The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-13

tue treaty with MexIcothe treaty OF Guadalupe Hidai.
go-would have been passed. do not believe the Clay
ton and BulweT treaty would have been adopted A
any rate would have been spar ed the infection of ill.,
almost inermnabe discussion upon that subject thai W.
have had here II The question had been laid before ths
public in the hst instance believe there many hon
orable gentlemen now who voted Tor that treaty who
would be glad II they could 90 back TO that time and
vote I" no" upon The question OF lie ratification be-
lieve ncalcuabe mischief has been done 10 the public
interest by this practice OF secret sessionnsehef thar
would have been ayeried II these doors had always been
open ii the people had been permitted come in her.
and listen debates, and had reports out 10 them
of all our discussions here.
Mr. PHELPS During my experience IN this body
several efforts have been made TO change the rule of s
Senate in this particular IN relation TO "execuye pro.
ceedings" as they called and much TO my grahes
lon every attempt OF that kind has been successfully re-
sisted have say now, that from the very first exist
ence OF this Senate down 10 the present day. the role
which obtains has governed It's proceedings From
The very first organization OF this body down the pres
ent Time has been the uniform practice OF the Senate
to be governed by the rule which now exists treat
matters of certain description as IN themselves OF csE.
6danial nature. Why should this rule be changed now
in regard 10 this matter Why should al this mo-
meni al this special session OF the Senate, when there
barely quorum OF It's members present. take il apon
change permanently the character OF the action
OF the Senate and preclude thereby The decision that
speci oil those who may come after U.s. radical change
OF this kind should not be made IN day. IN moment
and under circumstances like those in which are now
placed, when The OF, full Senate cannot be OBJ
tanned
Mr.. BORLAND This is not a new question. Five
wears ago was brought before the Senate and has been
discussed at every session since that time, believe
MIR. PHELPS. That is just as | have already re.
marked II has been discussed from time tme and uni.
fomly put down by the good sense OF the Senate can
not but choose express it, There andan ree
sons for the continuance OF this rule Does any man b.
eve that negotiations with respect 10 foreign na,io,s
can be conducted with success If every pTojet which il
started is be made The subject of popular discussion
Are we to gain anything by exhibiting our diplomacy The
world, while that OF other nations is conducted
think not. We often placed in the discussion ard
consideration OF treaties in situation which. IRON col.
sderaions of public policy, will admit The test Of Eo
uar feeling Take the instance suggested by The senator
from Arkansas, (Mr. BoRLAED] that of the treaty CT
peace with Mexico. While that treaty negotiating,
during period of great excitement upon the side and
upon the other, and when were called upon ex,rcae
ourselves from The war in which then engaged
il not popular feeling and excitement that were 10
guide but we were 10 be guided by our own jutg-
ment, trusting to commercial and other views upon tie
subject hereafter to justify course upon that OCCASION
But there is also another consideration in favor OF tie
practice obtaining IN the Senate, the consideration
suggested by the honorable senator from Virginia mr.
HUNTER the subject OF nominations Hit is understood
that all nominations considered IN private session,
no gentleman has right TO take exceptions to it, But
ii particular nominations are to be designated as the
subject of private consideration then that very desgna.
ton of nominations the subject OF private consdea-
ton will involve all in difficulty. have had occasion
TO say in regard TO nomination from my own State that
thought il unexceponable one. And have
had occasionto say that nominations made by the wing
enthusiastically my own political frends-were most
Objectionable Suppose nomination was sent in
here of person with whom some gentleman upon this
floor upon terms OF personal intimacy and yet who
from high OF honor and delcacy, felt il to be hs
duty 10 make statements as TO ne character OF that
nominee He not al perfect freedom to make them in
public session, aud yet If he to move 10 make
matter of private consde ration, it would be inmated
at thai there some other object in view. Now
that these NOMINATIONS should be treated
conhdentaly as we treat our personal intercourse with
individuals.
Under these circumstanc must vote against this
resolution, and trust shall not the practice OF the
Senate changed in this respect know that his subject,
has been agia,ed for long time past; but the re-.
suit OF discussion OF it has always been to induce The
Senate aihee 10 the old practice the safest IL
the practice is changed, think the experience OF the
Senate in very few months will show the necessity oil
having It changed back again to the old way
Mr. BORLAND. | am not at all surprised to hear the
sentiments whch have been expressed by the honorable
senator from Vermont, mir PHELPS say it with per.
feet respect 10 him and to his party, that seems 10 De
gentleman and to his political school, TO suppose that this
government has something separate and apart from The
people, that the people had no right TO understand OF
know anything about the conducting OF the government
But little surprised TO and hear the senator
from Virginia Mr.. HUKrERl advocate the same side be-
cause he belongs to another political school-one that
does hold to the responsibility upon the part OF the repre-
sentative to his constituents But for the honorable
from Vermont, think he is perfectly consistent, and
now acting upon and carrying out the very principle
upon which his party has rested from the beginning OF
the government down to this day.
Now. this idea is drawn from the practice Of gov
ernmenis upon the Other sdeof the Atlantic where The
government thing separate and apart from the PEG
Pile, and looks down upon the people as altogether DIS
qualified from their want of intelligence and understand.
ing, from discussing, considering, and determining ~
matters relating their interests But in this country,
and 10 this government, which is based upon The very
idea OF the intelligence of the people and their capacity
for seigovernmen and their sufeiency IN point OF vue
and integrity TO decide wisely and properly all questions
relating TO their interests, il does TO me that such
doctrines are peculiarly out OF place.
Now, in regard TO reates does seem 10 ne mat me
making them matters OF secret negotiation Is very proper IN
European countries where the government does not loot
to the interests OF the people, but only to the interests OF
their particular dynases which happen TO be re'gnne
the time, relating great many questions that we hsve
nothing TO do with in treaties There these ueahes
generally OF marriage for the purpose OF
sustaining certain parties and their dyhasues upon 'ne
throne, carry out combination TO forward tnef
own selfish views and purposes. But we stand separate
and apart IRON all such influences as those we save DO
connexion with them We deny the right OF other gov
ernuents interfere with affairs, and we deny Inc
right upon our part to interfere with the affairs OF others
only lar interests are concerned seems 10 me
that the present system OF diplomacy is system OF bum-
bug and deceit and If had little PLAIN dealing
and plain sailing in relations with foreign countries,
we would have much less cause for trouble. know
these may be considered ultra democratic notions, but
entertain them, and 10 leave 10 those gen
tlemen who think that there rights peculiar TO
the separate and apart from the people to en-
terrain different opinions But, until can be brought 10
believe that the people not sufficiently vruous 70 al
tend to affairs and 10 decide properly and justly N
regard TO them, shall be opposed to anything Ike Sc
crecy in the proceedings of this government u our pro-
ceednqs be right have object to their beng
submitted to the people II they of doubtful prophecy
and policy, wrong then we have no right 10 en-
gage in any such proceedings Now want my consul
uents TO know not only what do but what hinE anu
say, regard 10 their interests entertain no opn