The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-05-10
Col. Benton on the Administration and
its Organ.


tivcs, lately, occur the following decided
" "good hits :"
COL Benton on Mr. Pierce
l have said that this bill comes into !
Congress. under the administration Of a .
free state President but | do not mean !
to say. or intimate by that remark, that
the President favors. the bill ! know
nothing of his disposition towards it
and if / did should not disclose it here.
1t would be supplementary, and a
breach of the privileges of this House
to do so. The Presidents opinions can
only be made known to us by himself in
a message in writing. In that way it is
his right. and often his duty, to comnun-
icatc with US And in that way there
is no room for mistake in citing his
opinions no room for an unauthorized
use of his name no room for the impu
tation of contradictory opinions to him
aud in that way le becomes responsible
to the American people for the opinions
he may deliver
All other modes Of communication
are forbid TO him, as tending to an un.
due and unconstitutional interference
with the freedom of legislation. 1t is
not bribery alone, attempted upon
member, which constitutes breach Of
tho privileges Of this House 1t is aay
attempt 10 opcratc upon mcmJer'S tote
by aHy Consideration Of Hope, or fear,
farot or a6cction, prospect ofrcward, ar
dycod u punishment This is parliament
tary law, as old os English parliaments,
constantly maintained by the British
House Of Commons, and lately declared
in a most signal manner twas during
the reign of Que Old master, George the
Third and in the famous case of Mr.
Fox's East India bill report was spread
in parliament by one of the lords Of the
bedchamber that the king was opposed
TO the bill-that he wished it defeated,
and had said that he should consider any
member his enemy who should vote for
it. The House Of Commons took fire
at this report, and Immediately resolved.
That to report any opinion, or pretended
opinion, orhis Majesty upon any bill depend
ing in either House Of Parliament is a high
crime and misdemcanor, dcrogatory TO the
honor Of the crown, "A breach OF the funda-
mental privileges of Parliament, subyoIsye
vi the constitution of the country.
This resolve was adopted in full
House, by majority of seventy-threc
votes and was only declaratory of OK
isting parliamentary law-such as it had
existed from the time that English coun-
ties and boroughs first sent knights of
the shire and burgeases to represent them
in the Parliament House 1t is an old
English parliamentary law, aud is SO
recorded by Hatsoll, and all the writers
on that law. 1t is also American law,
as old as orr Congress, and, as such, re-
corded in Jellcrson's Manual 1t is hon.
est law and, as such, existed in every
honest heart. Sir the President Of the
tie United States can send ms no opiN-
i0nS erccm N 10ritten messages. and no
one can repon his opinions TO influence
TIE contltct Of memJeys Wpon JiH,
without being obnoxious to the censure
which the British House Of Commons
pronounced upon the lord of the bed.
chamber, in the case of the King and the
Fox East India bill.
CoL Benton on the Ca5inet
y or can the Presidents Secretaries
his hcGd c1erkS, as Mr. Randolph used
to call them--send us their opinions on
any subject Of legislation depending be
fore us. They can only report. and that
in writing, Oh the subjects referred to
them by law or by vote Of the Houses
Nou-iuterveution is their duty in rela-
ton to our legislation and if they at
tempt to intervene in any of our bust.
moss, l must be allowed, for ono, to re-.
pulse the attempt, and to profess for it
NJ hiehey deg/ce Of respect than that
Mr. Burke expressed for the opinions
Of British Lord Chancellor, delivered
to the House Of Commons, in n case in
which he had 10 concern. Sir | sup.
pose can be allowed to repeat on this
floor any degree Of comparison, or figure
of speech, which Mr.. Burke could use
on the floor Of the British House Of
Commons lie was classic speaker,
and besides that, author of treatise on
the Sublime and Beautiful though do
not consider the particular figure which
have to repeat, although just and pic.
turesque in itself, to be perfect illus
traton Of either branch of his admired
treatise 1t Was in reference to Lord
ThuFlow, who had interviewed in some
legislative business, contrary to the ora
tors sense of right and decency. Mr..
Burke relulscd the intrusive opinion and
declared that he didn care three jumps
Of a lonse for il. Sir, l saythe same
Of any opiRi0A whicd mag be reported
hsfe from our Secretaries on any bill
depending before us, and that in any
form in which it may come from them
whether as unit, or as intriguors.
(Roars Of laughter.)
Col Benton on tie Washington UA,oR.
Still less d. admit the right of in
tcrvention in our legislative duties, in
another class Of Intermediates, and who
might not be able to NEEDLE a. all with
our business, were it not for the min.
istration Of oar bounty, | speak of the
public printers, who get their daily
bread (and that buttered on both Sides
by our daily printing, and who require
the Democratic members OF this House,
under the instant penalty Of political
damnation 10 gre IN thcir adhesion 10
erery bill aohich they mag cali adminis-
n alton: aud that in every change it
may undergo-although more chang eable
than the moon. For that class of inter
meddlers,I have no parliamentary law to
administer, nor any quotation from Burke
to apPly--nothing but little fable to
read the value Of which, as in all good
fables, lies in its moral. 1t is in French,