Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-26

laog to suit cts connected wi their peculiar Depart
ments as may be desired.
Mr.. PERKIN5-I will simply remark, that 10 estab-
fishing the Provision al Government at Montgomery, as
we in the midst Of a revolution It felt that
there existed necessity for prompt and speedy commu
nication with the frent branches Of the Government
We have found in the progress of this revolution, great
advantages from having bsfore the principal officers
from the different departments. II there pareu
lar information needed on any point connected With one
or other Of the departments Its head present ready
to communicate it, II there was embarrassment In the
construction Of 9 measure or communication, he was
present to interpret the message.
think that If this House has evinced anything, IL as
evinced desire aid the Pr sdent and his officers in
everything that looks to prompt and resoute action in
| the defence of the country.
TIE next indication has been desire to get free and
full information as to any deferces The bill which
have introduced has been drawn with care and after
consultation and emb odies In that provision oil the
permanent Constitution which enables Congress- BY the
passage of this BILL admit 20 this h)or the principal
officers in each department dick the necessity eI.
is for this course and without discussing the prnc
pies Of the bill at all should like action upon it on the
part of the House. II however, 1t produces discussion
willing it should lie over or be referred to the Judi
ciary Committee.
Mr. FOOTE, OF Tenn.-It would be very incon sisteDt
With the views entertain and have expressed here in
regard TO freedom Of discussion, and In reference also
TO rigid scrutiny with the acts Of public officers were
to opposs members Of the Cabinet Of any existing ad
compliance with the Constitutional provisions upon which
that bill is based.
The SPEAKER pay bills have been sent to
the Chair he signed but nasmuch as be had no OPP
porutity Of examining them, he deems best to refer
them TO the Committee on Pay and Mileage. /. would
be impossible for the Chairman to examine all these
bills and he desires to give notice, that all OF them
whicA may hereafter be presented will be referred to the
proper committee. =,
Mr. FO0rE (resumpg).-I wish TO say that II would
-..k al. kay aH
upon the topics which named to present the least op
position to any member Of the Cabinet either the pres
future one, being allowed to CINE upon this h)or
for the purpose Of giving seasopabs explanations as to
their official acts, and for the purpose OF enabling
them 10 sindicae their acts against assailment am
we'll sas6ed that there Is not wiser provision 10 our
new Cor tuition than the upon which this particu-
lar bill purpors to be based. have locked constantly
forward such action the part OF the Congress oil
the Confederate States is now proposed to Us bad
supposed and still suppose, that the true meaning and
the spirit of that clause of our Constitution is this and
will be hereafter declared to be this though should
10. be emb ,ded in the proposition before the House
that when the Cabinet officers shall be thus admitted
to the ,or Of the House for the purpose OF defending
their own acts explaining their measures Of policy,
that whom they shall be clearly and deliberately voted
down upon any vital question Of national policy, that
then n conformity with the usage in the land OF cur Ia
Tiers. Great Britain, in conformity with which this con-
stituonal provision has been drawn will be the un.
doubted duty OF this Cabinet at to vacate their
offices, and give way other individuals, who may
be batter prep red than thens ve', to give titncy
enforcement exciting public sentiment Such has been
/ the case In Ecgand, for more than Q century past
Whilst do not intend to discuss this matter at pre-
sent at least think shall be prepared TO do here
after If necessary upon the basis Of high authority and
on grounds Of policy aud eIpeiiency, aud shall now
content myself by suggesting that the British precedents
are these as asserted by Baron Macanlay Lord Broug
ham and other dis ngushcd British writers-that when
British Cabinet sh be defeated upoa vital question,
aud il shall appear plain that the action Of that Cabinet
not n conformity with existing popular sentiment, that
then shall be the duty, it is duty in Great Britain,
so recognized and it ought TO be duty recog.
niz,d here also in similar II should be the duty OF
| the Cabinet from decent and proper respect to
public sentiment under o republican form OF govern
like ours at 70 vscae their stations aud give
way TO individuals who may b, better prepared than
themselves, have suggested TO give enforcement to
that state OF public sentiment however erroneous that
may percharce be regarded by some as being. Bron
Mscauley does not hesitate to assert tta', IL British
Cab let at any time during the last one hundred years.
had refused go GU of Cce when they had thus been
voted down in the House OF Commons upon vital ques
on of national p,icy, that such refusal on their part
unwillngnets TO display becoming respect to popu
lar sentiment would necessarily have caused civil rev.
olution and my opinion is that civil revolution
10 any country would be justified by such failure on the
part Of any memtet Of Cabinet TO comply with the
popular sentiment touching any policy OF vital cbarac'
| te,.
| | was not willing that the occasion should pass by
without making known these views which entertain in
COMMON with my respected colleagues before me, one OF
whom know intended TO bring ia proposition TO that
fleet in accordance with the opinions and sentiments Of
the people Of Tennessee. unwilling that this sub
ect should plss by without mskng known the fact that
my own convictions Of public duty require that should
propose amendment, whenever the question should
come I'D OF the character which now suggest shall
be prep,red at the proper time to offer proposition
to the effect that the duty Of Cabinet would be to va
cate their seats upon being voted down in the two
Houses Of Congress- upon such material questions as
| have referred to.
will now state sir, very frankly, that intended to
offer an amsndm the proposition Of my friend from
La (Mr. PERKINS when he first made known to me his
purpose to introduce this bill He however, requested
that would not do co. and having the greatest respect
for hs feelings in this mltier promised him | would
not do so aud presume no other member will efsr
any at present But certain is that whether any pro-
position shall be introduced now in the form Of an
amendment not, by my honorable colleague before
M will whenever any member shall introduce reso.
luton embracing the views have Just expressed, vote
for H. and shall be prepared, trust, 10 maintain this
doctrine By strong and undoubed authority.
| Mr.. SMITH, Of Va. Do understand the gentlemsn
10 maintain that in q cabinet officer thrown into
minority upon auy important question connected with
h Department should fail to resign, his failure to do so
would Justify civil revolution desire TO ask II the
resignation of Cabinet oiccr, under such creumsan-
ces would involve the resignation of the President slst
| Mr. FOOT The King and Queen OF Great Britain Is
never ousted by a deieit Of the Cabinet.
Mr. SMITH. If the President is not ousted what be-
cones of the provision of the Constitution which gives
him the right to choose bis Cabinet
Mr.. F0oTE shalI not presume, in the absence OF
evidence tina: any gentleman will be elected 10 the
Presidency of these States for ST years who will fail 10
honor hims,lf aud magnify our system of liberty now in
s infancy. Ga the contrary believe that he would
yield gtacefuly and promptly to the popular sentiment
when clearly developed either in the popular elections
o. otherwise, in connection with any important public
question which may arise in the action OF the covert.
msnt / cannot doubt at all that President, now
r,afer unless may have very unwor by ind-
vidus-I say entertain the conf lent opinion that
President now ard whatever President We may have
hereafter at least in the present generation aud for