Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-05-05


Jet. TO establish a government Of law, and
Of checks and restraints upon Executive
w IN which no case should exist IN
wn'ch the fate of the humblest citizen,
whether in private or public life could de
pend upon the arbitrary will Of q single
man.
No, theft fears were not idle; and with
such lights before them; aud the then re-
cent claim TO arbitrary power urged by the
British Crown trembling in their bOsoms,
they never would have adopted the FEEDER
al Constitution without the restraining
power and duty OF the Senate during the
Presidential term, when, fever, he would
be disposed 10 violate the rights of the cit
zen.
The power is now boldly asserted on
tbs floor hy the majority. for the first TIME
since the foundation of the Republic, of
removing this class of Federal Officers
Z by the President at direction, without the
slightest restraint by the Senate. and with
out even the righsofa culprit to ask &c cause
condemnation, upon Il blind and seryIle
presumption on pat ofthe Senate, that the
cause was lawful aid good
Let me- now cxamme the substance OF
the arguments by which this deSpotic Prin-
ciple is supported.
And FIRST IN order is he President hun.
self In his first message, he labors 10
propagate the idea that Offices, in the coun
try, arc no private property, but public
trusts.
We admit it. The President is right.
Will he admit, in turn, our propositions,
above laid down; and more especially that
offices are not the private property Of a
President or Cabinet, with which TO buy
popularity and votes, or 10 reward men for
votes or influence, or as instruments with
which TO punish opponents for their votes
and opinionsl His argument is two ed
ged sword, and cuts both ways with equal
keenness and force; unless indeed II be
sinful in the Cardinal and Bishop to eat
pig and Lamb. 10 order that his Holiness
the Pope may monopolZe the market Of
Rome, and eat them all himself!
In approaching the argument ofthe Sen
ator from Virginia, Mr.. TazewelD | will
not permit myself TO suppose that the late
Consul 10 Alglers, Mr.. Loel against
whom voted with reluctance, arising from
an acquaintance in 1924, that gave me an
exalted opinion of the splendor Of his mlndi
and from the double expense of outfit, aud
customary present to tho Doy Of Algscrs.
represented TO us by the Senator from "
GINA, as if he would pursuade us to vote
for him; as we'll as from the arguments
urged by the Senator from Tennessee,
I Mr.. White i will not suppose this Con
sui is TO be made the scape-gOat to bear
away the sins Of this administration; and
that the majority, having established their
reputation with the public By his rejection.
are now about to turn round and swallow
all that huge batch of nominations lying on
your table--even all the hlrling Printers
and Editors of party papers, whose uoml-
nations were cautiously he'd back for the
arrival of the Virginia Senators from the
late conventon--ds # it were taken for
granted that modern Virginia produces
race ofmcn, good and true, with such elas-
tic and distendible Senatorial guzzles, as
to swallow down CamePs rump Of the
the green mountain's-pInus ondum secta
in suls monlibus-wlth all its pines oaks
and hemlocks unieIled upon its sides
Old Virginia did once produce a race Of
men capable of distinguishing between the
value Of tea tax, and the great principle
of regulated liberty, involved in the de-
mand:--a race apt to revolt at any arbI-
trary improper use of Executive power,
and Jealous ofthe eucroachments ofExecu-
tive will.
The Senators from Virginia and Louis
lana TMe;srs. Tuzewell aud Livingston.
have pointed out the power Of impeaching
the President as our only remedy for an
abusive exercise ofthe power ofremoval-
and the Senator from Missouri MIR. Ben
toni ncurs with tue former IN placing
these matters upon the high responsibility
ofthe Presidenl!'-ineaning impeachment
as a remedy, or that the King can do no
wrongp and the two former also urged aux
iliary arguments, which ! shall notice sep
arately.
Upon this common doctrine Of the ma
iority, that impeachment Is our only RENE
dy, we contend they are wrcng upon the
reason and utility ofthe thing, as well as
upon the authority of the case.
Mark the gradual approaches Of desPo
tism. Under the last administration all
the majority, who were then in the Senate;
held to dramatically opposite creed; and
now within few days past, there has Oeen
a great consolidation of phalanx among
the faltering and osciIIaling ranks OF Tue
majority. Men who through their ives