The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-05
WEDNESDAY, APRIL s.

REMARKS OF MR. CHASE,
On his resolution proposing an amendment Of
the Rules Of the Senate so as 10 require all
sessions and proceedings 10 be public ercept
when otherwise specially ordered.
suppose, Mr.. President, that every Senator
understands the object of this resolution. With
the permission of the Senate, | will so far
modify its terms as to make it take effect after
the present session, and submit it to vote with
very few remarks.
1t changes the existing rules to this extent.
The present rule requires the consideration
with closed doors, of treaties, nominations, and
all confidential communications Of the Presi.
dent The proposed amendment requires that
all sessions and all proceedings shall be open
and public, except in such special cases as the
President or the Senate, from time to time,
shall decide to be proper for secret considera-
ton The proposed change would substitute
for the general rule of secrecy, in respect to
several classes Of subjects, the general rule of
publicity with such exceptions as particular
exigences shall, from time TO time, require.
As the rules now stand, all treaties are con-
| sidered in secret session and so are all nomi-
nations, and all communications marked conf
! dentel Should the rules be altered T. pro-
posed by the resolution have had the honor to
submit tho injunction of secrecy will be con-
fined to such treaties as may be specially COM
municated in confidence by the Executive, and
to such nominations as the Senate in the exer-
else of II sound discretion, may deem it neces.
sary, from considerations affecting private
character or the public service, to discuss in
privacy.
There is a large class Of treaties, legisla
tive in their character, and involving very i'm
portant public considerations, which ought &c
be publicly debated There is no reason why
they should be considered in secret session. On
the contrary in respect to treaties OF this char
acter it is quite desirable that the public should
be informed, and fully informed, as to their
provisions, and as to the debates and votes here
upon them So, also, many, and indeed almost
all, nominations are confirmed or rejected upon
principles of public or party policy, without
reference to private character see no reason
why debates and votes on these should not be
public. Whenever any questions involving
moral character are raised, it will be in the
power of any committee or any member to
move that the doors be closed
There cnn, then, be no valid objection to tho
adoption of this resolution, upon either of the
grounds usually relied on by the advocates of
secret sessions. Those grounds are, first, that
stCICCS 10 iOduOhny hSNVSo"iy w WIZ ouSNOoo va
important negotiations with foreign countries,
and that this secrecy would be impossible, if
treaties should be debated and voted upon in
public. There may be some force in this but
the objection does not touch the proposed
amendment. The President has charge of our
foreign negotiations, and is tho best Judge of
the occasions on which secrecy is required and
whatever he thinks proper to communicate in
confidence will still be treated as confidential,
if the rule which propose should be adopted.
The second ground Of objection is, that private
character should not be made the subject OF
public debate | will not ray that this objection
would not deserve consideration, if the proposed
rule imporatively required the public considera-
ton of all nominations, without exception. But
it docs not. 1t expressly excerpts from its opera
ton, those special cases in which tho Senate,
by resolution, may enjoin secrecy. Such orders
will be made when the nature Of particular
cases makes such orders necessary and proper.
in all other cases, where the action OF tho SEN
ate is determined by general or purely politi-
cal considerations, the people have a right to
know the character of our discussions and the
reasons of our votes.
Our institutions are based upon the prnc.
Piles of publicity and responsibility Secret ses-
sions are exceptions to this general principle.
These exceptions should be confined within tho
narrowcst practicable limits and reduced to
the smallest possible number.