THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS, 1853-55. 601 



of tbein who are members of the Senate or House of Kepre- 

 sentatives, unless their residence, (luring the recess of Con- 

 gress, is in the vicinity of Washington, cannot be expected, 

 for the most part, to have that influence over its operations 

 which those who reside permanently at the seat of govern- 

 ment, or in its immediate vicinity, will more naturally exer- 

 cise. The Executive Committee is the body in which the 

 government substantially exists. 



It may well be questioned whether it is expedient to sur- 

 round such an institution with an array of high official dig- 

 nitaries. Their great offices and characters are committed 

 to all the proceedings of the institution, while it is impossi- 

 ble for them to give much time and attention to their exam- 

 ination. When the venerable Chief Justice of the United 

 States, after hearing both parties and a thorough scrutiny 

 ot the merits of all questions involved, and in the exercise of 

 the high function to which his life is consecrated and set 

 apart, pronounces a solemn judgment from the bench, we 

 bow to his learning and wisdom ; but it may, perhaps, be 

 doubted whether it is expedient to attempt to make him re- 

 sponsible for all the doings of an institution entirely out of 

 the sphere of his duties and pursuits, and with whose officers 

 he cannot have much communication. As it has been as- 

 certained that the institution is not a corporation, and its 

 anomalous character in that respect may give rise to per- 

 plexing and unforeseen difficulties that will reach the legal 

 tribunals, it may well be questioned whether that august 

 judicial personage ought to be mixed up at all with its busi- 

 ness details. 



If the institution could be organized in a simpler form, 

 and its secretary made the head of a bureau in the Depart- 

 ment of the Interior, and subject, like other heads of bureaus, 

 to the Secretary of the Interior, he might pursue substantially 

 the same course as at present, if that should continue to be 

 thought advisable, with a clearly ascertained line of duty 

 and responsibility, and a full adjustment of all his relations, 

 above to the head of the department, around to his asso- 

 ciates, and to all subordinates of every grade. This, how- 

 ever, we desire to have considered as a mere suggestion, 

 made in passing. If all other plans are found defective, 

 and beset with inconveniences, this may, at some future 

 da3% be tried in the last resort. 



Whatever arrangements may be made for the administra- 

 tion of the institution, it is of extreme importance that the 

 relations among the several officers attached to it be deiined 

 and settled by law, or, at any rate, by by-laws. In every 



