Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-08-29
ARGUMENT OF Mr.. YAsCEY, OF ALABAMA, o,

| ARGUMENT OF Mr.. YANCEY, OF ALABAMA, ON
TIE SUBJECT OF sEoRES SESSIONS,
Conds1.ssd from the Debate IN he Confederate States
| Ssndts, on the 22d inst
Mr. President: The rules Of the Senite which have
moved 10 amend make secrecy in legislation the rule ano
open session the exception. The 4Sd rule, which n&se
proposed should be stricken out, requires the Senate 70
into secret session upon motion OF SENATOR second
ed by another The 45th rule makes /. the duty OF the
sGnate 10 consider all questions relating 70 the pubhc
defence in secret session. unless determined otherwise
secret vote. TRe effect Of my amendments, hdoPted,
will be- that all legislative sessions will be open 70 me
public except in such cases, as in the opinion Oh Two
thirds of toe Serse voting open session BY yeas and
nays the interests Of the country shall require 70 be
| considered with closed Doors
Ca fist taking my seat in the Senate called the Of
tepron of members 10 this suit sct as anomaly in
republican government, but disposed to yield Ano
did Weld my views TO the generally expressed opin
lou OF Senator's that 1t wise policy under the CIT
| cumstances and had worked well Toe sutject, how
1 ever has engaged much Of my attention and rnseaoh
during the recess aud more fully convinced IhAtN
have 100 much secrecy IN legislation and that as
matter Of republican principles it Is clearly wrong 10
make secrssy the general rule Of the Senate. DO not
know Mr. President that the opinions Of Senators have
undergone any ohki &c on this SUBJECT but Conceive
to be my duty make tfrt TO bring back the koV-
eminent clearly defined republican track, ana
| 20 place myself fairly on record before the pubic.
do not doubt that, in times like these there are mat
ters which wise prudence requires Us 70 consider " So
cre. Nv proposed amendment leaves in the dlscre
ton of e Senste-to be exercised however, in open
ssssion-under its responsibility to the people, 70 con-
slider such maers secret. But 10 my opinion there
are far fever calls for the exercise of such discretion
| than is generally supposed by the Senate.
The reasons urged in support OF secret HsSions re-
solve themselves into two propositions. ~
st IL ia unWse 10 let the enemy know Of our discus
| sions
IL lis unvise to let our constituency know Of our
| discussions.
do not think giving the fullest force to both propo-
sons that the doubtful benefit accrung from them, 81
al equals the jury dole TO public sentiment by depriv
ing the people OF Knowledge OF your proceedings.
Il must De borne in mind that no military plans are
| devised here, contemplated army movements are
known to Senators Financial questions With US would
seem 10 need 10 secresy. The whole world knows that
operate alone upon our credit with our own pee Pile
Whal is there then that requires secresy as general
rule in the wide range OF legislation What in fact
that you keep secret You publish all your lsws, mill
tary aud financial The chief results OF yonr dehbera-
Ion are made k1OWn. Bat you conceal iron your con
sdGelts your individual action your individual views
You conceal from them propositions which are ected,
ard the names Of those who ct them. You conceal
FROM them the projectors OF laws which are adopted,
and those who sustained opposed them You conceal
from them the TACT that pans were not proposed which
in their opi1ion, might base oeen wisely proposed ano
adopted You conceal from them also that class OF lie
gsaye ion Of the two hCuJss which az have been
vetoed by the Executive, aud you leave them entirely
zuorAut TO the relative wisdom or INDEPENDENCE Of
their Executive aud their Repre- entatiyes IN each
These IN my opinion constitute the great Of mat
Ter sept iron the puolo BY sscresy and these would
uuve TO Gho scrutiny of constituency Ia doing 60
can see but httle public evil which would result,
the contrary, much public good
| IL is said however, that sentiments sometimes
pressed By Senators would have bad itadence the
public mind / DO not think | have far different
view of the Rrmaess and wisdom Of the public mind
Il has bot been depressed b. misfortune TO arms,
nor by loss of territory, but the CONTRARY has been
hlsucld oy such mtfJrunes 10 renewed Ihbtion Of
courage energy and patriotism. There was time
dovbtss in Which the public heart might have beeu dis
uraged by incisSTeet speakeIs-ths peri5d immediate
ly following the acts OF seces3ion-Shen large mnori-
lies existed in nearly every State opposed this move
neuL wien public sentiment had not been consolidated
il its fayors time when the enlightened and patriotic
Leaders OF that old Union perry overwhelmed with
Anxiety esl tie lessons OF conservative regard Tor the
Union and hope in ultimate justice from the North had
deeply engraved upon the hearts Of that party
- time b fore We had learned TO have confidence In
each other and to mutually understand the baseness oil
! the enemy
But h.: tine and its dislrusts have passed away.
