Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-08-16
SECRET SESSIONS IN CONGRESS.

The fundamental principle of all free republican
governments is-that the people rule themselves
They rule themselves through their representatives.
The acts of the representative are their acts because
he is amenabe to their CONTROL and carries out their
volitions Now, cut off the responsibility of the
representative to the people; let them know nothing
of his actngs ano doings, as their representative,
and Of what avail is the representative to the peo-
Pile? They can neither control him, nor rule them
selves. The representative becomes an irresponsi-
bile ruler of the people; or what is more probable,
the tool of the Executive, from whom all patronage
flows to carry out his despotc behests. For the
people to rule themselves through their representa-
lives it IS clear they must know all his transactions,
and be able TO support or 10 repudlate them, and
TO continue or to change their agent-the represen-
tatiVe.
To bring this matter nearer home to our appre
tensions let US turn TO the election which will
shortly take place for representa- to the Con-
gress of the Confederate States What do the peo-
pie know Of the actngs and doingS of their repre-
scntatives in Congress, since the establishment Of
the Confederate States government? Can they be
called to account for their stewardship, and be I'M
derstandihgy approved of or rejectedy They have
covered themselves with the mantle of secresy.-
They established a rule amongst themselves, that
if any of their members should presume to cOmmu-
nicate Sthng OF his transactions to his conStit
uents, he should be expelled from Congress-thus,
at a single blow, thrusting aside the people and
annihilating all responsibility to them. The conse-
quence is the people, a: the approaching elections,
are utterly in the dark the transactions of their
representatives,, IN struggle for their liberty, in.
volving all that is dear to men. Take for instance,
two cases, by way of illustration: The Constitu-
ton of the Provisional government prescribes as
follows: THE President shall, at stated times,
ceve for his services during the period CT the Pro-
vsional government, a compensation at the rate OF
twenty-five thousand dollars per annum; and he
cI,al NJ ihar MI
UuteHt from this COaJederdcy or any of the States
thereof" 1t is impossible to mistake these words
of the Constitution. Human language could Tot
devise a distinct declaration that the President
should receive twenty-five thousand dollars per
annum," As his emouEent, and nothing more. Yet
10 the acts Of this Congress, after the
President was installed in office, and VIC find the
following resolution: The Congress Of the Con
federate States u America do resolve, that the com
mitttce to arrange for government buildings be au-
thoriZed TO lease furnished mansion tJr tie resi-
deRcs Of tie President Of the Confederate Suites
Here is resolution to add to the enolumcnts Of
the President furnished mansion, equal TO screen
thousand doiLnrs-maklGg his emoluments thirty
two thousand dollars, instead of twenty five thou
sand dollars DO the people know how their rep
reSentaves voted on this plain and palPable viola
ton of the Constitution for the benefit Of the Presi
dent?
The other matter we would notice is the Presi-
ucUllal NelOS. IL IL laws
vetoed more bills OF the Provisional Congress, than
all the Presidents of the United States from George
Washington to Andrew jackson included. Do the
people know anywhere how tner representatives
vOted-frst on these bills; and second, on the
vetos upon them? Which of them supported this
outrageous abuse OF the veto power? What were
the measures which thus brought the Executive and
Legislative Departments of the government into
such repeated and angry collision, in the midst OF
struggle for our liberties and independence, when
Cancellation and forbearauce were so much required?
Do the people know? Do they know what part
their representatives played in these grave transac-
tons? Did they vote for the bills, and then
stufy themselves, by upholdins the vetoes of the
Executive upon them? Or did they oppose the
bills and consistently uphold the vetos of the E;-
ecutive? Who knowsg The people called up
on in the approaching elections, to vote for their
representatives, in profound ignorance of their
course in all these matters-dn ignorance Jorced
upon them By their representatives. themselves. Can
any other exemplicatOns be necessary to prove the
utter ncompatibity of secret sessions in Com reSs,
with the right of the people to rule themselves p
Charleston Mercury.