The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-02-02

The question being taken, the amendment was agreed
The resolution amended was then agreed TO.
SECRECY OF EXECUTIVE PROCEEDINGS
MI, sLiDELL submitted the following resolution for
consideration
Rsssivsd. That the Committee the Judiciary be
quesed 70 inqsire ato the expedency Of amending The
rules Of The Senate that the injunction Of secrecy shalt be
any nomination submitted II for conma on maintain
ing aa ~ relation 70 any debate discussion or
relation to said nomination.
Mr.. BADGER. II understand the object OF that
resolution II relates TO the proprey of removing the in
June'ion oil secrecy from certain executive proceedings
and would submit 10 the honorable senator from
Louisiana that II is not proper subject OF discussion
open session.
Mr.. SLlDELL. will explain very briefly the object
OF the resolution. few days since voted against the
motion TO lay the table the resolution introduced by
the honorable senator from Ohio Mr.. CHASE repeating
altogether The rule which now exists in relation 10 main
tanning secrecy with respect TO what has been done
executive session And think thai our recent expe-
rence, particularly with regard important nomina
ton which was confirmed The other day, has demon
sated that there is such thing secrecy with regard
10 our action IN executive session AN favor oil still
retaining the Injunction OF secrecy tar relates any
debate, discussions remarks in executive session but
am decidedly opposed TO retaining that Injunction in
specl TO the Of the Senate believe the Committee
the Judiciary is The to whom this resolution should
be appropriately referred and think there can be no
objection 10 their taking The matter into consideration
Mr. BADGER. heard il very ndstinclly when it
was read. and did not understand the object OF it,
have objection 10 il.
Mr.. BUTLER. am inclined to think tha, matter of
that kind ought 10 20 10 the Committee Foreign Rela
tons, ii il relates al all 10 treaties.
Mr. SLlDELL. II refers entirely to nominations,
and treaties, and has reference only to the action
OF The Senate. and not to what may have been said
Mr.. CLAY TON. Mr.. President, doubt very much
whether there any necessity that the resolution should
pass il now stands think that there is a great mis-
take in the public mind and among senators them
selves, in reference TO this whole subject There is
/ al.
with regard to nominations. | may say, that when
ever nomination has been acted by the Senate,
il considered, and always has been considered, per-
fetuy competent Tor any member OF the Senate 10
state the result OF the voe-whether Inc nominal
ton has been. confirmed or rejected matter OF this
kind ia no secret, and never been secret. The
only matters that have been regarded heretofore as
being those upon which the Injunction OF secrecy rests
are treaties debates upon nominations, remarks Of sena
tors OF personal nature, with regard TO the character
illness oil the nominee, and all papers which the President
sends here that marked " confidential" suppose
nobody wishes 10 change the rule in this respects and
il now stands il is perfectly competent for any senator
state whether particular nomination has been confirmed
or NOT In reference to communications from the PTes
dent which marked confidential" trust th at no one
desires TO remove the injunction Of secrecy and also,
with regard 10 treaties, nobody desires change the
rule in that respect The common idea that every
thing which done in executive session covered by
tie injunction OF secrecy is entirely erroneous. do not
OBJECT TO the resolution going 10 the committee but can
NOT see how any essential change could be made for the
better.
MI. w ELLEh. tbink, MIR. PRESIDENT, mat II would
be very great Improvement upon the rules OF the Sem
ate II 10 change them in such way 10 al
low the Official Reporters VINO The officers oil The
Senate, to remain during executive sessions when
acting upon the appointments and nominations that
have been made by the President In that case, when
ever choose 10 remove The injunction of secrecy the
debate which may have taken place upon nomination
can go out 10 the county in coDnexion with the
nouncement OF the vote which have given ! am
desIfous that every vote which | may give upon
these executive appointments should be known 10 the
tpsirp tat he shn
also be iuiin possession Of The facts the why
voted as may have doHe. This cannot be done, my
judgment except by admitting the reporters TO be present
during The executive sessions and they are the sworn
officers OF the Senate the Injunction Of secrecy
which operates upon us would apply TO then. When
should tit to remove that Injunction the de-
bate which may have taken place upon a nomination can
go on, 10 the country, and them the country de-
ermne as 10 the poprieiy OF our acton Nowit often
times happens that great Justice may be done 10
tors here because the that operated upon their
minds not submitted 10 the country along with their
votes desire that, IN all cases, whatever may say
with regard 10 any executive appointment should be
known TO the county. | am willing that The people
should Know the manner IN which vote and | am
equally anxious that they should know The reasons
which operate upon my mind in the giving oil that
Mr.. BADGER. Mt President, recollect very well
that during OF the executive sessions OF the last
special session OF the Senate report read 10 this
body which had been made many years ago in executive
session upon this very subject, by MIR Hayne, OF South
Carolina and the Senate directed the Injunction Of
secrecy 10 be removed from that report and that should
L
do not know where the report ia, whether has
been printed not But l will say that think
il that report to be ound, IL would throw
good deal OF light upon this subject. ] know that
II communicated information 10 me, well 10
other senators. And | would suggest TO the honor
able senator from Louisiana, having sort OF objec-
lion TO The adoption OF this resolution, whether,
der the geAion thrown out. IL would not be better
frame IT somewhat in this way that the Committee on
The Judiciary be directed TO examine whether any aera
lion should be made in the rule oil the Senate upon the
subject OF proceedings Ia executive session and II soy,
what
Mr.. WELLER. | should prefer that
MI SLlDELL, would accept that amendment with
great pleasure. think, hoseyer, that the honorable
object OF my resolution and perhaps altogether
mistaken what supposed to be the obligations OF
senator's II very clear that we have right TO say that
such a nomination has been confirmed, that such
has been rejected. Perhaps igh go still fur.
Their, and say that il confirmed rejected by
such and such vote--sO many votes for and 80
many against IT, It also understood that each
individual senator has right say how he voted; bat
have certainly been abong under very great nisap.
prehenson If i be The general OF The Senate that
any senator has right 10 say in public how any other
senator has voted ~ executive upon nomination
That is the point at which wish 10 arrive Experience
shows that there il really secrecy and do choose
TO be ,rammeiled by obligations which other gentlemen
do not observe We the other day, with regard TO
an appointment when great deal OF public curiosity
was excited TO the result u proceedings TO which
the public attention very much directed, that The rule
had no effect Why sur met gentleman the next
morning casually in the street, and IN nvefsng whm
upon the subject of that nomination, he told how
every senator bad voted | had supposed myself bound
to observe strict secrecy in relation 10 The vote of every
other senator but myself u wrong in that impress
It - u -.