The next day when the subject was resumed, Mr.Nicholas expressed his opinion that there was no necessity for shutting the galleries; upon which the rule was mentioned with a request that it should be read.

Mr.Madison moved a reconsideration of this rule.

In the course of the debate on the motion, it was said by its advocates that secrecy in a republican government wounds the majesty of the sovereign people--that this government is in the hands of the people--and that they have a right to know all the transactions relative to their own affairs.

This right ought not to be infringed incautiously, for such secrecy tends to diminish the confidence of the people in their own government.
In reply to these remarks it was said, that because this government is republican, it will not be pretended that it can have no secrets.

The President of the United States is the depositary of secret transactions.