Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-11

founded by him and bearing his rcvcred name,
with its beautiful site, bounded by picturesque
/ cminences, and the broad Potomac, and lying
within view of his home and his tomb, shall
remain forever the political capital of the United
States.
II would be interesting to note the gradual
| changes which have occurred in the practical
working of the Government, since the adoption
! of the Constitution; and it may be appropriate
10 this occasion TO remark one Of the most
, striking of them.
At the origin Of the Government, the Senate
seemed to be regarded chiefly rs an executive
council. The President often visited the Cham.
Der and conferred personally with this body;
most of its business was transacted with closed
| doors, and it took comparatively little part in
the legislative debates. The rising and vigo'
rous intellccts of the country sought the arena
of the House Of Representatives as the aPpro'
pirate theatre for the display Of their powers
Mr.. Madison observed, on some occasion, that
being a young man, and desiring to increase
his reputation, he could not afford to enter tho
Senate; and it will be remembered, that, so late
rs 1912, the great debates which preceded the
war and aroused the country to the assertion
of its rights. took place in the other branch oil
Congress. To such an extent was the idea oil
the s~eclusion carried, that, when this Chamber
was completed no seats were prepared for the
accommodation Of the public; and it was not
until MANY wears afterwards that the selni-cir-
cular gallery was erected, which admits the
people to be witnesses of our proceedings
But now, the Senate, besides its peculiar rela'
tons to the executive department of the Gov
crnmcnt, assumes its full share Of duty rs Il
c~o.equal branch of the Legislature; indeed,
from the limited number of its members, and
for other obvious reasons, the most important
questions, especially of foreign policy, arc apt
to pass first under discussion in this body, and
to be a member Of it is justly regarded as one
of the highest honors which can be conferred
on an American statesman.
1t is scarcely necessary TO point out the cau-
ses of this change, or to say that 1t is a conces-
| sion both to the importance and the individual
ity of the States, and to the free and open
| character of the Government.
In connection with this easy but thorough
transition, it is worthy Of remark that it has
been effected without a charge from any quar-
ter that the Senate has transcribed its consti-
t~utional sphere attribute at once to the mode
ration of the Senate, and another proof TO
thoughtful men Of the comprehensive wisdom
with which the trainers of the Constitution Sc
cured essential principles without inconveni-
emily embarrassing the action of the Govern
mcnt.
The progress of this popular movement, in
one aspect of it. has been steady and marked.
At the origin of the Government no arrange
mcnts in the Senate were made for spectators;
in this Chamber about one third Of the space
is allotted to the public; and in the new apart
mcnt the galleries cover two-thirds of its area
In all free countries the admission of the pco-
pie TO witness legislative proceedings is an es-
sential element Of public confidence; and it is
not to be anticipated that this wholesome prin-
ciple will ever be abused by the substitution
of partial and interested demonstrations for the
expression Of n matured and enlightened pub,
lie opinion. Yet it should never he forgotten
that not France, but the turbulent spectators
within the Hall. awed and controlled the French
Assembly. With this lesson and its conse-
ouencc before us, the time will never come
when the deliberations Of the Senate shall be
swayed BY the Establishments or the thunders
of the galleries.
1t is impossible to disconnect from an coca
sion like this, a crowd of reflections OF our own
past history, and of spcculations on the future.
The most meagre account of the Senate in
wolves a summary Of the progress Of our coun-
try. From year to year you have seen your
representation enlarge; time and again you
have proudly welcomed n new sister into the
Confedcracy; and the occurrences of this day
are a material and impressive proof of the
growth and prosperity Of the United States.
Three periods in the history Of the Senate
mark, in striking contrast, three epochS in the
history Of the Union.
On the Sd of March, 1889, when the Govern
mcnt was organized under the Constitution, the
Senate was composed Of the representatives of
eleven States, containing three million people.
On the 9th of December, 1919. when the
Senate met for the first time in this room. it
was composed of the representatives Of twenty
one States, containing nine million people.
To-day it is composed Of the representatives
twenty-cight million people, prosperous, happy,
and still devoted to constitutional liberty. Let
these great facts speak for themselves TO all the
world.
The career of the United States cannot be
measured by that of any other people of whom
history gives account; and the mind is almost
appalled, at the contemplation of the prodigious
force which has marked their progress. Sixty
nine years ago, thirteen States, containing three
millions of inhabitants, burdencd with debt,
and exhausted by the long war Of independence,
established for their common good a free Con
s~titution, on principles new to mankind, and
began their experiment with the good wishes
of q few doubling friends and the dcrlsion OF
the world. Look at the result to day; twenty
eight millions Of people, in every way happier
than an equal number in any other part Of
the globe-the centre of population and po-
liticaI power descending the Western slopes
of the Allegheny mountains, and the origi-
nal thirteen States forming but the Eastern
margin on the map Of our vast possessions
See besides Christianity, civilization. and the
art given to a continent; the despiscd colonies
grow into power Of the first class, represent
ing and protecting ideas that involve the pro-
gress Of the human race; q greater
than that of any other nation; every variety of
climate, soil ard production TO make a people
powerful and happy; free interchange between
the States-in a word, behold present great
ness, and, in the future, an empire to which
the ancient mistress Of the world, in the height
of her glory, could not be compared. Such is
our country; aye, and more-far moro than
my mind could conceive or my tongue could
utter. Is there an American who regrets the
past Is there one who will deride his coun-
try's laws, pervert her Constitution, or ALLEVIATE
her people? If there be such a man. let his
memory descend to postcrity laden with the
excavations of all mankind.
So happy is the political and social condition
of the United States, and so accustomed arc we
to the secure enjoymento Of a freedom elsewhere
unknown, that we arc apt to undervalue the
treasures we possess. and to lose, in som de-
gree, the sense of obligation to our foreiathers.
But when the s~trifes of faction shake the Gov
eminent, and even threaten it, we may pause
with advantage long enough to remember that
we are reaping the reward Of other mems Ia
bors. This liberty We inherit; this admirable
Constitution, which has survived peace and
war, prosperity and adversely; this double
scheme of Government, State and Federal, so
peculiar and so little understood by other Pow
ne, ,.of which profnctc tho norninpc of indus