Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-11-23
SECRET SESSIONS.
From the Macon Telegraph

From the Macon Telegraph
Last year much dissatisfaction was expressed by
the people and the press at "secret sessions" Of
Congress We trust there will be no cause for these
complaints at the present session. There is no ex-
cuse for Them except pending discussions militia
~ affairs, facts brought cut in debate might prove
beneficial to the enemy: The people have right
to know the position and bearing of their represent
tatives upon questions affecting the interests and it
may be, the liberties of the country. Wefear that
some of the of the people have got the idea
into their noodles that they are the masters and
would fain play the part of grand seigniurs. Let
there be an end to this insolent presumption, else
We these gentry that the bubble of their great
ness will collapse suddenly and disgracefully Some
shallow brains. in the land have lately grown so
blatant to hint that the curta,ling Of the liberty
of the press would be benefit to The of in
dependence. They affect to despise the means by
which they were brought into notice and elevated
to power; and would fain crust out the I" Fourth
Estate" that their littleness and corruption might
not be exposed. tt such an attempt is made, as it
is whispered there will be- these Industrious ob.
scure" will attempt to hide their assaults upon the
liberty of the press and the people under the
of secrat sessions Let the press look to it. II the
Fourth Estate will but assert Its rights and vini.
cate its prerogatives, which but the rights and
prerogatives OF the people, it viii soon crush the
vpers it has wermed to life Let tbs discussion of
public matters in Congress be had with open doors
No stabs in the dark. No secret sessions.
From The Columbus Sun
When Congressman assumed to be wise beyond
the authority given tnem by the intent of the Con.
stituton, they resolve themselves into secret ses
sion. 1t matters little what they do in secret Pub
lie opinion that contending element in all forms of
free government, cannot reach them. They may
curtal the liberty of the citizen, but there is no
EacSuS M 10
bilty cannot be established whom the truth is kept
concealed The people thus lose the control of the
government. Representatives lose all sense of re-
sponsibty, because the people bave lost their pow
er in making their Judgment felt. In extenua.ion
OF this outrageous Practice of secret sessions, We
are exhorted to "trUst the President" and to re-
pose confidence in the ability and integrity of our
chosen rulers. A greater than President Davis
once remarked that condelee in rulers could be in.
spred only by tho acts of the rulers themselves,
and that when people become dissatisfied with
their sovereign it could be attributed to nothing
short Of a wan: of capacity integrity on the part
of the lnen who rule. When the people note a
constant tendency towards Capitalization in connec.
ton with this passion for secret sessions it is
Natural, that dissatisfaction should exist Ii Cen.
gress would restore confidence and procure har.no
ny among the people, let them trust the integrity
and sood sense Of their constituents
FROM charleston Iercury
knowledge is power" and the political power
derived irem knowledge of public affairs as con.
Quoted hy their agents in the central government
belong to the people Of this Confederation A con.
stltutonal government intended to place all public
servants upon their responsibility for Official con-
duct, yet conducted III constant secret sessions is
a monstFouS anomaly ard perversion. Protected
from public srutiny, subjected to the allurenentS
of political prefernent on the hand AID threat
ened with unerring prescription on the other
without popular support independent exertions tor
the country, and often weighed down by the pres
sure of Executive ed!um-Represcntatl7es stand in
a position Of great weakness and temptation. Is it
to be wondered that many become passive and sub
servient? Nor can there be remedy where the
thing to be remedied is covered. Responsibility
cannot be established where the truth is not known
Opinions cannot he formed in ignorance. Without
ecise facts for data conclusions cannot be arrived
at. Public opinion is kept in an uncertain, shifting
and negative and impotent condition, touching the
causes of troubles their necessity, and the best
remedies to be applied. The people are shorn of
their legitimate power of discriminating and in ma
king their Judgment felt. The press is shorn of its
proper power, because upon facts supposed to be
partial the people cannot make up their minds
without reservation about measure and men, Hence
we drift along in faith and in charity, under the
auspices of men who have assumed to be wise De-
yond any authority gwen them by the intent of the
Constitution. 1t is high time for the people and
press of the Confederate States to lift voice of
earnest condemnation of this new system of snoth-
erng public opinion. We invoke the aid of our co.
tempoTaries against a further continuance of daily
secret sessions, which even the Yankees do not
practice, and which spread weakness ia our coun-
sells.