“Civil List. In England, formerly, a list of the entire expenses of the civil government; hence the officers of civil government, who are paid from the public treasury; also, the revenue appropriated to support the civil government.”
“Civil State. The whole body of the laity or citizens, not included under the military, maritime, and ecclesiastical states.”
To say that a Senator is not included under this comprehensive, but distinctive term, is simply an absurdity.
It is evident that Congress adopted the words of the statute because they were comprehensive and distinctive. They obviously comprehended all “officers” in the “public service,” whether “elected,” like a Senator, or “appointed,” like a judge. But, beyond their plainness, these words had this added advantage, that already for more than a generation they had received a practical interpretation from Congress.
Here is the familiar Blue Book. Its title-page begins:—
“Register of officers and agents, civil, military, and naval, in the service of the United States.”
Turning to the contents, we find in this list Members of Congress, including Senators and Representatives, with the “officers and agents” of the two Houses.
If we go back to the Blue Book for 1820, which is now in my hands, we find the same title, and the same enumeration of Senators and Representatives.
This Blue Book is still published, in pursuance of a joint resolution by Congress, originally adopted as long ago as 27th April, 1816, with the following title:—