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WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1853
opinions further than that opinion has been expressed. There has been no public expression upon this subject. Are we to assume the prerogative of dictating, and saying what shall be the public sentiment, and what are the public opinions of the country or among the masses of the people? The Senate I understand to have the power of carrying into effect the expression of the will of the people, in part or in conjunction with other powers. It is not certainly their duty to manufacture opinions here, and to throw them out at large into the community to give complexion to public sentiment. Sir, public opinion is very well regulated; we have an intelligent community throughout our country; they think, they deliberate, and when they decide, it is generally done correctly. At this particular time, I deem the passage of any such resolutions as those to which I have referred as unfortunate. A new Executive is about to commence his career, and he has not yet indicated the direction which he will take. For this body to adopt resolves which might have a tendency to impress him in any way, and not leave him free to take his own course in the administration of the affairs of the Government, would, I should think, be as discourteous to him as it would be presump- tive on our part. I am for leaving him free to act as he thinks proper, and not to commit him beforehand to any particular line of policy, not to influence his opinion, but to let him walk by the light of his own intelligence; and if he requires the assistance of his advisory counsel, the Senate of the United States, and presents subjects to their considerations, it will be proper for them, then, to render him their opinion, and not to anticipate the course he should take in relation to those matters. If the Senate should pass such resolves and his policy should not concur with them, with all the lights he had, he has at least to meet the action of the Senate, and he has to dispose of that, cumbering himself with difficulties which, if the Senate had not acted, he would have avoided at the commencement. Mr. President, it is said that the resolutions to which I have referred commit us to no particular course of policy, but leave us free, and that they will not commit the Executive of the nation. If they commit us to nothing, they are entirely unim- portant, and can be of no advantage. We reserve nothing but the right to act as we think proper, in the event of certain things being done by other nations, a right inherent to our Government, and one that needs no reassertion at this time. Why, sir, it is
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