The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-07
UNITED STATES SENATE.
EXTRA SESSION.

On motion of Mr. SEBAsTIAS, (dem.) Of Ark the Pre-
sdent Of the United States requested to cause
be Investigated the charges Of fraud and misconduct
ONCE, alleged agznst Alexander Ramsey, Superinten
dent Of Indian Affairs in Minnesota.
THE SENATE DEBATES ISTEluGENcER
The senhte proceeded to the consideration Of Mr.
resolution that the Secretary Of the Senate have
published in She National Iatgencer the fun debates
and proceedings OF the Senate for the late legislative
sion and pay he same compensation therefor is allow
ed the Onion and Globe ard pro for what has been
Iepor' ed and published in the InsigcY during the
Mr.. BoRiAsD (aem.,) OF Ar, thought they ought not
to pay for what has been pubshed in the Nusoal IN
the remainder of the Senate debates The intiligecs
formerly published officially the debates aut rena
the contract when the presidential eecto on be-
cause by publishing speeches both side, was
what neutral paper. The editors therefore selected
speeches on the whg side to party purposes and
now ask to be paid for them for which he willing
Mr. GwN (dem) Of California thought TIE gentleman
mstook the object Of the resolution explained it to
provide for paying for the current speeches
said the distinctly relins uished ths Contract
because Of insufficient compensation He was.wilng to
pay for what the paper has done-nothing beyond.
Mr. MASON colnplimented the Integencer BUT was op.
posed to tho resolution.
After further debate the consideration of the resolu
tion wss postponed until next December.
EXECUTIVE sEss1ON-RNGGoID's CALIFORNIA; ETC
The Senate then went into executive session.
When the doors we're opened Mr.. GwIN (dem) of CAL,
offered resolution authorizing the Secretary of the Sc
nate to deIose with the Secretary of the Navy five hun
drcd and with the Collector of San Francisco the same
number of copies CT Rnggolds chart of the coast Of Cali
forna heretofore ordered for distribution among nayi
gators.
Mr. BRIGHT, (dena of Ia inquired why these charts
were not to be distribute by Senator's
Mr. GwiN replied because it was thought that would
conflict with the provision of the law restraining the pur
chase and distribution of books among members
On this point discussion followed and finally the re.
solution modified by entrusting ths Secretary the
Senate with the distribution of the charts.
INFORMATION WANTED RELATIVE RECENT PRoCERrsSGs
OFCAT. H0IIINs, AT SAN JUAN.
On molten Of NJ SEWARD, (ree soiD o: New York, it
was resolved that the President of the United States be
requested if in his opinion it shall be compatible with
the public interests to communicate to the Senate such
official nfoImaon rs he may have received touching the
recsnt transactions between Capt Hons Of the sloop-
Of Cyane and the authorities of San Juan de Mica
Iagua together with the orders and instructions which
have been given to Captain Hons relation to the af
OPEN EXECUTIVE SESSIONS PROPOSED
Mr. CHASE, dree soiD of Ohio, offered resolution that
all proceedings Of the Senate shall be public and open
except when matters communicated confidence by the
President shall be received ard considered and such
other cases as the Senate, by resolution, from time
to time, shall especially order He supposed that
every Senator understood the object and character OF the
resolution and therefore it was necessary to say but
little upon the subject. As the rules now stand the
treaties and nominations considered secret session
II the rules shall be altered he proposed treaties
municated in confidence would still be considered in
secret Session. but there is large class of treaties
voving important public considerations which may be
acted upon in open session He saw reason why de-
bates on nominations of public character should not
be conducted with open doors, except in such cases
where secrecy is considered absolutely necessary Our
Mr.. HUNTER, (dem.) Of Va said this proposed an i'm
portsnt change in the rule. as it stands,
when the Executive communicates treaties and
nominations, the deliberations secret unless
the body chooses to order otherwise The proposition
to this rule The result will be- secret
son it would be directly nosed abroad that the charac
ter of nominee is to be discussed, and thus asper
sion would be thrown h upon it. and the nominee nc would
the Senate should into secret session treaty, it
would be suppos ed there something especially deli
cate in our foreign relations and question would arise
affecting peace war and the credit and stocks of the
country. BE did not believe serious amount of mischief
has arisen from secret sessions He believed that the
Senate had delberatcd with quite much wisdom and
for the public interests with closed doors the seal
Of had been removed II was far safer to adhere
to the old rule.
