The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-02-20
PRESIDENT AND SENATE
Formers Constitutional Right to Sit
With Latter I'm Executive Session.
Washington Opened Congress and
Read His Message.

A special correspondent Of The Sun
at Washington, in an interesting dis
patch published on Sunday, discussed
the suggestion that the President
should address the Senate in execu-
tive session on the Santo Domingo
treaty. Senator Lodge of Massacha-
sets, who is regarded as the Presi-
dents spokesman and closest friend in
the Senate, said in a speech recently:
He (the President) Is entitled under
the constitution 70 come here and join
with us in the consideration of treaties
or other executive business. AS a mat.
ter Of fact, that was never done ex-
cept by Washington, and il has baen
abandoned yer since, although the
right remains recognized by u rule
today. Yet | think we should be dis
posed to resent it if a request OF that
kind was made TO us by the President
of the United States"
Why the Senate should feel any Sc
sentiment against the President for lis
d sire to exercise his constitutional
rights is not apparent. The Senate il
1913 invited Madison to meet them
but he declined. The view taken Of
the matter IN Washington, according
to our correspondent, is historically
inaccurate. That view is that he
Presid 1T might deem it too demo-
cratic and beneath his dignity to ap-
pear in person in Congress. In point
Of fact. the reason that the custom or
sending written communications 70
Congress grew UP was h a 1t was con-
sidered more democratic than ora
communications. The government OF
the United States. as is we'll known,
was modelled after that of England.
The President takes the place OF the
King. When Washington became the
first President it was for him to prL
life into the new system OF govern
ment, to establish presidents, to de-
eide upon ceremOnials, and how the
constitutional duty of the chief eXecu-
tive was to be performed. In the
government of the colonies before the
revolution there had been considerable
STATE and formality, and at almost
every colonial capital there was a
miniature "ccurt" modelled after that
of Great Britain. Every idea OF gov
eminent we had came from Englanl,
and it was natural that Washington
| should look to England for guidance.
| The King of England made a cOmmu-
| nication to Parliament at the opening
| of each session, and he made II In
| nerson. delivering his speech from the
| throne. Washington found that ne was
| required by the new constitution 10
| perform a similar duty, and he natur-
| allv inferred that the trainers OF the
| constitution intended that he should 40
II in the same way. Consequently ne
went to Congress in person and reaa
| his address,, addressing first his fellow
| citizens of the Senate and House OF
| Representatives" That part relating 10
| revenues he addressed to the House
| alone. This act was accompanies ny
| considerable ceremonial and the Gus
| tom continued through three Preslden-
| tial OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES WI and Inal
| of John Adams. Jefferson, as soon as
he reached the White House put an
| end to everything that o OF roy
| altv. It was the custom OF the h1ng
| TO 90 to Parliament in person. mere
| fore. jefferson refused to go. and sent
| his address by a messenger. he also
| abolished the public receptions at the
| White House because they, too, were
| copied from London. The receptions
we're reestablished after Jefferson Went
! out of Office, but the precedent Oh
writing to Congress, instead OF going
in person, became firmly established
There are times when it might be to
the public advantage to nave Tie
| President and Congress get togetnel
| and talk things over.-Balt1more sun