
Mr.. l.. Huilier.
1t is worthy of note that the People of the
South ore beginning to talk about the Maine
Liquor Law. In South Carolina there are to-
totallers in every division of the State, who de-
sire to see such law passed by its Legislature
and the question is mooted in Tennessee poll
tics. We should like to see some of these dis
turbing questions agitating our Southern broth
rem.
The sovercigns" stand little chance of the
"spols" where their servants set up claims
Senator'S and Representatives get the best slices
now -a-days. Davis becomes member of thu
Cabinet Dickinson and Dix are made Collect
or and Sub Treasurer of New York; Sturgeon
| is appointed Assistant Treasurer of Philadel
phia Downs, Collector of New Orleans Soule
Minister to Spain; Borland, Governor of New
Mexico. An OK Senator is spoken of as Minis
ter to the Court of st. James, and member
from Ohio desires to hold the place of Mr.
Rives at Paris. Dobbin and McCleland formel
members Of the House, take their places in tn,
Cabinet; Campbell, Molony, lingo, German
Peck, Henley, Peaslcc, &C. &c, all late mem
bers, are favored with fat Offices. We doub
ever before been carried to such an extent I
is easy to soc how the pensioning system mus
lower the tone and impair the independence o
the Federal Legislature The true remedy is
q rule that no member of Congress shall b
permitted to hold office under the Federal Gov
eminent during the term for which he is elect
ed, and for two years thereafter. Such a pro
hibiton would turn his eyes from the Execu
tive to the People
James II. Birch IA venomous anti Bentor
mani was lately appointed Register in Mis-
souri,. We have reason to believe that the up
pointment was made withou. the knowledge 0
the President; but it is remarkable that Mr.
McClelland, the Secretary of the Interior, VIII,
appointed him, should have overlooked hi
antecedents.