The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-06-19
cousrcss - sn In Secret Session.

ConErcss ~ Stt tn SCcrct Session.
The Washington correspondent oi the New
York Tribune says, that Congress is 10 st tsib
cleseI d.7-s, and oniy 10 pass three Bills -'en
Army Bin, a Navy Bill. and a Loan Bill." This
sppsd-s 7ery siEp!e, bat there Will be some
thing more thae 1nere loan bill 10 connection
with the Others. The means on which the loans
sre to be sustained wall be tss tough poiat IN
the ssrre, srsSi9n!
The Cialinnaii CoIntnt rcsl speaking Of this
proiect off secret session, says:
"Nuw II anr persons connected with Con
sress OF tie Golernnent ars responsible lrr such
s,,csesti n, We think il bigh time the people
should gi,e then 10 understand that such style
.4ido.uz p1blic legislative husiness. IN star chsm
her secrecy. viii not 20 downin This Republic.
1'be Atnericsu people are consti'utionaly syers7
To ali dark tanterh proceedings; and every party
aud public body in this country which has ieen
made secrecy ica ure OF is proceedings. has
gained oli,s a.rted eoa:empt ard failure in rs
alma"
The Canmetcal procoels with acoE,au Of
asnunciation or this secret session ilesaad warn
Mr. LIxooIS ard ile Republican party geDer-
ally against such messurr.
We NEST canIess our surprise at the Innocence
efthe Conmsrciai We venture the predict ion
and awe hope tho comuercial will not forget it.
viz. That Congress will sit wi h closed doors.
hold secret sessions, and that the Cincinnati
Comrasraal will spolog,se for the act, and In the
end openly sustain it!
Now the Commercial may haze influence
enough to defeat our prediction by persuading
Congress- to sit with open doors, but we do rot
believe It. The truth is clear. from ths argu
ments Of the Commercial, that Congress would
deserra the bittersst denunciations Tor even
proposing secret sessions, but in its very argu'
ments against il. it aiiudes to questions that
will be uged NJ an excuse in pa;r9 sei!Ss Tor
hiding their acts !gom the public eye.
We quote from that Fsper TO show whSt We
say may 30 locked for 10 take place, and the
Commercial will, wa hcpe bear in mind wha,
we havs nox predicted. I. ia not the fear Of
lime occupied by ssiaiog, but it is the fear c
t9iat fsay Be sgiG:
"Ths argument that open sessions have a
tendency to expand debate, snd d lay the trans
action Of important business, is relied upon sc
give a color of prorfisty TO this scheme OF Sc
scret sessions, and We are generously told me
work OF the Extra Session is all to be matuie1
before aand~~.hat only three bills iced be pass
ed anl thai tao days time IS amply sufficient
10 Place matters III tram for vigorous prosecu
ton Of he var. Now We yield to nobody il
our -det5st&tio:l ol the interminable palavei
which dixgracss ali cur legislative halls, and il
nowhass more conspicuous or pT"fi'lass than il
the Congress OF the United States. We thinl
it would 90 good thing 70 have the regular Ses
sions Of Congress limited 10 siG'y days, the one
hour r,iie abolished in the House, and rigic
fifteen ninnte Inas adopted i'll both branches
But we must not forget, that in the present ex
igencv of the ccsntry, the proper measures to h
adopted to sustain the the Government ar
matters; Tor grave defberation, and must neces
saFily involve discussion. We must not Jorge
that there will be an Oppo,ition party in thu
coming Congress, which has a just :ight to b.
heard. The rights. OF lninori,ies are as sacret
as those Of najofi'ies. They may be voted dow
but they cannot be checked down, without do
ing violence TO the spirit OF free government ant
the character Of an open minded and toeran
people He who shall attempt to press throus!
Congress without deliheration Or debate, an.
cut.and-dried system Of legislation Tor meeting
the emergencies OF the present crisis, will dc
serve the reprobatiou OF every lover OF fair pls.
and democrats institutions in the land.
There are more than questions OF army ano
navy 10 be met. There is an odous and cx
travagant tariff law. passed by sshort's'ghtee
and infatuated Congress, which ought to b.
forthwith repealed. There are questions OF ou
relations to foreigu Powers, growing out OF thi
blockade aud privateering, which tho immediate
representatives fthe people will seek to con
slider, in t4,eir relations 10 our tariff and nrvga
laws There is the universal prostfation G
commercial husiness, and the possible means {
affording som: relief to the people. We canne
but be ama1ei at the proposition that the M
sional Congress shsll-sit for two. or three da.
only. and .bat In secret seesion,and adjourn aft
passiae two or three bills prepared before hart
We hope for short session and q cnrsailms
Of parliamentary eleausncc; for the time is en-
phaticay one for action and not ferspeech, Ar
the fact that Congressman reciere 90 ezra c"u
pensaticp fer extra sessions, will operate
shorten their debates, But the day which abs
behold our nstoaal halls oi legislation clos'
in the face OF the public. and the business
the country forced through Congress in s''en
and secrecy, will DO : dark day Of omen 'or
liberties ola great and free people, .a