Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1853-10-15
Fact in Legislative History.

correspondent of the National Inteligencer
whose communication appears in that paper o
the 9Th inst, reproduces from the 1ntelligenee1
Of March II, 1878, the following interestin,
statement with respect to the variation which tn,
nreminent character and mode Of action of tn,
q, S. Senate have undergone since the days O
its earliest existence:
1t cannot have escaped the observation of those
who have attended to the legislative history Of
our country that with the growth Of our Govern
ment the complexion of tile Senate of the United
States has gradually varied from that which il
appears to have worn in the infancy of our po-
ltica institutions; and that character Of its
deliberations more and more nearly approaches
that of the Representative Chamber.
The Senate on its first organization under this
constitution, secluded itself from the public eye,
and appears TO have been considered rather in
the light of Privy Council to the President
than as a coordinate branch Of the Legislature.
Indeed, if we mistake not, it was SO termed in
conversation occasionally, if not in official pro-
ceedings Of that day. There are not many
probably of the present generation of readears
who remember the fact that in the first session
Of the First Congress of the United States,
President Washington personally came into the
Senate, when that body was engaged on what ia
called executive Guinness, and took part in their
deliberations. When he attended he took the
Vice Presidents chair, end the Vice President
took that of the Secretary of the Senate; one or
other of the Secretaries Heads Of Departmental
occasionally accompanied the President on these
visits. The President addressed the Senate on
the questions before them and in many respects
exercised . power in respect to their PIT eedings
nL
bic with their rights and privileges. This prac-
tice, however, did not long continue. An occa-
sion soon arose of collision of opinion between
the President and the Senate on some nomina-
ton, and he did not afterwards attend but COM
municated BY message whatbes sdesl1sd to lay
y At this period The legislativea as well as execu-
tive proceedings of the Senate we're always
transacted in secret session, and the public knew
of the proceedings of that branch Of Government
only from its messages to the other House an
nouncing its. decisions. It became evident, how
ever, that in practice, all responsibility to the
constituent under such circumstances was ideal;
but it was not until the 2Qth Of FebNAHY. 1874,
after considerable stnSgle, thst enate
came to a resolution that its legisfasiSe ps0ceed
ings should, after the end of that session, be
publiS, and that galleries shold be provided for
the 1CCOiHmOudtlOu u duuitOIS. vi eulS 4uCo-
ton we find the yeas and nays registered, nine
teen members having voted for it and eight
against
From the day of this triumph Of popular
principles the Senats has gradually parted with
the character Of reserve which appears To have
belonged to it. BY the increase Of its IeItbers
from the admission of new States into the Onion.
its legislative business hassbecome so laborious
that its peculiar character AN Executive Coun-
Gil is almost overlooked, Notwithstanding the
great importance of this feature in our Govern
ment and the debates in the Senatear of much
greater length at this day, in proportion TO the
members composing the body, than those Of the
House of Representatives.
It has long been subject Of regret that the
debates in the Senate have not been regularly
reported; and we perceive that regret to increase
in prnposton as the Senate acquires the poulaf'
character. We shall hereafter divide our atten4s
ton more equally between the two branches Of
the Legislature. and avail ourselves Of any aid
we can procure to give satisfactory reports Of
the proceedings in the Senate as well as in tho
House of Representatives for the National In
telligencer as we'll as for Congressional History
which we have ami idea Of undertaking. Eel