Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-09-21
4 r.nr,-,,- r,sct N I,eeisIatiye 9irtory.


II cannot have escaped thesobseTgation Of those
who have attended to the history of our
country; that with the growth OF our government
the complexionof the Senate OF the United States
has gradually varied nom Il appeaIs 70
have wornin the infancy of our polltica lnstltu-
lions; and that the character of its deliberatons
more and more nearly approach that OF the Repre-
sentative Chamber
The Senate, onils first organization under the
constitution secluded itself from the public eye,
and appears to have been considered rather in the
light of pIiyy council 10 the President than as
coordinate branch of the Legislature. Indeed, II
we mistake not it was SO termed in conversation
occasionally, If not ia official proceedings OF that
day. There are not many, probably, OIL the pres
emit generation of readers who remember the iacl
that in the Ist session of the first Congress OF the
United States President Washington personally
came into the Senate, when that body was engagea
on what IS called executive business ana look part
in their deliberations.
When he attended, he took the Vice Presidents
chair and the Vice President took that OF the Sec
rotary of the Senate; or other of the Secretaries
tbeads OF departments) occasionally. accompanied
the President on these visits. The President au-
dressed the Senate on the questions before theul,
and in many respects exercised power IN LeSpecI
to their proceedings which would now be desmeu
entirely incompatible with their rights and pElyl-
leges. This practice, however, did not long con-
tinue. An occasion soon arose OF colilsloh Vi
opinion between the President anu NE SSna!e VI,
but communicated by message what he desired 10
lay before them.
Al this period the legislative as well as execu-
tive proceedings of the Senate were always trans
acted in secret session. and the public knew oil Inc
pToceedings of that branch OF government only
from its messages to the other House, announcing
its decision. It became evident, however, that IN
practice, all responsibility TO the constituent un-
der such circumstances was ideal; butlt was not
until the Doth of February 1884, alter consider
able struggle that the Senate came TO resolution
that its legislative proceedings should alter the END
OF that session, be public and thatgalleres should
be provided for the accommodation OF audllors'-
On this question we find the yeas and nays record
ed, nineteen members having voted for II and eght
againstit.
pies the Senate has gradually parted with Inc char
acter of reserve which appears to have belonged
to it. By the increase of its members irom the au-
mission of new States into the Union, It's leglSla-
tive business has now become so labonous that Its
peculiar character of the Executive Council is
almost overlooked, notwithstanding the great lnl-
portance of this feature OF our Government ana
the debates in the Senate are of much greater
length at this day, in proportion 10 tile members
composing this body, than those OF the House OF
Representatives.
Ii has long been subject of regret that the de-
bates in the Senate have not been regularly report
ed; and we perceive that regret to increase Just IN
proportion as the Senate acquires the popular
character. We shall, hereafter, divide our atten-
| ton more equally between the two branches OF
the Legislature, and avail ourselves of any aid we
can procure to give the most satisfactory reports
of the proceedings in the Senate as well as IN the
/ House of Representatives for the National Intel
| ligencer, as well as for Congressional History,
| which we have an idea of undertaking. National
Lntelhgeneer.