Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-03-22
THAT SECOND COUSIN TO THE
HAM-FAT MAN-HoW THE GAL
LERIES WERE PUT IN,

NoAASAASs VA out ~Naliounl SOuuCu Sudn-
bers. therefore, is an interesting sugges-
ton for further consideration; in as much
as he has been recommended for a Cabinet
place in an American administration.
His British prejudices, confirmed, appa-
rently, and rendered chronic while he was
abroad" during the first two years Of
the war-goins hence a Breckenridge man
need, perhaps, a little farther ventilation.
He desired to close the halls Of our Senate
and House Of Representatives, and in
stitute private assemblies Of those bodies,
altogether. Now we are under the pain
full necessity of showing that Mr.. Fred.
Billings, second cousin to the Ham-Fat
Man, proposes that we "go back" upon
our established order of National Legisla-
tive proceeding. Not that we accuse
Fred. of having known the historical facts
we are about to state, at the time Of his
tear out hurrah-for Of his ignorance OF
most ali kinds Of literature. a v and ex-
cept a little of the !Almaden mine case
record. we are fully apprised. and extend
him due pity accordingly.
Fred. came to California, direct from
Europe, from the House Of Lords, from
the British House of Lords, from the
Queens throne-room. from Her Majesty's
throne-room. in 1868 ; and he shouted, as
he introduced Hon. L. G.. Phelps to a
San Francisco audience: Tear out your
galleries for your Congress Chambers !
They don't have no such galleries in the
Ouse of Lords :" All! Indeed
Mr.. James c. Willing. Of Washington
City. has written a historical account of
the establishment of publicity in United
States Senate proceedings, from which we
condense the following statements:
The Senate, in the earlier days of the
Government, sat tcith closed doors, as well
during its legislative as in its executive
sessions. Its debates, therefore, unlike
those of the House of Representatives,
were for a time held in secret; but it was
provided by a resolution passed on the
18th Of May, 1889, that one hundred and
twenty copies OF the journal of the legisla-
tive proceedings Of the Senate should be
printed once a month for distribution
among the members Of the body, and, We
suppose. for partial dissemination among
the public. since it was provided that each
member should be furnished with but q
single copy on his own account.
The FIRST session of the third Congress oil
the United States. which commenced q,
Philadelphia on the I'd of December, 1898,
was destined to witness the overthrow o.
the rule which had previously obtained on
this point. The Senate was called at this
session to consider and decide a question
which elected a large share Of public in.
terest, because of the political susceptible.
ties which had been awakened by its dis.
| c~ussion. We allude 70 the contest raised
respecting the eligibility Of Mr.. Albert
Gallatin as a member of the Senate from
the State of Pennsylvania. On the first
day Of the session Of that year q petition
was presented BY Conrad Laub and 9th
ers, representing tina, Mr.. G. at the date o.
his election had not been. as the Constitu-
ton requires. nine years a citizen Of the
| United States" The Committee to which
the whole subject was referred reported
adversely to the claims of Mr.. Gallatin, on
the 3lst Of December, and the report, after
being read and ordered to lie over for fu.
ture consideration. was taken up on the
9th OF January following, and discussed
through several successive days, when, on
the 18th Of the same month, the matter
was recommitted TO a special Committee
of Elections appointed for the purpose OIL
hearing both parties to the contest. Be.
fore this Committee reported. and on the
10th of January, 1894, Mr.. Martin, OIL
North Carolina. moved the adoption Of
the following formal resolutions agains;
the principles and policy of the exciting
regulations Of the Senate in regard to the
secrecy Of its deliberations:
"Resolred, That in all representative
governments, the representatives are re-
sponsible for their conduct to their con-
stituents, who are entitled to such infor-
nation, that q discrimination and Just
estimate be made thereof.
"Resolre!. That the Senate Of the Uni
ted States, being the representatives Of the
sovereignties of the individual States,
whose basis Is the people, " equal re-
sponsibility to the powers by which they
ure appointed, as if that body were de-
rived Immediately from the people, and
that all questions and debates arising
thereupon in their legislative and judi
ciary capacity, ought TO be public.
"Resolred, That the mode adopted by
the Senate of publishing their journals, and
extracts from them, in newspapers, Is no,
adequate to the purpose Of circulating sat
isractory information. While the princi.
Piles and designs Of the individual men,
bers are withheld from public view, re.
sponsibility is destroyed, which. on the
publicity Of their deliberations, would be
restored /; the constitutional powers of the
Senate become more important, it being
more influential over the other branch oil
the Legislature; abuse Of power. NAL.
administration Of Office, more easily de.
tected and corrected; ~jealousies, rising in
the public mind from secrect legislation,
prevented /; and greater confidence placed
by our fellow citizens in the Nationa,
Government, by which their lives, liber,
ties and properties are to be secured and
protected.
"Reso!red. further, That it be a stand
ing rule that the doors Of the Senate
Chamber remain open while the Senate
shall be sitting in a legislative and judi
ciary capacity, except on such occasion:
as in their judgment may require secrecy
and that this rule commence on the -
day Of"
These resolutions. being called up on
the morrow, were postponed successfully
from day to day, when, on the 10th day
of February, the Committee which hat
Mr.. Gsllatin's case in charge. made theil
report to the Senate. and a day was fxet
for its consideration. Immediately on TIT
presentation of the report, i, was moved
BY a member " that the doors Of the Sen
ate be opened and continued open during
the discussion upon the contested election
Of Albert Gallatin.' ,chich resolution uai
adopted on February llth, 1894. Mean