Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-09-21
Curious Fact in Legislative History.
Frnrn The National Tn.elirnrra-


So rapid is the age in its progress in every mat
ter political as well as material that it is difficult
TO rivet public attention long enough to make any
thing like permanent impression as to important
facts in brief national history of eighty-four
years. Thousands Of the present generation. even
Of those whose vocation it is to chronicle passing
events look nenty upon the future as to be alto
gether needless Of the past Yet in the public dis
customs which daily elected it is important that
the early workings of our political system. and the
course OF the eminent men who set the machinery in
motion, should be familiar to the caterers for the
press well to politicians who display their pow
ers from the legislative forum.
These observations have been suggested by the
recent reference Of one of the newspapers TO the
early practice OF the United States Seanate trans
acting all Its business for many years with closed
DOORS and the wonder expressed by enc of the most
Intelligent prints OF the day whether this coud real
y be So In the following article on the subject of
our legislative history very many of the present
generation will find a fact set forth which will be
to them both new and curions
From the National IntelIigencer O, March II 1s,s
1t cannot have escaped the observation OF tbosa
who have attended to ihe Legislative History of orr
country that with the growth of our Government
the complexion OF the Senate of the United States
has gradually varied from that which il appears 70
have in the infancy of our political institutions
and that the character of its deliberations moro and
more nearly approaches that of the Representative
Chamber.
The Senate. on its FIRST organisation under ,h;,
Constitution secluded itself from the ouhIir cva
and appears to have been considered rather IN the
light of a Privy Council to the President Than as
coordinate branch of the legislature Indeeed if
we mistake not, 1t was so termed in conversation
occasionally, if not in official proceedings of that
day. There are many, probably of the pIpspnt qen.
Grafton of readers who remember the fact that in
the First Session Of the First Congress of the limited
States, President Washington personally came into
the Senate when that body was engaged on what is
called Executive business, and took part in its de-
Iberatons When he attended he tool the Vice
Presidents cha r. and theNice President took that of
the Secretary Of the Senate. One OF other of the
Secretaries occasionally accompanied the President
on these visits The President addressed the Senate
on the questions before them and in many respccts
exercised power In respect to their proceedings
which would now be deemed entirely incompatibla
with their right and privileges This practice. how
ever did not long conk nuo. An occasion soon arose
of collision of opinion between the President and
the Senate some nomination and he did not after
wards attend, but communicated by message what
he desired to lay before them.
At this period the Legislative as well as Execu-
tive proceeding Of the Senate djl0qyS transacted
IN secret session: and the public knew of the pro-
ceedings of that branch of the Government only
from its messages to the other House announcing its
decisions IL became evident. however. that in
practice ali responsibility to the constituent under
such circumstances. was ideal; but it was not until
he goth of February, 1874, after q considerable |
struggle that the Senate came to resolution that
is Legislative proceedings should after the end Of
hat session be public and that galleries should be
provided for the accommodation Of auditors. On |
his question we find the yeas and nays registered,
nineteen members having voted for il, and eight |
against it.
From the day of this triumph of popular prinei-
,lss the Senate has gradually parted with the char
cter of reserve which appears to have belonged to
[. By the increase of its numbers from the admis-
non Of new States into the Union its legislative
business has become 50 labOrous that its peculiar
4 aacter OF an Executive Council is almost overlook
ID, notwithstanding the great importance Of this
eature in our Government and the debates in the
senate are of much greater length at this day, in
proportion to the numbers composing the body than
hose OF the House Of ReDrepresenta1iYesa r ~