New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-05-29
Neh 0rltans Bully Crescent.
FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 20, 1857.
THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
NUMBER /.

The Senate of the United States may be called-if
such an expression be allowable in these exceeding
Democratic days-the aristocratic branch Of the
national Legislature So far as the principle Of aris-
tocracy is recognized in our government, the Senate
may properly be called its representative.
The original founders Of the Constitution, with all
the lights of history before their eyes, determined to
blend harmonious together, as well they could the
three forms Of government denonnated Monarchy,
Aristocracy and Democracy. Such, in fact, is the
constitution of the political system of Great Britain.
Our own Institutions modelled after those of England
with the exception only of greater infusion Of Demo-
cracy, betray the same leading idea. Monarchy, in
Great Britain is represented by the King it is here
with sufficient checks) by the President The House
of Lords is the exponent of the Arstocracy just as
Senate is the representative OF the sovereignty of
the States. And the House of Commons, like our
House OF Representatives, is body of men deriving
their power from the people, and directly response
BILE to the people for its exercise Thus, the parallel
between the two Governments discloses many points
of similarity. The essential difference consistsin our
giving greater power to the people, and restricting
the tenure of office to shorter period.
As the members of the House of Representatives
the immediate representatives of the sovereignty of
the people, the members of the Senate represent
the sovereignty Of the States. Our form of govern.
ment is founded upon the impregnable basis of the
equality of all the States, small and arge-nor could
it exist were it otherwise. The sentiment, so often
given on patriotic occasions, that the Union is
divided, like the billows but one, like the sea- con-
veys the whole theory of our government in beauti-
full poetical apothegm.
Thus, in respect of all matters of State concern the
sovereignty of Florida, with only Representative
in the Lower House of Congress- is full comprehen
sive and complete as that of New York with thirty
three And as it was foreseen by the trainers OF the
Constitution that the affairs of the State Govern
ments and the Federal Government would be neces
sarly intimately involved the one with the other
and the large States unless some protection were
| thrown around those which were small and weak
would seize the occasion to oppress and punder then
they wisely considered it best to give equal powe
to each State in branch of the Legislature tha
the force of numbers in the other House. or the vic
lence of faction should be met by the conservative
resistance of the Senate.
Experience has demonstrated the wisdom of th
provision. Several times in the history of the nation
when dark clouds lowered upon the political horizon
and we were apparently upon the eve of revolution
the cry has gone forth of Look to the Senate "
cry which has stilled the popular excitement, an
brought peace and hope to the heart of the patrio
On that arena the great pacfcators and the leadin
statesmen of the Union have earned their brightes
laures.
1t is well for that, general thing, each Stat
selects its most distinguished citizens for this position
Would that this were universally the case By
!: doing, the dignity and conservatism of the bod
might be always preserved, though faction an
awessness ran riot in the coordinate branch of IL
r Legislature.
In point of ability, theSenaors of the last Congre
compared favorably, perhaps, with any who had p1
ceded them OF course the places of Clay and ca
. houn and Webster were not supplied-nor can thu
: ever be. But, taking the general average, the la
Senate may be said to have come fully up to the mai
of its predecessors
constant-almost daily-attendant upon tt
debates and proceedings of the Senate during bo
sessions of the last Congress- and with many recc
ections of scenes that then transpired, propose
give brief sketches of most of the Senator's togeth
with illusions to the different debates in whit
they were engaged. These sketches will necessari
be brief and imperfect, but they may serve to anu
the leisure hours Of the summer solstce, and afford
temporary qualification to the readers of the Crescer
In these sketches I shall endeavor to discard
party prejudice =" nothing extenuate, nor aug
set down in malice.' Essen.