Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-09

the 0astouie, lIdnu 0nStsp Nln1< SoN OuAeeSs
the affairs of the lnans, the collection and dis
bursement Of the public revenue, SC. &c. &c. the
committee are wholly at loss 10 conceive OF any
additional fitness or capability for discharging their
duties which the most laborious service In Cor
eress would confer But, while they adr.it that
heads of departments and ambassadors to foreisn
countries might be advantageously taken from the
halls of Congress, they believe that it would be
invdious to discriminate between the higher and
the lower Offices, and thst any discrimination OF
this kind, which could be made would still leave
open the door 10 that sort OF tampering Win the
| Independence Of members which the purity OF the
government, and the ruling principle OF the CON
sttuon, require to be closed up forever Tie
only discrimination which occurs 10 the Commi''ec
as proper to be made, is the one which has been
indicated in most of the propositions to amend the
Constitution in this particular, and which contains
in ITSELF an obvious and essential difference In the
nature of the offices, and in the facility oil using
| them for corrupt purposes. This distinction is
found in the difference between cuI and military
appointments; to the latter Of which 1t is deemed
inexpedent TO extend The inegibility of Senators
| and Representatives, as well on account OF the
high nature of the service to be performed, as be-
cause the occasions for such appointments, (being
confined to state of wary will rarely occur; and
when they do, will be attended with degree OF
danger, toll, prvaton, which will deprive them
of all attraction for that description of politicians,
who could be capable of bartering their official in
| dependence for the mercenary emoluments and the
gilded tappings of ofice.
| But, besides the danger TO the Independence OF
| Congress, which the Committee apprehend from
the continued eligibility of Senators and Represen-
! tatves, to Executive appointments, another evil
| equally al war with the intention of the Constu'
ton, and with the rights of the People, may spring
! from the same source. II was the intention OF
the Constitution, that Senators and Representa-
tives should be periodically returned, as private
citizens TO the of their constituents, to have
their official conduct reviewed by them, and TO
receive, at their hapds the appreciation or the CEN
sure which that conduct might deserve. This re-
turn TO the people, and accountability TO them,
constitutes the responsibility of the Represents
tive, and affords the only check and control oveI
his conduct, whichSthe constituent can possess
The value of this responsibility was particularly
relied upon, and enforced, by the authors of the
Federast. { No. SD but, if the President may
prevent this return of the Senators and Represen-
tatives 10 their constituents: if, more than that h'
may take them from their seats, and place them il
other Offices, far removed from the reach of The
People, then the responsibility which the Const
tuition intended to establish is not only destroyed
but an unfsithful member who has sacrificed tn,
rights of the People TO the will of the Executive
may be elevated to new honors, enriched with grea
emolunents, and placed in a condition 20 defy tn,
resentment of those 10 whom the Constitution In
tended TO make him accountable.
Considering all which, the Committee have come
to the unanimous resolution to submit TO the Senate
{ proposition of amendment to the Constitution o
the United States, embracing the principle of ihi
report:
Resolred, By the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States of America in Con
gress assembled. tvyo-thrds of both Houses con-
curing, That the following amendment to tn
Constitution of the United States, be proposed Il
the Legislatures of the several States; which
when ratified by three fourths of said Legislature.
shall be valid, to all intents and purposes, par
{ OF said Constitution:
: No Senator or Representative shall be arpoinle
to any civil Office, place, or emolument, under I'll
authority Of the United States, until the cxpiratio
OF the Presidential term, in which such person sba
have served as a Senator nr r---AsAntative.