New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-05

The new Whit worth guns had been tired wi q s1c
sess which 10 Represented as really a u;nm ~; ~
range and accuracy the Armstrong gun 10 ssiu W "''
been surpassed
THE AMERICAN AND ENGLISH SYSTEMS
COMPARED.
Fyoa The Los BON Tres, FEB. IT,
The Congress OF the United States has Tor the lass
two months presented spectacle by no means edify-
ing TO those who determined to see nothing but
what il excellent on the other side Of the Atlantic. IL
wac only on the LIST inst, after session which COM
menced on the first Monday 10 Dscemesr, thai the
House Of Repre- sentatives was able 70 constitute ma
iory sufficiently large for the election OF Speaker.
Ii was OF that The Speaker s Of any particular conss
ouence when he is appointed but that the House Is 20
tpt MP by faction that neither SIDE would make th
slight concession To the other. Inc Speaker Is elected
for two wears only and not as with us, candidate
for elevation TO post of dignity and honor. After the
Congress shall have expired, the Speaker will return
10 the ranks of his fellowczens with only such dis
tnction as the manner IN Wch Hs MS me
succeed nobody doubted that 1t would have placed IN
the chair gentle man fully competent 10 the discharge
of hs duty and i. was therefore nexcusably childish
TO the session IN d putes the result OF which was
certain TO be utterly trivial.
We must not however, commit the error Of compar-
ing the deorgsnzadon and disorder OF public business
which thsdelay will caase III the United States 10 that
which would occur II we were TO forbear for Two
months to name Speaker for the House of Commons.
With us, the finances Of the year would DO ship
wrecked number OF valuable Laws would rsmsin
unenacted, an enormous quantity OF private business,
| involving tho most important pecuniaTy interests,
Would remain und0Le, and the session would be ab-
torbed in the fruit!ts attempt TO overake the time go
peeolessy cast away. No such results need be appre-
hen6ed at least to snythiDg like the extent from
the abstraction Of onhs from the session OF the
American Congress. Instead Of having 10 transact the
whole business OF an Empire, the American Congress
is limited 10 certain functions delegated 70 by the
Sovereign States whose union j! represents and these
are neither very numerous nor very comp-
Gated. 1t may DO thought that Congress has an i@-
meme deal to do In sula.ng the finance OF great
and industrious people, ond N solving the numerous
problems of legislation which battle the timd states
men of old communities rammeled by nveterale tradi
tiona and orded by monai ehies and arisoccies
| No mistake can be more complete. lt taxes vast
deal of oratory to spin out the session and 10 fill
the requisite period allotted TO deliberations by which
| nothing is decided. The Assembly, at least which
has TO executive duties TO perform, leads toeraby
eAsy life until in the last week two, and under the
sitting heat Of Washington Summer, it hurres
through in almost continuous session, the work that
shoulo properly have been spread over many months
The tact is, the Federal Legislature does NOS enjoy
in America nything Ike the Importance, nor does
II exercise the influence, of the English Parlia-
ment The void which it would create, were it to dis-
appear altogether is that il would be by no means
inpcssble TO fill up Whence arlses this remarkable
| difference Partly as we have shown, from the
more restricted jurisdiction Of Congress- but partly
also from its different relation toward the head and
| men bers of the Executive Government. In England
the Executive springs ont of and forms part Of the
| Parliament and the Legislative aud administrative
functions are 70 happily blended together that each
| gives strength and consideration TO the other The
Executivs is respected not only for the functions
| Performs but because without possessing the conf
dence of Parliament II could not become or continue
the Executive aud the Legislature derives additional
strength from The fact that not only makes the La We
but exercises complete control over those who are 70
administer them Thus esch in turn assists the other.
and the Executive and Legs sture acting in harmony
| with each other, and mutually dependent, are far
stronger than they would be if they discharged their
| frpr
ton. But in America the Gaze is entirely different.
| There the Executive Government derives ts origin
from direct popular vote and Congress derives ia
origin from another popular vote. Neither has any
| obligation 10 consult the wishes, because Mother
depends upon the support, of the other They
ordinate pooerr, and may and generally DO, exercise
their functions each without reference 10 the other.
Hence il happens that, instead Of sire 3ghenng each
OTHER they in turn causes of weakness that the
| Executive is feeble for want of the sanction Of the
Legislature and the Legislature inert for want Of the
| direction and stimulus afforded by the Executive.
The superiority Of the English form of government
Is 80 obvious and the inconvenience OF an executive
government which, often happens in America Is IN
minority in the two Houses Of Legislature ia glar
ing that colonies have not hesated one and all to
| prefer the English to the American system They
have adopted responsible government by reclamation,
and present in its full enjoyment. Their expe
renee however suggests the grayest doubts whether
they will be able to retain tho principle eagerly
caught at of the direct responsibility of the Executive
to the Legislature tThe system has proved not easy
TO work appeared at first, and has given not
little reason 10 admire the forethought and prudence Of
| the men who framed the American Constitution.
American statesmen saw that though the English sys
TEN might be the best, it that could not no
engrsfted y constitution thoroughly democratic.
The Ii gisatnre which TO be ntrused With the delicate
| task Of making and unmaking the Executive Govern
meDt while abstning from ruinous Of usarp
ing ecutive functions into its hands, must be
posed ofmen superior 10 the momentsry Influences which
sway unbrdied democracy anG capable Of the habit
| ual exercise Of moderation and forethought. Soch
body cannot spring from equal electoral dsirics and
many oyerpowsr the opinion Of the edueased few.
There was, therefore, choice for America bet to
| vest the Administration BY positive law with that
durability which Il WAS vain 10 hope from the prudence
and moderation VI Legislature constituted, and, IL
America has thus lost the advantage Of Executive
| in harmony with tie feelings Of the Legislature she
has any rate avoided the evils OF perpetual change.
IL a. We fear but probable that colonies which
have chosen to initiate America rather than England in
the highly democratic constitution Of their Legislatures
viii fad themselves driven TO apply the same remedies
10 the came evils and forced by tho iDtoerabe in
stability Of successive Governments to give them q
legal duration and thus effect final divorce between
the Legislative and executive powers. In the
while have good reason to congratulate ourselves
that have not instead OF our present Parliamentary
Government, band Of officials uneonneeted with Par
| lament, and holding Office whether popular OF I'M
popular, eiGcien! inefficient for fixed term Of
years.
TTATY