say it, fully weighing each WORT use, that to day We
cent TO the world greater unity, % Humbsrs-iD
Confidence In each other and in stherer 10
than iore-Athers presented In The RsVoiuuon-than
Yankees present d,y-than Is TO be found even in
the Hel.poised Government OF Great Britain, in any
o. the grsA; powers OF Europe, further say it, vita
he fullest seusaof iis entire truth, and in no csrpirg
spi; Of course for any department OF the Government,
that great public senim mt OF our people 10 day Is
Of a higher cast OF revolutionary energy, wisdom and
deyotiol than that OF their government agents. Aud
lc ouly lear Senators need entertain Of the Ell ct o!
giving puble;ty - their proceedings would be stern
demand a. they es~hs- AL reliance for other
than upon their consti;ueLCy EpOn them more
fey Tor and ms 10 carry this war into the
mys couairy. Sir, memorable occasion Ia the his
tory OF this war it did ranspire tina. there had been,
somewhere, In some department Of the GoyernHeEt-
legislative or eXeeutiycsn astounding want Of coupre
henson of the magnitude OF the crses and qlent
failure to provide tor proper defence OF tbs country
| alude to the iall Of FOrs Henry AID DJuelson ald
Roanoke Isand-io the rapid loss OF Southern Kentucky
o. MIDI Tennessee and OF North Alabama The pub
lie had been al oass cir 20 the battle o hGnassas--lgTei
20 Iepose and confidence by the iet epeeIs Tered by
seoesy IN their oWl Government aud By the apparent
insrtness OF the foe i. deemed thai s well, ana
tia. the Government sgente wore as Watchul wise aod
energetic the foe. But when, February Lass near hall
million Of tho enemy rushed upoD our borders and took
ssessicn OF large sections OF some OF our most valuable
urtor, and Of the key al Immense extent al Allan.
tic coast tks peOp.S aroused from their ease aud
slsken in their col adgnce ~ sndng that the country
Ad neither arms In the Geld g ~ adequate TO
| its dtisIOe.
What facts on your secret ,uena--Shat discussion
In your secioi session. If given publicly to the world,
we're 30 well cAcu asd 10 encourage the enemy as this
publicly dcmors'ratsd weakness in critical hour,
aud were 81 veil calculated 10 tepreos and democrat
QUE people, Aod yet 80 far from demoralzing-fron
dspressiug-or disccuragiug peopls to the sudden
cali OF the President ITO Atms" the Southwest arose
ia the might o. gsn sud coming forth from bill TOP,
valley aud psin she people, with 'hsr rGd weapons OF
war, immediately formed army, and tbs snemy has
been u Sbe 10 advance mile BEYOND the lines OBJ
tIil ei By surlrs' in unequal 90 CT, and Is now re-
treating 20 his fortresses
Nos sir WHO IL there will dare assert that bad the
pscp known tho ,ydS stRe Of thirgs from Angus. 81
fsbrdAJ SO ths bsGsiGl EapoSe VI the Government
would nAVc be N owed tuch long continuance Was
their legislative representative ct fault He woull have
bssn aroused By the patriotic sud enlightened energy Of
his constituents the necessity Of attempt TO put
the c,uutFJ on q proper wsr footing Was their e1eeu
tive representative IS huly Acted upon both b. the
peoples own expressed viii AUG tia: of their Congress