Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-04-13

had Tell the practical ELECTS Vt the cor
rupt influence of the crown over the de-
liberations of Parliament and Awe want
a more lively exhibition of the Effects of
such sySen,, we have only to urn our
eyes TO that country now, and realize if
we can tie wretchedness Of The mass of
its people. And Whether we look br the
meaning of the constitution in the cir
cumstances that influenced its adortion,
into the letter itself, or into The practical
construction of the intention of its trainers
under tie best wisdom and experience
Of the present day, we arc compelled TO
conclude that the provision in question
was designed to prevent members of
congress from every dependence on the
patronage dthe executive while employ
cd in the discharge of their legislative
duties: AND selsible as they must have
been that ii was the ea,otnraent, ami not
| The name, OF office, when would be most
likely 10 operate upon til integrity OF
members OF Congress, it would be an in
suit TO their memories TO suppose that
they intended to permit The executive to
distribute his pecuniary patronage among
them, whenever, by any strained con-
struction of the letter, he could give rhe
emolument without the atn,e or office.
There Is sound and unerring rule of
constituting the constitution, which is pc
cuiarly applicable to this case, that
whenever the exercise of any doubtful
power maAiIestly tends to public injury,
it ought to be limited by every reasona
bic restraint which can be inferred from
the spirit and intention of,he instrument;
and it must be obvious that the power OF
giving lucrative employmcnts to mem
bers of Congress, can only tend to an in
l!uence over the legis latiye bodies, ether
tnan that which the executive may lesi-
tlmately exercise by appeals to their un-
dcrstanding. The tendency ofthis pow
er is therefore manlicstly to public inju-
ny and corruption; and It there be any
doubt on the subject, no executive officer
can be justified in exercising such a
power. Ii should be recollccted that
tho Senators are numerically small bu-
dy they are elected for six years, and
they possess very extraordinary powers,
which are for the most part exercised in
secret, b. which the motives Of all and
the particular votes Of individuals are
concealed from public scrutiny. 1t is
the most irresponsible body in the go
vernmcnt; from its organization, and the
manner and nature Of lis business, the
most exposed 10 corruption, apd the most
dangerous to public liberty when cor
rUpted. | speal. not from experience,
bat from the nature of things Happily
we have had very few occasions 10 sus-
pect the integrity Of our public officers
IN any department OF the government
but we ought not on that account to pass
over this case too lightly, lest il may
grow into precedent, whose evil conse-
quences none can foresee. II by all eva
sion of the spirit and intention of the
| constitution, a secretary Of either of the
departments could. employ members Of
| the Senate during the recess in lucrative
services, 10 return to their seats during
| the session, the tendency OF such prac-
tice must be obviously of the most dele
ferrous character.
| Let us suppose, for instance, that
secretary ofone OF the departments were
a candidate for the presidency OF the
| United States, and by such means as have
been employed in the case of Mr..
Thomas, ne had secured majority Of
the Senate to confirm or reject an APP
pointment, as nigh. bes. contribute TO
further his views on the presidential
chair, would not all constitutional re-
sponsibilily be mere mcckery !! Our
government can only be sustained by pre-
serving the purity of its innctionasles,
and the most etfectual mode of preserv-
ing that purity is to take all possible care
that they shall not be exposed 10 tempta-
ton. But we are told by the author OF
the letter to South Carolina, that the
true and only question is, not whether
the employment of Mr.. Thomas was law
full, but whether it affected his senatorial
character"
| This is in effect to throw the response
bility Of this transaction off Mr.. Craw-
ford and Mr.. Thomas, and upon the
senate but it must fail of its object A
proper regard for the spirit and intention
of the constitution ought to have pre-
vented Mr.. Thomas from soliciting, and
MIR. Crawford from giving, the Office
or employment, without an understand
ing that his seat would be thereby vacat-
ed. But the senate might well hesitate
to undertake the strong and always disa-
greeable measure of vacating the seat OF
one of its members, whenevera doubt eX-
is,ed as to his rights and if this be that