Mr.. BoRIAND (dem of Ark, was sorry to differ from
the Senator, and thought that there danger in
subecting any or everything to the popular scrutiny
MIR. HUNTER asked-"Do you think 1t better to ose
the deliberations of the Presidents Cabinet Council to
public scIutinys'
Mr BoRIASD replied he would not object so far as they
could be made public. He believed the popular ntel
gence able to dispose wisely of every question which
may come before the country There should be nothing
presents himself for favor. The public have right
know his standing and whether he is f for the office.
He could not conceive it necessary that treaties
should be acted in secret and he believed that If
the doors were opened, and the reporters for the
press admitted. some treaties would not be ratified.
He did not believe that under such state of
things the treaty of Guadalupe Hdalgo would have be-
come the law of the land He did not believe the CLAYTON
and Bulwer treaty would have been ratified and it
his opinion that of those who voted for these
ties would now be glad to reverse their votes.
Mr.. Phelps, (whg) Of Vt, remarked that during his
experience in this body various efforts had been made
change the rule relative to executive proceedings.
qualification every attempt Of the kind had been
and he said that from the very commencement of the
Senate down to the day. the rule in exist
has governed. They should not with bare quorum
undertake to change permanently the character of the
Senate and regulate the proceedings of those who are to
further
ton.
Mr.. BoRIANp not surprised at the Senator 1t was
perfectly natural for of the gentleman political
school, for he understood this to be the fundamental
principle Of the whg party to take the ground that the
government separate and apart from the people and
that therefore the people have right to question the
government He was, however, surprised that the Sena
tor from Virginia, Mr. Hunter who belongs to anoth.
school, and acknowledges his responsibility to his
sttuents should oppose the resolution The arguments
advanced from the other side Of the Atlantic where
governments hold that the people disqualified by want
OF intelligence from discussing and considering matters
relative to their own interests But in this country the
government is based the integcnc. of the people If
the proceedings Of the Senate be right there
of the people if wrong then they should know it.
Mr.. PHELPS said he might retort the Senator by
asking him whether the Senator from Virginia, (Mr.
Hunter,l is the exponent of whig principles,
and whether there is not something like a
family warfare in the gentlemans own ranks If the
rule requiring secret sessions is OF the fruits of whg
rule, why has not the Senate for larger portion Of
sixty years democratic, abrogated it,
Mr. Butler (dem offs e. said this was not the frst
had repeatedly been urged and always defeated by the
fathers Of the republic and by Clay, Calhoun, Webster
and others who insisted the security of secrecy This
is not democracy If it we're, the question would be
appropriate to the occasion. We confedera
tion of republican States living under written cons
tuition He friend Of that people whose judgments
and opinions are to be respected; but he was not
friend of that people who be regarded ir
responsible multi ude and whose transient sentiments
are to govern He wished preserve the in
its ancient forms and confne it to its conservative
sphere and would not therefore, break down the land
marks prescribed by our fathers.
Mr. SUMNER, (tree soil) Of Mass remarkcd-At
the organization Of the government, the legislative
and executive business alike conducted in
secret session; but in the course of the third
Congress- in 1895. resolution passed to open
the doors to the public when the body engaged in
legislative capacity, unless in such cases required
crecy. Tho rule thus established has substantially
tnues down to the day and the rule adopted at
that time was in harmony with institutions The
resolution under consideration proposes to take
step further and to open the DOORS except when secrecy
is required on treaties and NOMINATIONS and to this he
agreed-publicty is required by the spirit and ge
MUS of our institutions The Ahenan. who built his
house so that all might what transpred in it, af
forded a fit model for the American Senate.
The further consideration Of the resolution post
al ,pfI ard .Ft