The Gonzales inquirer. [volume] (Gonzales, Tex.) 1853-current, 1854-03-04
Tie Senate--A Curious Fact in Relation
to History.

IL cannot nave escaped the observation Of
those who have attended to the legislative his.
tory Of our country, that with the growth of
our government the complexion Of the Senate
oil the United States has gradually varied from
that which 1t appears TO have worn in the in
fancy OF our political institutions; and that
the character Of its deliberations more and
more nearly approach that Of the representa-.
tive chamber
The senate, on its first organization under
the Constitution, secluded itself from the pub
lie eye, and appears to have been considered
rather in the light Of privy council to the
PRESIDENT, than az u coordinate branch of the
Legislature. Indeed, If we mistake not. IL was
NO termed in official proceedings of that day.
Ihere are not many, probably, Of the present
generation Of readers, 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 is called cxecu.
tive business and took part in their deliberations.
When he attended, he took the Vicc-prcsi.
dents chair, and the Vice-presidcnt took that
OF tho secretary Of the senate; or some of the
secretaries (heads Of departments occasion.
ally accompanied the President on these visits.
The President addressed the senate on the
question before them, and in many respects
exercised power in respect to their proceed.
ings which would now be deemed entirely in.
compatible with their rights and privcges.-
This practice, however, did not long continue.
An occasion soon arose Of collision of opinion
between the President and the senate on some
nomination, and he did not nfterwnrd attend
but communicated by message what he desir.
ed to lay before them.
At that period the legislative as we'll as OK.
ecutivc proceedings of the senate were ALWAYS
transacted in secret session, and the public
knew the proceedings Of that branch OF gov.
eminent only from its message to the other
house announcing its decision. II become evil
dent, however, that in practice, all RESPONSE
bility to the constituent under sach circum.
stances was ideal; but 1t was not until Fcbrua.
ry 30, 1894, after considerable struggle, that
the senate came to resolution that it's lcgis.
lativc proceedings should after the end Of that
session, be public, and that galleries should
be provided for the accommodation of audi
tors On this question we find the yeas and
nays recorded nineteen members having yot
ed for it, eight against it,
From the day Of this triumph of popular
principles, the senate has gradually parted
with the character of reserve which appears
to have belonged to il. BY the increase of it's
members from the admission of new States
into the Union, its legislative business has be-
character
OF the executive council is almost overlook ed
notwithstanding the great Importance of this
feature in our government, and the debates in
the senate are of much greater length at this
day, in proportion to the house Of representa-
tivcs.
1t has long been subject Of regret that the
debates OF the senate have not been regularly
reported; and We perceive that regret to in
crease in proportion M the senate acquires the
popular character. We shall hereafter divide
our attention 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 Of the senate as
well ms in the house Of representatives, for the
National lntclligencer, as well as for n Con-
gressona History, which we have an idea of
undertaking. National hte9igeneer
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THRILLING ADyEsruRE.--Thc st. Louis Dem
ocrat Of the 9th states that Capt GRAY of
the steamer Flag, accompanied by an English.
man, visited the great cave about three miles
above ST. Gencvieve, on Tuesday the 3rd.---
When about two miles from the mcuth thew
broke their lamps, and CROPPED about in the
dark until they found an opening upward,
through which the Englisfman reached the
surface, marked the placed and returned to St
Gcneycvc, for assistance. On his return, how.
party in search returned for farther assist.
ance, and were eagerly joined by the officers
and crews Of four steamers. At two o'clock
on wednesday they entered, and proceeding to
the place where Capt. Gray was last seen,
they divided, and proceeding different direc.
tions, continued the search till three o'clock
on Thursday morning, when, to the great joy
OF all, he was found. lie had sat himself down
to die. He had not only worn his gloves com.
pletey out, but his fingers were to the
naked bone, in his vain efforts to cxtricate
himself The flesh was worn from his knees,
and his boot toes and pant legs where also
demolished. He was found ut a distance Of
three and a half miles from the mouth of the
cave, greatly exhausted He is now on board
his boat and doing well. He was forty three
hours in the cave.
BALi-RooM bellies IN NV YoRE Under
this caption, the New York Evening Mirror in
diciousy and truthfully remarks, that il seems
TO be the highest ambition Of the most bcauti.
iul woman to be known rs "'rhc Belle of the
Ball" To achieve this vain distinction she
dresses and un-drcsscS With the sole aim of
showing oil her finest points without regard TO
comfort not to say modcsty. Charms which
Nature intended as domestic secret "swect
and precious are publicly exhibited in all
their naked lovclncSs; and proiane eyes and
tongues are permitted to revcl in unmuslned
mysteries sacred To poetic rcvcries aud lovers
dreams
This extreme decolts fashion Of drcSs-this
barring Of the bosom 10 the breeze of public
breath, IS Dissertation OF the highest form nf
beauty that the Divinity has yet revealed to
man, u rohS woman of her most ethereal
charms hy cheating the imagination OF its III.
rinest illusions, The cnchanmen, vanishes
rs the reality becomes transparent. and the
goddess NO longer floats in roseate robes of
Cloudod splendor, bat sinks from thigh Olvm.
pus 10 ,he plains mere flesh and blood shop.
hcrdesS Of common life and common clay.