Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-02-03

t0ould haze been reUJlted from. he t0ds de-
cidedly an fdvor Of tgriteH Information"
The two cases cited are believed to be the
only ones where Congress has acted on the
question Of giving the Cabinet any thare Of
the privileges Of members Of the House -
For more than seventy years there las been
no attempt to bring about any change Of this
character. The House has neither sought to
nominate or control the Ca )inst Of the Pres
ideni, nor has it exhibited any disposition to
diminish its own importance by sharing it's
privileges with the Presidents nominees and
be by them controlled. No ambitious min.
lister has suggested the idea, and where
Hamilton twice knocked at the DOOR and was
twice refused no others need apply.
Some Commentators upon the Constitution
have 50 high regard for the opinion Of Ham
ilton that they even love his faults and stand
always with their amor riveted on ready to
do battle in behalf Of even his most doubt
fol opinions. But because he desired little
more power when he was Secretary OF the
Treasury, and perhaps deservedly welded a
greater influence than any other man at the
seat of government, it will not be pretended
that an opinion born at such time is entitled
to more weight than that OF the trainers Of
the Constitution, including Madison. its &C.
knowledged father nor will it be pretended
that it should have the effect Of changing the
settled and uniform practice Of the House.
It is true that some examples can be cited
in the earlier days of the first term Of Wash
ington when he went to the Senate in person
TO make oral communications and was accom-
panied by his secretaries, or one of them went
in lieu of the President. This practice com
IL a ~
they went on executive business solely, and
, il is wholly irrelevant to cite such examples
as presidents for the scheme now presented.
The advice and consent Of the Senate under
the Constitution must be obtained for APP
pointments to Office and for the ratification Of
treaties. The Senate is an executive body,
as well as a Legislative, and In its capacity as
such Washington, with rare modesty not only
sought its consent, Tall that is ever done,)
but in person often sough, its advice in ad-
vance Of his own action. Generally, when
ever he desired immediate action, he went in
person to the Senate, and when otherwise,
he made his communications in writing II
he took his Secretary Of War or Secretary Of
Safe with him, it was, let it be remembered,
beyond being most respectful and useful, long
prior to the introduction of PIRATE secreta-
ries. The Senate had been expected by
many to be a permanent body, ready at all
times TO give its advice Having almost lost
its advisory character, it has industriously
increased its importance as debating and
legislative branch OF the government.
know Of no examples where the President or
the head Of any executive department ever
participated in person in the proceedings Of
the House or in the Senate except upon pure
ly executive business, but when it was parti-
ally attempted it was opposed, by such men
as Madison, on constitutional grounds, and
defeated.
Our fathers looked with jealousy upon The
Interference Of executive officers with the leg
islative deliberations Of Congress in either
House. Their presence here, merely as visit
ors. pending any measure in which they or
Departments are concerned, even in more re-
cent days, as far as my observation reaches,
has always been looked upon with so much
healthy aversion that 1t has more often injur-
ed than aided the progress Of the measure.
The Executive Mansion, and other execu-
tive buildings, as is well known, were placed
at one end of the city, while the Capitol was
/ placed at the other. avowedy to avoid execu-
tive influence and to escape an, enoroachment
/ upon legislative deliberations. Under the NJ an
ual it would be breach Of our privileges to
state the views Of the Executive upon any
pending measure, save where it has been Off =
cially and openly communicated in writing /;
and now It ia proposed TO reverse all this,
and have all the members Of the Cabinet
here ell the time, If they choose, and semi
weekly, at any rate. TO whisper in our ears
some indication OF the will Of the Executive
We are to have this influence forever on the
alert not through one, but seven of the rep
resentatives Of the Executive IN this House
influential by position, character, patron
| age, and power-and these possibly hereafter
to be increased, according to British prece-
dent, so as to include the under or Assistant
Secretaries 1t should be remembered that
British ministers hold their places 10 the
House OF Commons by virtue o. an election,
and not by appointment. They must have a
constituency, and be elected to the House of
Commons, and that after their acceptance Of
office, or they cannot occupy their seat. So
jealous are they, even there, that members
who receive appointments thereby vncate
their seats, and must allow their constituents
TO pass upon the question whether they are
willing the member should take an appoint
ment from the Crown and still be their rep
resen tatiye. But here the bald proposition
is made to give certain official gentlemen seats
In this House with no constituency whatever!
A despotism or an absolute monarchy might
look upon it with favor but can republic?
As measure involving grave principIes-the
preservation of the fundamental privileges
and Independence Of republican legislature
am persuaded we ought to give it no coun-
,ensnce or support.
1t may be said that the object is to ask
questions for the purpose OF obtaining in
formation without the formal mode now pur-
sued of seeking it by resolution of inquiry,
and that it would release many clerks now
kept, at large expense, and employed to
answer these calls. But t.ese ideas, il en-.
tertained, are without any foundation. That
the information could not be obtained with
any more facility is clear. No Secretary can
give VerbGtim from memory the contents of
documents on file in his Department, or of
accounts and tabular statements in figures
The scheme would not facilitate the business
of the House, or relieve any Department
from its present labors.
II we required the attendance, or admitted
the presence, for instance, of the Secretary Of