Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-04-13
SPEECH OF MIR. CLAYTON,
UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Let now, or, Drlcily. IN CONCLUSION, NO!c VIC
commemorate the Gay which indicted our chief mag
s.rntc office, review his almnis ration of the past
year. apply t. the test OF these principles aud calm
~ inquire whether any constitutional mierposilioh
o the senate be requisite to check tho alb iscs OF pow
CT This anniversary recalls the pledges of the In
augura address, to keep steadily IN view the llnta-
tious well as tho extent of the Executive author
~, TO respect and preserve the rights OK the SOW
ercign members of our union, 10 manage by certain
searching operations o. the public revenue, to observe
a strict and faithful economy, TO couuicruct that ten
dency to private and public prof'igacy which n pro-
fuse expenditure of money by the government is but
too apt cngender, TO depend for the advancement
ofthc public service more on the integrity and zeal
ct the public officers than their numbers, and
particularly to correct those abuses which, IL
then charged, had brought the patronage of The Fed
cral government into conf CT with the freedom of
iGctUns, and coUnoract those causes which had pia-
cc1 or continued power III unfathfU inccmpe!cn,
hands. The lotencss OF the hour warns INC, that
ought not 10 trcEpasS your attention. by inCurinr
how far al these pledges have been redeemed; and
the examination OF all the topics presented by such
gcncr,l mqGiry might lead me beyond the 'CTiguo
inc within which am udmonlshcd thpt an Amcri-
can Senator should coRfuc himself wien speaking
OF AInCrcon President. But il is t.uc. and ought
Ia NO observed on this day, that public officers
are increased IN number, and not diminished in sala
r that the promised rctrcnchmcnt has terminate in
recommendation TO establish additional bureaus,
with more public agents, aud Increased demands on
tho Treasury, to swell almost boundIess extent
tho influence ofthc Executive by general extension
Of thelaw which limits appointments to four wears.
and by Tho establishment ola government bank; and
that general system OF prescription for manly cx
crcsc of the right of opinion, under the prctcnce OF
rotation in Office, has brought tile patronage of the
Executive full conflict with the freedom of cleo
lions. Turning from The Investigation OF minor sub
Jccts which m ght by possibility be considered as
topics for partisan effect, and with noblcr pur-
pose than 60 s1bSerye tho petty interests Of any sect
or any party, our attention Is frrc5ly arrcstsd by
some instances in which these pledges have been Sc
Violated, that thcr ,enIcn =. II nc, lmcliaiCIy al
ally md h. .la ,r
Is stbyccSiNc ul ,Ic dearest interests Of cur reo,c
ard Of tho most sacred institutions Of our rrph.ic
When We oo! 10 the manner in which the pledge
- observe strict and tIlhul economy has Lccn re-
deemed. find the expenses O.! the government IN
crease, through the uslrumentaty OF these rewards
and punishments for political opinion. Outfits said
rics, and all the incidental expenses attending the
recall Of nearly the whole OF our plomaiic cOrps,
nnd the appointment ofothers to supply their places
have caused large drafts upon the Treasury and laid
the foundation for increasing demands upon 1t. Eat
without dwelling to estimate how many los, or foods
of thousands ofdolass have been expended in pun
shing opponents, rnTulring how prolsely the pub
tic bounty has been lavlshed upon ayorites we hay.
something more important to consider We know
that II funds for such purposes have Leen taken rom
the strong box without appropriations, the President
must have dipped his hands into the nations treasure
III opposition 10 tic Constitutions which it is our dn
~ 10 support. Money cannot Ire drawn from the
Treasury except IN consequence of appropriations
made by law and the radical act ofthe first o. MEv
1920, after limiting the powers CT the President In
relation TO transfers OF appropriations in the armv
and navy, provides, IN ti1 m section that no trans
iCTs Of appropriation from or 10 other branches oC
pcudtvre shall thereafter - made Nav we no,
inquire now, tTGal what fund the money has been
ofa"@ 20 Getray the greatly Increased expenses Of
our foreign missions? These expenses were rot
provided for during the last session of Congress bv
ny law, for they not toreseen or anticiDated-
ii, them the diplomatic fond insufficient for these
purposes, either the nation has been brourht into
debt 10 accomplish them, or the constitution nnC the
lau tod
Treasury. 1t IS certain that we are now called uDnn
10 appropriate largely, either 10 pay debt incurred
CT TO supply deficiency in other fund not ap-
Toprated for these expenses. If the Executive "a
recall our foreign ogents. for party purposes or to
promote friends, even where Legislative appropri.
alton has been made for these objects Congress has
virtually no control over our foreign intercourse and
we may hereafter expect that our Ministers abroad
will lie withdrawn on the accession of every new in
cumocnt.o of the Presidency; that new men will be
sent TO supply their places and that the whole rela
lions Of tie country wi'h foreign powers Will be
changed or thrown into confusion tic end of every
four years. Admit the power ofthe Executive v-ituou
appropriation to recall o. appoint Minister'S and b
the operation to bring the nation in debt EoyIhe ,
&c good--yet show Us how the public good required
TINS increased expense. Take casc Tor example
and let Ingenious advocate of the Adminisfra
ton assign reason why late Minister neor the
Court OF -. james was recalled. Mr. Barbour had
acquitted himself faithfully IN every public trust
which had ever before been confded to him. and wo
Mt the time Of his recall dScharrinr with honor 10
himself and his country, the high duties Of his mis-
sion In what respect he thought to be either
incompetent or unfathfUP Was any new poIicv IN
&c adopted in cur relations with England which he
would not spouse? Take another case, and infDrm
Us Why the gallant Harrison, the hero Of Fort Mers
the victor at ilppacanoe and the Thames a veteran
IN council as we'll III the field DISTINGUISHED or his
virtues in oil the relations of the citizen the soldier
and the statcsman-why, ask, was he prescribed as
unit to represent his country abror aud withdrawn
iioT Colombia to make room for Thomas p. Moore
lie had scarcely arrived at Dogo;a-'hc ink was stl
fresh on the Executive record, which informed the
Ircsdcn that It the odyice of the Senate that no
should represent there when the order Of ms
removal announced. This could not have
been done for any official misconduct. There had
been no time to inquire into that. Was bis Gdclfyl
H.stFes'rl the or how did tic public good require his
history That he who had often peried life and limb
ln the 'gor Of manhood to secure the blsssing. of
DcIty To- Others was punished for the exercise Of the
L@fu'e r2nchic in his old age' Sir, it was an act,
disguise It as may, which, by hndlur out tEe idoo