Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-05-14

' W tN HtNttf OCtou<O iO V,ot'NN 't,hf "hhNb
cmincnly qualified him TO execute its duties; because
he had rendered services such as but ono nan had ever
before rendered 10 the country; because l had witness
cd tho energy, courage, prudence, and talent, by which
he saved the State 1 represent from the worst OF desc
lations. These were my Inducements for his support
the first election when he was a candidate. The
decision of that election, in favor oil a man having a
number OF votes, was calculated TO cmbittcr the
minds OF his friends, and make them hostile TO the sue
cessful candidate. Yet, sir, during his Presidency, |
gave n practical proof Of the profession l now make: a
Of great importance was proposed by his adj
Ininistration-I mean the Panama mission-l thought
great good might result from II, and, although it was
violently opposed by those with whom | had acted in
the election, not only voted for, but supported il by ar
| then thought, and | still think, that its nature
aud object were both of them misreprescnted or misun-
derstood; and that, II the assembly had taken place as
II was hrst proposed, our ENJOYS attending in II diyiD-
matte, not a representative character, might. by dheir
influence and advice, have prevented many disscntions
that have since distracted those republics; might have
introduced stipulations favorable TO commerce, So.
ciai intercourse, and the great interests of humanity.
My reasons for that vote are published. And the fact,
that, although one of the warmest friends of the unsuc-
cessiul candidate, and one Of those who felt the deepest
regret when his opponent was declared 10 be elected, |
yet supported such measures of his administration as
approved, when they were opposed by my political
friends, ought to be IA sure pledge of my sincerity when
1 say, that l will support no important measure that J.
disapprove, merely because il is one of the present adj
ministration. have not. however, the passion avowcd
by the honorable Senator from Maine, Mr.. IIolnrs)
who told us, if | understood him, that he had always
been, and always wished 10 be, in a minority. mir.
Holmes cXplaincd-he did not say he desired TO be in a
minority, but that he believed he always would be-
MIR. Livingston continued-It seems l have not repeat
ed the words used by the Hon. Senator, which / regret,
but the sense is the same. Ifhe has always been in
the minority il must have been a matter OF choice, other
wise, in the ups and downs of his congressional lite, in
the turns oil the political wheel, il must have so happened
that, for a short time at least, he must have been upper
most; If so it struck me as a singular prediction.
But there is no disputing about tastes; and the Sc
ha'or has, at least, one great precedent for his
pidrir eau,d dis plaeuit, sd riota Catoni.
And l am sure he cannot be offended by my classin.
MN with the stern republican,, who would not survive
ue hoerues oil his country, as a filter associate than the
hameiess one offered to him by my friend from Tenncs-
see. But, sir, neither the example of Cato nor of the
senator Tempt me. l am contented with the rictrir
edtsd; contencing for what l think right, like to see il
succeed. On this occasion l have as vet had no cause
10 repent my choice; nor have the charges, urged with
so much warmth against the measures of the President,
changed the opinion | had formed of his talents 10 con-
duct the affairs OF the nation with honor. advantage. and
success. l listened TO them at,entively, resolved TO
weigh calmly, and determined inpartially on all that
those who have expressed their disapprobation; | ex-
pected a detail of facts supported by proof, and of calm
and clear deductions from thosefacts; need l say that I
have been mistaken?
When l heard from the Senator from Maine, " that
this Adm inistra;ion had glutted it. vengeance upon the
purest patriots on earth; that no ne age, condif ion, or
sea, had escaped; that the sins ot the fathers had been
visited upon the children, to the third AMI fourth gene
raticn; that innocence. virtue, patriotism, had all, oil.
neen swept into the gulf of misery,' and lis ened to
The impressive tone in which the eloquent Senator
from Delaware rerroba,ed the spirit of Oriental despo
ftsn', which had displaced deputy postmasiers, and re.
called unoffending ministers from abroad, need | repeat
that was disappointed? Now, I a<k-will not the
country ask-wha IL there to justify such exaggerated
invec'lve' language that might he applied to the ty
fanny OF Nero or Caraealla, hut which is evidence OF
nothing hut a heated imagination, when used 10 express
transportation OF removals from, and appointments 10.
