Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-04-27
SPEECH OF MIR. B4RrO.v, gf .iiissouri.

M
abuse of the Offices and honors of the country, by
using them funds to purchase popularity, be toll
Grated by the pu3lic-(for this minority il power
less, saTc only to sound the alsrm-hstory WI, tell
posicrity tina. combination of osprants, of all po
cal denominations, destroyed the constitutional Ii
berries Of the UnitedS tates by the usual gradations
OF tyranny and bribery combined, WINS feared and
deprecated by the Father of his country.
Let him who doubts this final result of the prin-
ciples now advocated here, reflect moment upon
only few of the immediate practical consequences
of those principles. .
And first the present doctrine of the majority
completely annhilatcs the appointing mower of the
S;euatc well its sautary restraining power and
confrs despotc discretion upon tho President 1t is
true, this majority could around again to their
old opinions aud practice; but in the mean time the
liberties O! the country are in danger when the sen
trcl has deserted his post upon the WALL ond the
four years dcspotism may be, us with many other
Republics, but the prelude to ono ola more perma-
neat and dreadful character.
The Senator from louisiana Mr.. Lvingston) adj
ms that this doctrine enables tho President to keep
favouritc in Office turn the best man out in spite
uf tho Senate. And what is that but despotisin,
The admission is perfectly correct, and we thank
Kim for so much deveopcmcnt of the principles
o. tins mosaic, tasselacd slminstration.-Lo, ok at
the case of William Clarke, Treasurer of the United
States! take it for its strength; for his high
qualifications for the office; for his mild and spot
less character, and because he has rendered more
conspicuous services to his country in the late war,
in ms humber sphere, than Gen. Jackson did in
Proportion 70 his more elevated and exp Indcd theatre
Nf action.
The Senate friends of Jackson and ALL confirmed
his nomination at the last session. No sooner were
our backs turned than he was struck from the roll
OF Office to make room to reward a fvorite euorisi
OF the President.
Aad, according to the doctrines now taught, the
Senate must register the rescript in submissive
humility There is other way of saving your
administration from public apprehension than bv scrce-
nIng them from the light truth; for we defy them
TO sIew any cause Tor this unlawful but the opinion
o; Gen. Clarke, and To reward partisan by rem
dcTing the Offices the private property OF the adj
inistTation TO reward their friends ond punish their
opponents.
Their corrupt and subsidized press has been en-
poyed all summer assigning false causes for such
removals; but when the Senate meets, and the mi
nory demands the true causes, they shrink from
the inquiry III conscious guilt And wonder. 1t is
saIer TO stand mute than TO add false return of
the conversion of the offices of the country into the
means OF tyranny, and bribery combined, such
use OF them would be. The causes of removal
cannot bear the light. The ears of the American
people must not hear them! their eyes must never
eehoid them on paper The prime minister OF the
oItonan Empire dare not dismiss a Turk from
once, for the mere exercise of some privilege Sc
cured to him By the capriciouS cdct of the Sultan
his master.
Still less dare the head of an American De-
Partnent avow having struck American citizen
rom the roll of official existence for his opinion
o! the fitness of candidates for public trusts or the
exercise of his sacred elective franchise secured to
MN oy Inc more permanent and august guaranty
OF the Constitution.
what strange absurdity wonld il have been for
our ancestors TO have reared this fair fabric of con-
slItutional i'berty--appJnted q President and Co
bnet to guard it--and then to have empowered
hhIsfGqPs 0 @Rtthh egaRson to pull down bs vs6;
dust
What strange madness in the father Of a youpf
family 20 hire guard, at SIS 900 per annum for thu
Captain, and 600 each for the subordinates ~
watch OVER his household; and then authorize then
to strange the mother nurse, upon whose preser
~4ton depends the existence of his helpless offspring
The freedom and purity of Elections are as essen.
Lal TO our liberties the pillars to the dome they
support, or the mother nurse to the sucking in
FAINT.
BI. let US return and sac how completely the doc
trinc Of tins session stimulates the very appointing
power ofthe Senate; renders them the mere serviie
registers Of Executive rescripts; and breaks down the
dykes that keep out the Of despotis and cor.
ruption!
Suppose Clarke appointed Treasurer to-day by
an almost unanimous vote of the Senate, the act
was. Tomorrow comes and conynces this admin.
siration that he commanded at the last election or
can command 1t the next, thousand more votes
than the incumbent. is made Treasurer, and a
seryie Senate advises ard consents to their own der
TGlation Next day shows the candidate for tile
next Presidency, that lie command double the
number, and Is appointed Treasurer IN place of A
removed. servile Senate advises and consents:
and so on throughout the alphabet from to ri
Does not every one that the appointing power of
the Senate IS surrendered and gone? The restrain
ing power OF the Senate the high trust given us for
public security, and not feather decorate our
individual caps, is surrendered and gone!
Are we asked, what is the remedy? It is plain
Ask the OF the removal; and if the admins
tration dare tell the truth it will be, that it WINS for
opinions sake, the exercise of the elective right
or to pay bride previously stipulated by contract
expressed or implied for votes or influence Tell the
President, as the British Barons told their King
eve are not willing to have the laws Off appoint
mert and removal changed.-Tell him the cause of
the removal is selfunlawf q tie removal void--not
only unlawful but against the constitutional right. of
the citizen and The Senate aud douby void; and con-
sequently, there being no other objection, William
CLARKE Is still Treasurer of the United States of right,
though busted by superior force.
But If false return be made, let the people and
their representatives determine which master they
will serve, the President or the Consttution:-aDd
If tire latter, mpeach him for violating the consttu-
H." al II gh,s Of the citizen and making the false re-
turns q the former, let them wear their chains as
unworthy OF liberty regulated by law; and 20 wor-
ship their idol, and trembIe at his frowns
Let me read you another practical consequence
from your own book, the long neglected report of
- r