The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-03-06
The WAYS of Our Fathers.

When the present government was
first organized under the constitution
in New York, in 1779, it was customary
for the senate to sit with closed doors
in all cases, executive and Legislative.
This practice was continued till the
29Sh of February, 1894, when the fa-
nous contested election of Albert Gal
latin was under discussion. Ii was then
directed, by vote of 10 to 8, "that
suitable galleries be provided for the
senate chamber, and that the same be
opened every morning, except in such
cases as, in the opinion of the senate,
require secrecy"
In forming treaties, and in making
| appointu ents, the "advice and con-
sent" of the senate is required by the
constitution. Washington very natur-
ally gave these words their obvious
meaning, and thought the advice and
consent should be obtained beforehand.
In executive sessions, therefore, he at
tended the senate in person, and took
the presiding officers chair. The latter
was assigned a chair on the floor of the
senate, and was considered as the inn
mediate presiding officer, putting all
questions to the senator's, who answer
"Aye" or "No." The president con-
negotiation of Indian of treaties, and had
Gen. Knox, his secretary of war, pres
ent, 10 give all necessary explanations.
The other members Of his cabinet at
tended the senate, when required, to
bring papers and give explanations a
method now supplemented by their an
nual reports. The senator's of those
days thought the former mode the best
IN oh to.V onk inf IL
and the best security against the ap-
pointments of incompetent secretaries.
Other customs connected with the in
auguration of new president has fallen
into disguise, such as the proclamation
by the chief Justice, after administering
the oath, "Long live George Washing
ton, President of the United States %
the president then repairing to church
to attend divine service, accompanied
by both houses of congress then re-
conducted to his new house in a coach
and four by a committee of both and !
a formal answer by the house, made to |
the inaugural address.
Instead of taking the "advice" and |
asking the consent" of the senate be- |
forehand in the formation of treaties, |
for many years they have been gener-
ally negotiated without even the know
ledge of senators, aud their ratifica-
tion urged as an administration measure. |
A Col. Fishbourne having been NOM
mated as collector of Savannah, was |
rejected by the senate, at the wishes of |
the Georgia senator's, who preferred |
another man. Washington was evil |
IDENTIFY annoyed by this rejection, as the |
colonel had been favOrite officer with |
him during the revolution and it is as
serted that he never presided at any |
more executive sessions, and the atten-
dance of his secretaries also soon fell |
into disuse.
When John Quincy Adams was secre-
tary of state, in 1922, he entered the
house, it was said, to request Timothy /
Fuller, of Massachusetts,, or some other |
member, to make a call for a certain |
paper connected with his famous con-
troversy then pending with Jonathan
Russell, respecting the fishery question
at the treaty of Ghent. His political OPP
ponents in the violent presidential cam
paign then opening affected to consider
his presence in the house q great vio-
lation of "the proprieties of his posi-
ton"
President Polk consulted the senate
in the formation of the Oregon treaty
of 1S49 asking their " advice" before
hand, on the point of establishing the
boundary line with Great Britain on the
parallel of 40 degrees.
Secretary Chase was frequently in at
tendance in one of the committee rooms
during the sessions of congress through
out the late war, when his important
financial measures were under discus
sion. Would 1t not have been more di-
rect and satisfactory for the secretary
to have been present in the house, to
have given all necessary explanations in
person, as is done by cabinet ministers
in the British parliament