Office. But let hs, sir, before we catch the infection Of
ms lever, while our pulse still beats evenly, and our
neaos are cool, exdmiNe calmly into the expressions Of
the Executive, which have excited this patriotic fervor
Inc honorable Senator from Maine, dill not deign a sin
gre specihca,ion except one, which l confess l cannot
iuily compreheni-this bloody Administer alton, which.
~ us savage warfare, spares neither men, women, nor
chiidren, has visited, in its vengeance, the sins OF The
fathers upon the third and fourth generation of their
descendants. Now, sir, / cannot comprehend what
onence The great great grandfather of any one Of the
removed officers. who must have lived in the reign of
Queen Ann, could have given 10 the President or any
one In his Aaministraton-this / confess, puzzles me.
Inc Senator from Delaware has been more explicit;
and from his address, TO which 1 listened with grea,
pleasure, l gathered that these were the grounds of
complaint:
That the principles of the Administration are de.truc-
tive OF the liberties of the country. Such were the
surprise. ~
That The public treasure has been extravagantly and
Illegally expended.
That the press has been subsidized for party pur-
poses. T
That person. have been removed from office withon,
inc advice and consent ofthe Senate; the President hay.
ing no constitutional right 10 do 80.
That, If there be such a right, it is Illegal to exercis.
II without giving TO the Senate the reasons for which
me removals were made.
Iha' removals have been made for no other cause
man 10 safely the vengeance Of the President, or for
the purpose o! re wardinc hs friends.
That he has made appointments out Of the two Uouses
OF congress, and particularly out Of the Senate. for the
purpose OF rewar,iing his friends.
lefch o. these grave charges in liz order
frs'. CsAys he Senator from Del,ware) The prin.
riP'es OF me adminlstra ion are destructive of the liber-
lies OF the People. By Administration The Senator mus,
mean mere, and on other occasions. where he uses the
Term, the Preside mt for, a. far az / have understood.
mere u now no Cabinet in ibesense in which tia, word
has been usually taken. II nv fnformafion he cor.
rect, the words of the Constitution, and what I have
always believed TO be its true intent on this subject
have been pursued, rather than The example of for.
n'cr tfesdenis. The Constitution, in enumeraing the
nghts ana duties OF the President, saws, she NAV re.
qnire me opinion in writing of the principal officers in
each OF The Executive Departments. upon INV snbiect
relaing 10 the duties Of their res pective offices" Insiea d
OF tlit, from the first organization of the Government.
the Heads OF Department have been convened and con-
Ier'ed into a cabinet council, not where, according TO
the Constituiion, each was 10 give his opinion on the
ahiIrs oil MS own department., but VIII ere all were con.
sui'eu on every diilcult que sion relating 10 the affairs
OF each' oil The Government in general; and where, il
mas seen generally understood, particularly during
the Pfesidency OF Washington, that the President wa,
GUIDED by the voice Of the majority and the respon.
slo''Iy OF me Executive, 90 Tar as re Earded public opin.
ION, ~as, IL not thrown on tho cabinet, al least diyi.
ded with them. Indeed, sir. ! know, that, Al A long
subsequent period, n most illegal and oppressive sci
ny which | was deeply injured, was justified A. being
uone oy the advice OF the cabinet. Now, sir, a. have
said, there is no such cloak for Executive a,ts; In.
PRESIDENT preiorms The duties Of hi, efice and assumes
me responsibility They incur. The Cabinet, a body
UNKNOWN TO the Contribution, does not exist. The
Chiefs OF The Departments are consulted on the bus
iNCNS OF q rRanGclVn nFfNn hA.y