Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-04-13

tnan nave oCen appointed by any other Ircsloeu
during the whole course of administration OF eisht
years. The consequences OF this foTeseen aud
deprecated by the Numbers of our government: but
the provision which they inserted III the constitution
10 prevent them, has proved inadequate its object
Such was the opinion of a favorte constitutional
lawyer, Who in address, TO the Tennessee i.egisa-
ture the 9Th of Oct 1875, explained this subject
so fully, that shall be pardoncd reproducing large
extract from that valuable stare puper-cspccially
after he gentleman from Tennessee has advctted TO
1t, and made an Argument upon 1t. with view,
he, sustain more eticctuaity practice the
axiom which divides the three great classes OF power
into independent constitutional checks, would inn
pose provision rendering ann member II Congress
ineligible TO Office under the General Government
during The tenn for which he was elected, and two
years thereafter, except III cases OF Judicial office.
The effect of such constitutional provision is obV
Gus. BY 1t Congress, IN considerable degree, would
be free from that connection with the Executive De-
partmen, which, at present, gives strong ground of
apprehension and jealousy the part at the people.
Members instead of bring liable 10 he withdrawn
from legslaling on the great Interests of the milton
through prospects OF executive patronage would I've
more Literally conided IN BY their constituents, while
their vigilance would Re less interrupted bv party
feelings UId 'faiy eXctcmcnts. Calculations
from intrigue or management would fail; nor would
their dhOeratlon, or their investigation Of subjects,
consume so much time. The morals OF the country
would be Improved, and virtue uniting witrthe Ia
borS of the Representatives, and with the official
ministers of the law, would tend 10 pSrnetuatc tic
honor and glory Of the Government But IL this
ChSDgc III the CONSTITUTION should not he obtained,
and important appointments continue to doyolyc on
the rcpresC tatcS IN Congress, il REQUIRES no depth
Of thought to perceive, that corruption will become
the order Of the day; and that, under the garb OF
Sclentious sacrifices to establish presidents for tho
public good, evils of serious importance 20 the free
dora ard prosperity of the republic may arise. l. Is
through this ciarv =, that the people may cNocct TO
be attacked II their constitute aa sovereignty, and
where tyranny may well be spPrchcnGed 10 ,pring IN
IN scnH favorable emergency. Against such mrDaJs
'rsTy guard Ow.it 10 Re i,r'cr0ncG and none better
occurs than that OF closing the suspected avenue
with some necessary constitutional restriction.
IL = Interesting - examine how tar tins admins
iration has ectuul!y prac;iscd these m7xirs WHv
within the very fret year six members ofthe Sonncc~
beng one eighth o! the wlrrc body IL was compo-
SGD during the goth Congicss have been appniu'c 10
some of the most important Offices with TIC giN OF
the Executive. And yrt tie sage OF this session
rccr7tcs the principles Of tic Tennessee letter with
slight reservation by way Of covering the case as it
now exists by that letter Judges slanc r.i-ht b.
elected iroiA thc members OF Congress i; The laiG
message We Informed that the ncccssi;y o! scc,i
ring IN The cilHc! nai in dipicac!.e .t1.;orS IF he
hghct' RAM, the best talents and politic experience
snoul1 perhaps even here we ksvc qucrc) cXacpt
these rom the exclusion. II i be perhaps ncccs.
sary TO charge the Constitution us from doing
wrong, why not DO right without the change. The
new reservation - fiat departure from tho maXims
OF 1925, and st IL even that does not the 7c,s
at the Executive, for have not only d;plJrnI;sts
anu cabinet ministers, ;'mporart otticcrs0 chosen
from :T members a. Congress within the term for
which they were elected and two years thcrcu Ter,
but important appointments Of q very different char
actor even "a the Post Office and .hn Customs con-
t!nuc TO deyclve them, convincing those who have
become prCScyCs 10 tho Tennessee doctrine, with
ont any great depth oiihcugh that corruption NAV
become the order the day, and tina: under The
81 CONSCIENTIOUS sacrifices for the public rood q, Is
Of serious importance TO tho freedom aud prosperity
81 the republic may arise. But the gentleman from
Tennessee, WHO called attention to the letter
and without whose notice of j; should hardly have
Hero Mr.. Grundy explained. lie stated that he
had alluded 20 the letter IN reply the Senator o,
Indiana, (Gcn. Nob!c.ll
Mr.. Clayton continued. Sir, the hon gentleman
reply was that the people ought to have changed the
constitution but that without somo constitutional re-
straut the President under no obligation to prac-
tise what he formerly preached. However valid
That defence may appear. il is not the opinion of my
constitutional lawyer. for that letter he saws
1t is due to myscfto practise upon the Enaxims re-
commended to Others These and similar rlodcos
obtained for him Thousands of votes during the can
Y1ss Of 1923. and ought to have been redeemed
when the blood burns, how 7roGiral the soul
Lends the tongue vows
Moreover, 1t viii require much depth Of tbeupht' TO
convince uS, that President cannot do what lie
thinks right without some constitutional restriction
to prevent him doing what he knows is wrong: or
that man Of sound mind and good disposition can
not avoid the destruction of his own family urIrss
you treat aim like mailman by tying his arms and
d'prlvlng him OF the means of doing niu:~.
''"S' T"NI'CI' up Plct1e IN Inc lnduClEal
so striking or important rs The recornton oftbot
obligation, then said TO be inscribed OF the list orEX
rcuVe duties by the recent demonstration Of public
sentiment, TO courtcract those causes winch brought
nc patronage OF tic General Government into con
lIct with The freedom Of elections. Sir, your Post
master General, welding the patronage OF bis de-
IaTtment over clerks deputies, contractors and
gents, in numbers amounting to nearly eight thou
and men, has, for political effect removed from pub.
ic employment IN pursuance Of general systcm so /
vast proportion Of the old and faithful public ser
'nnts connected with that immense establishment
nat It's resources and rs energies arc impaired pub
nc confidence IS diminished, and suspicion darkennr
ms great avenue to light she spreads her dusky
1iuon over It, whispers that some Of its rccesecs have
'con converted for political purposes into posts Of
spiqf OF the private intercourse ofyour citizens
The public press too, by tho iusirumcntali'y Of
which alone this republic might be prostTa'cd By Tie
nnlencc OF which President might be swclIcd into
/ Monarch, has bren-not sh,ckird bv a rag law.
TO- or, but subsidized By sums opproximaing 10 the
n{ere5t OF million Of dollars granted IN the way Of
HIafes' Jobs and pensions, to partisan editors priu.
crs propICtOrs and all tire host directly and pd,cct