New-York daily tribune., 1859-01-27
FROM UdSHIhG TON.
CONGRESSIONAL BUNCOMBE.

Correspondence Of Tie n. T. Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Jan. -, lej9.
Some of the members If the Senate were greatly
exercised to-day because an account Of the adray
IN Friday got wind through the press
These gentlemen may easily AVOID what they
term Misrepresentation if they would make their
sessions public.
But there is no valid ground Of complaint be-
cause tie details oi in secret session got out.
Secret session. are held for reasons OF state.
Secrecy is eDjOned in relation to certain Senatorial
duties connected with public Affairs Aod properly
enough. There would be great imprt priety 10
publicly canyossng the private character of ap-
pointee- to office. There would be impr0prlety IN
openly canyassing delicate relations with foreign
countries on which treaty might hinge. To these
ard all similar public concerns the rule Of secrecy
pertains, and Senators may properly INSIST upon lis
observance.
But upon subjects wholly foreign to public al
Gsre the obligation oi secrecy cannot fairly attach.
And for Senator's to make such point OF 1t as was
made this morning, is 10 exhibit s0icltude for the
virtue Of Senators wholly unwarranied by the oc-
casiOn.
If Senator. On entering secret session of the
body 10 which b. belongs, draws pistol and shoots
q brother Senator dead on the floor, take 1t the
corpse and say nothing about it, on the ground that
they were in secret session, and bound by their
oaths not 70 disclose what occurred.
So with every degree Of personal assault down
10 A quarrel Of fists or the blacbguardism of Ian
guagc.
In every ease Of mere individual encounter it
having no reference to the public business 1t Is
impossible to discover upon what principle Of pub
lie duty or private obligation Senator Is bound 10
l.. Z 4. n TgfpF la
or in view of any such occurrences, but simply aud
wholly In reference b the public business, that be
takes an obligation Of secrecy upon himself. Onc
would think, if the gardeners dog inrades the hall
ard bites a senator. leg, the fact may b. exposed
and the gardener ordered to shat him up, without
violating the secrecy ot executive sessions. 30,
if an assault or a larceny occurs, or kbOck-do|n
or passage at Billingsgate TAKES place, no g"d
rea,On can be ihterpo:ed 10 prevent the expospre
Of the scandal.
Ifitwere otherwise, secret sessions might and
probably would be- made the CONVENIENT occasion,
on the part OF our PrO-Slayery friends when Ne
braska bills or LecomptOn Constitutions we're On
the carpet, OF pistOng or dIrkDg at their leisure
the members Of the unOhenGiog minority. The
Opposition might by such processes be reduced IN
wholly unsccOuntatle manner.
! Senators bad best learn to behave Themselves in
secret sessions as the true means oi preserving
! their reputation, and not mist that they have a
( right TO play the rowdy and yet be exempt from
| exposure.
/ The general proceedings Of Congress, 40 "a. as
/ they tend 10 advance the public business sre im.
meusely :0w. One learns iDsensibly to inquire u
there j. 40 hope Of bettern, the prevailing c1adi-
ton Of things. Three cs oable men could do the
whole public business OF the nation in fortnight,
intellieently ard dyaU'ageously. The three hue
dred engaged il j. DE- l!te else THAI try 10 mudd!e
zoe anCther's hrtTs. and for tie most part, sue
ceed rneommuply vel