Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-08-13
SECRET SESSIONS IN CONGRESS

SECRET SESSIONS IN CONGRESS
Military authority and military discipline hs :
always been supposed to be ad erse to public iher
ty. The resson is obvious. Military authority and
discipline establish u despotism. 10 command on
the one side and to obey on tho other, are its prin
ciples. Public liberty the contrary, can exist
only in the atmosphere of free enquiry. "A free
press and free debate in all assemblages Of the peo
pie, are the two grand instrunentalitics of public
liberty. Hence one Of the first things the govern
ment Of President Lincoln did, when it determined
to establish military despotism over the North,
was to abolish the freedom of the press The other
fundamentally Of liberty, freedom OF speech and
debate. they also abolished in the primary assem-.
bages Of the people, by mob oioSence; but they did
not because we presume they dared not attempt to
suppress free debate in the Congress Of the United
States Free debate, with open sessions, without
which free debate is useless because it cannot reach
the people, has been retained by the Representatives
of the people in the Congress Of the United States
In the Confederate States the press has been kept
Free not without however, very decided indications,
on the part Of the military authority of desire to
suppress it; but open sessions, with free DEBATE,
have been suppressed. The Congress OF the Con.
federate States in spite of the plain mandates OF
the Constitution requiring publicity OF their pro-
ceedngsr has been little else than secret Executive
Council What measures have been proposed IN Con-
press to promote the welfare of the people, and by
whom proposed, and the votes Of their Representa-
lives upon them-the people know nothing What
course the Executive has pursued-what measures
have been recommended, and what defeated by the
Executive, are kept from the people. 1t is only af
ter measure has been ripened into Executive APP
prevail that it is published and known. Free debate
is therefore, practically abolished because it does
not reach the people, whilst the responsibility OF
the Representative to the constituent is also aboi-
ished.
Now we know very we'll that this strange dlsre-
gard of the first principles of liberty, in sTugg'e
to obtain it for ourselves and our posterlty can DC
defended by very plausible sophisms. 1t IS argued
that our differences if known TO our enemies, would
weaken our cause; and especially ought all COILS
ions with the Executive to DO suppressed, because
his folly must be most dangerous. want OF con-
ffence in him must weaken the energies OF the peo-
Die. Therefore, they should be deceived into the
belief that Congress is unanimous IN the policy u
the government and that the Executive has Its con-
fdence
1t is very difficult to persuade an honest man that
deception can at any time be good policy; but when
it is Systematically prac'ced to the practical over
throw of the principles OF the government ITSELF 1t
is declaration that the government Is an evil, ana
ought to be abolished IT, in a free representative
government, it is expedent that the people should
know nothing Of the speeches or conduct oil their
representatives then representation ought TO De
abolished, and free debate hc suppressed. In other
words. the government is nuisance, to be clrcum-
vented and put aside, and ought to be overthrow
Bat further still Do not secret sessions produce
the very evil it is intended TO prevent? Does it not
exaspelate differences and upset the equilibrium OF
The Cons,ituiion2 AT Executive in power for six
years, with the vast patronage war produces, will
surely grnw nSolent an! aggressive by the lrreSpon.
$ billy which secret sessions produce Every mem
Der OF Congress has the right AMI the duty Of lay
lag before the Executive the clamS of his constit
Eats to Office and place under the government. Ii
be is Compliant to Executive dictatiOn, his recon
will be REGARDED il not, they will be
registered to he prescribed from Office. Will not
this tend to exasperate the independent representa-
i've, whilst It commands the adherence Of the.syco-
Dnant, The same result may attend measures. A
measure not recommended by the Executive CT i'll
eIiel To Tec,ity abuses ii supported by repre-.
'en:at:sc draws upon him Executive prescription.
Viii this harnon,ze differences and strengthen the
government in Its legitimate operations! On the
.bn.raiy, shielded from any responsibility to the
people 10y secret sessions, will not the Executive
grow more aggressive, and more presumptuous, I'M
Til last he shall look upon Congress rs uiere
registering office, where his desires may be record
ed lie may soon consider himself, like Louis XIV,
As the State, and all who may oppose his will, as
m'scl.ievOuS agents or traitors In the meantime,
hi; cardinal principle of all Tree governments, the
Independence Of the Legislative Of the Executive de
will have been practically abolished; and
the government shall become free only in name
Secret sessions in Congress cannot co-exst with
Tree government. One or twO things ought to be
the secret sessions in Congress,
abolish the government of the Confederate States
IN form as well as in fact Charleston Mercury.