Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-03-06

Customs, the Lana OnlCeS, TIC oo' OhiS. ,, ..iS
affairs of the Indians, the collection ana dis-
bursement of the public revenue, &c. &c. &c
the Com mittee are wholly at loss to conceive
of any additional fitness or capability OF as
charging their duties which the most iaoorlous
service in Congress would confer. but, while
they admit that heads of departments and am
bassadors to foreign countries mlgnt DE adVan-
tageously taken from the halls OF Congress,
they believe that ii would be lnyldlous TO DIS
criminate between the higher ana the rover OF
fees, and that any discrimination oil thls klnd
which could be made would still leave open the
door to that sort of tampering with the indie
pendence of members which the purity OF the
government, and the ruling prlnclpie OF the
constitution, require to be closed up iof ever.
The only discrimination which occurs to the
Committee as proper to be made, is the one
which has been indicated in most OF the propo-
sitions to amend the constitution i'll this partl-
cular, and which contains, in itself, an obvious
and essential difference in the nature OF the OF
fees, and in the facility of using them for cor
rupt purposes. This distinction is found in
the difference between CiUH and military APP
pointmcnts: to the latter of which it is deem
ed inexpedient to extendthe ineligibllity oil Be-
majors and Representatives, as well on account
of the high nature OF the service to be per-
formed, as because the occasions Tor such ap-
pointments, (being confined to state OF war;
will rarely occur; and when they do, VIII be
attended with degree Of danger, toll, and pri-
walton, which will deprive them OF all attrac-
ton for that description OF politicians, who
could be capable of bartering their officia! IN
dependence for the mercenary emoluments and
the gilGed trappings OF Office
But, besides the danger 10 the independence
of Congress, which the Committee apprehend
from the continued eligibility oil Senators and
Representatives, to Executive appointments,
another evil, equally at war with the intention
of the Constitution, and with the rights OF the
People, may spring from the same source. 1t
was the intention ofthe Constitution, that Sen
ators and Representatives ahould be perlodl-
cally returned, as private citizens, 10 the mass
of their constituents, 10 have their official con-
duct reviewed by them, and 10 receive, at their
hands. the appreciation or the censure which
that conduct might deserve. This return to
the people, and accountability TO them, constl-
tutes the responsibility of the Representative, *
affords the only check and control over his con
duct, which the constituent can possess. The
value of this responsibility was particularly re-
Federalist, (Ao SD but, irthc President may
prevent this return OF the Senators and Repre-
sentatives 10 their constituents: ii, more than
that; he may take them from their seats, and
place them in other Offices, far removed from
the reach oil the People, then the responsibility
which the Constitution intended to establish, Is
not only destroyed, but an unfaithtul member,
who has sacrificed The rights OF the People to
the will Of the Executive, may be elevated to
new honors, enriched with great emoluments,
and placed in condition TO defy the resent
ment of those to whom the Constitution IN
tended to make him accountable.
Considering all which, the Committee have
come to the unanimous resolution 10 submit to
the Senate proposition Of amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, embracing
the principle Of this report:
ReSolved, by the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives of the United States Of America in
Congress assembled, two-thirds ofboth Houses
concurrng, That the following amendment TO
the Constitution Of the United States, be pro-
posed 10 the Legislatures of ths several States
which, when ratified by threc-iourths of said
Legislatures, shall be vailed, to all intcrts and
purposes, as part of said Constitution:
No Senator or Representative shalt be appointed
10 any ciploGce, place. or em0hnaen, under The au-
Mority ofMe United States, until The expiration Of
The Presidential term in achich such person shall
haze served as Senator or Representatives..
On Wednesday last, Mr. SToRRs. from the Com
mittee on Naval Afiaires, to which the sub
iect had been referred, made the following
REPORT:
The Committee on Ndpm aDdirS, 10 Whom acas re-
ferret the Memorial of the Mayor and City
Council of Baltimore, praying that NGry
Yard may be established mthat Port, md lrho
acre also directed by Resolution Of The House,
of the 10Th of December last, 10 inq"ire into the
erpediency of establishing Macy Yard al the
said Port, respectfully report
That they have had the subjects Of the said
memorial and resolution under their conside-
ration, and are of opinion that il is ineXpeaient,
at this time, to provide by law for the estab-
lishmcnt OF Navy Yard al the said port. 1t
does not appear to the Committee that any
pressing necessity exists at this time, which
calls for the increase of the number Of Navy
Yards North of the entrance to the chesapeake,
anI if it shall be found hereafter eXpedient to
1 increase them, it will first be necessary TO OBJ
tain complete surveys of the whole OF that part
of the coast. The Committee now have under
their consideration, the eXpediency OF provid-
ing by law for completing the survey OF the
coast Of the United States, as recommended IN
a.. H.