Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-03-08
RICHMOND WHIG.
AN ENGLISH VIEW OF TIE AMERICAN CON
ERESS
From the London Times, Feb. III

a
GRESS.
From the London Times Feb Il
The Congress of the United States has for the last
two months presented spectacle by edfying
10 those who are determined to see nothing but what is
excellent on the other side OF the Atlantic. TWAS only
on the lst inst, after session which commenced Oh
the first Monday in December that the House of Repre-
senta,yes WAS able TO constitute majority sufficiently
rrc for the election OF Speaker IL was not that the
Speaker is of any particular consequence when he is ap
pointed but that the House Is so split up by faction that
neither side would make this slight concession the
other The Speaker is elected for two years only and
is not as with US a candidate for elevation to post Of
dignity and honor. After Congress shall have expired
the Sneaker will return the ranks Of the ielOw-c-
zrns with only such distinction Is the in which
he has discharged his duty may have earned for him
Whichever side might succeed nobody doubted that il
would have placed in the chair gentleman fully com
pelent TO the discharge OF his duty and it therefore
neycusablv childish To the session IN disputes the
resul, OF which certain 10 he utterly trivial.
We must not however, commit the of cOmpar-
il the DISCRIMINATION aud disorder OF public business
which this delay will cause in the United States 10 that
which would occur If We were Orbear for two months
TO name a Speaker for the House OF Commons. With
Us the finance OF the would be Shipwrecked num-
Der OF valuable laws would remain unenaced an euor-
nous quantity OF private business, involving the most
important pecuuiary interests would remain uudone and
the session would be absorbed IN the ruitess attempt to
cyerake the time so needcssy cast away. No such re-
suits need lie apprehenjed al least 10 anything ike the
same extent from the abstraction Of two months from
the session OF the American Congress Instead OF having
TO transact the whole business OF an empire the AmeIi-
can Congress is limited certain functions delegated to
it by the sovereign States whose union t represents and
these functions neither very numerous very COM
piicated. Ii may be thought that Congress has an I'M
deal to do to regulate the finance OF great and
industrious people, and in solving the numerous prob
lens of LEGISLATION which battle mid statesmen
t.ullA nv
tons aud lorded over by monarchies and arisiocra-
cies No mistake can be more complete. It takes
vast deal OF Ordtory spin out the session and to ill
up the requisite period allotted to deliberations by which
nothing is decided. The Assembly, at least which has
no executive duties TO perform leads tOerably easy
life until in the last week two and under the sitting
heat Of Washington summer 1t hurres through in an
almost continuous Session the work that should properly
have been spread over many mouths The fact is the
Federal Legislature does not enjoy IN America anything
like the importance doe 1t exercise the influence OF
the English Parliament The void which it would create
disappear altogether is Que that would be by
no means possible 10 fill up Whence arises this remar-
kablc difference: Partly, We have shown, from the
restricted jurisdiction of Congress- but partly also
from its different relation towards the head and members
of the Executive Government In England the Executive
springs out Of and forms part OF the Parliament and
the legislative and administrative functions are so happi-
" blended together that each gives strength and
consideration to the other. The Executive is re-
pected only for the functions it performs but be-
without possessing the confidence Of Parliament it
could not become continue the Executive and the Le
gisaue derives additional strength from the fact that il
not only makes the laws but exercises complete control
over those who administer them. Thus each in
turn assists the other aud the Executive and Legislature
acting in harmony with each other and mutually depen-
dent are far tOnger than they would be if they dschar
ged their several functions without concert and intimate
relation. Bu, in America the is entirely different
There the Executive Government derives it origin from
one direct popular vote, and Congress derives origin
from another popular vote. Neither has any Obligation
consult; the Wishes because neither depends upon the
support OF the other They coordinate powers and
may and generally do, exercise their functions each
without reference the other. Hence it happens that
instead OF strengthening each other they are in turn
causes OF weakness that the Executive is feeble for
of sanction Of the Legislature and the Legislature inert
Tor OF the direction and siimulOus afforded by the
Executive.
The superiority Of the English form Of government is
so obvious and the Inconvenience an Executive Gov
ernmeut which, often happens in America, is in mi
uori,y in the Houses OF Legislature is garng that
our colonies have not hestlied and all prefer the
English 10 the American system. They have adopted
responsible government by accamaton, and at pres
ent in It's full enjoyment. Their experience however
suggests the gravest doubts whether they will be able
retain the principle eagerly caught at of the direct
responsibility OF the executive TO the Legislature. The
system has proved not easy TO wOr, il appeared az
first aud has gwen little admire the
fore-though and prudence OF the who framed the
American Constitution. American statemen saw that
though tue English system might be the best il
that could rot be engrafted on a Constitution thoroughly
democratic The Legislature WHICH is TO be entrusted
with the delicate task Of making and UnmaSing the Exec
utiye Government, while abs,auing from the rEinous
error of usufpng executive functions into It's hands
must be composed Of men superior to the mOmentary
influences which sway an uubridled democracy and ca
pab.e Of the haJul exercise Of moderation aud fore
thought Such body cannot spring from equal electoral
districts and universal suffrage where the voice OF the
unstructed may osrIpOwer the opinion Of the educated
few. There was, therefore, chGcd for America but
to invest the Administration by positive law with the
durability which it vain to hope from the prudence
and moderation ofa Legislature so constituted and il
America has thus lost the advantage OF Executive ia
harmony with the feelings of the Legislature she has
any rate avoided the evils OF perpetual change. 1t is
fear but too probable that colonies which have chO
sen to initiate America rather than England in the highly
democratic constitution Of their Legislatures viii hnd
themselves driven apply the slne remedies to the
evls and forced by the ntoerabe instability Of success
i've Governments 10 give them legal Duration and thus
effect final divorce between the legislative and executive
powers In the meanwhile we have good reason to
graduate ourselves that We have not, instead OF our
present Parliamentary Government band of officials
uuconuected with Parliament and holding Office whether
popular or unpopular, efficient or inefficient for fixed
term Of wears.