Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-05-04

ing countries, to have honest calling what
ever; but relies on the Office hunting trade, or smiles
ofPresldents or Governors, for support. He has
shown himself eminently qualified for the purposes
of the land obbing spectators in these claims, by
having been twice convicted of fraudulently conceal
ing the property ola debtor from his creditors at ST.
Louis, which by our law, is criminal and ndictable
offence.
a BILL lie said, had lately passed the Senate to re-
fer all those unconlrmed claims to the Recorder and
two commissioners to be appointed by the President
and Senate, to re- examine and report upon them.
Judging from the samples of Missouri appoint
mcnts, and particularly the ustrious consul to Chi
huahua, and the nomination Of convicted fugitive
from the justice of Missouri, to be Indian agent he
presumed those concerned would find no difficulty in
imposing on the President such board as would
perform well the courts had done in Arkansas
that is to say to confirm all the claims really in ex.
stence, good and bad; and then confirm all the new
ones that might be forged and presented! He spoke
he said, from the public documents reported to Con-
gress at this very session, by the Commissioner of
the General Land Office, when he spoke thus of Ar
kansas.
These considerations not only demanded inquiry
into tho causes OF these passing events; but he pro-
tested that, with the present prospect of prescribing
common honesty from Missouri if the bill for the re-
vision OF those claims again before the Senate
he could not and he would not vote for it.
He protested against the of the present ad-
mnistration towards the State of Missouri All that
Missouri had thrown off, in her efforts to purify and
elevate her society," seemed to be carefully hunted up
and restored upon her. 1t seemed to be a general
restoration, as if her Botany Bay and her Siberia
were to be empied In her streets, mark the epoch
| of this administration!
| The President must surely be imposed upon by
the corps of rccommenders and Office distributors in
Missouri, who nave full delegation here at pre-
sent, else the President no better than they
| The President has sadly departed from his original
intention in relation to the Offices of the country.
| He presumed ali this was part of the "party d;sciD
| lipnf' af afru da1 tn 81,
low, and the low ones high, to prepare the way to
some future Presidential election.
The offices of our country are converted into
brides in elections, and weapons of destruction
in our party contests.
Mr.. KANE said he would reserve any observations
he might have to make the character and uualifi.
cations of the gentleman who had been nominated to
fill the vacancy created by the removal of the gentle
alluded to in the resolution until the proper op-
porunty had arrived for making them known ,fbIs
opportunity would hereafter be afforded in Executive
session. The objection urged by the gentleman from
Missouri, MIR. Barton) against the power of the Pre-
sident this officer presented In one respect
new question, and furnished the occasion for few
observations upon the character the Office the te.
nure of which was somewhat different in appearance
from any to which the attention of the Senate had
been heretofore directed. The tenure of the offices
heretofore considered had been fixed either by the
Constitution laws of the United States in terms
Such not the case here. The office Recorder of
Land Titles for Upper Louisiana was created by law,
and the President was authorized to fill it. the con-
sent of the Senate was net by the law required Yet
it had been the practice of Mr. Madison and Mr.. Mon
roe to make the nomination to the Senate, and the
present Executive had followed the example. The
act creating the Office says nothing of the term for
which the officer should hold the Office, of its
tenure in any way What then is the tenure of any
Office by law created in the absence OF any particu
lar provision, to time, the IN which its
duties to be discharged? Is it Office for good
BEHAVIOR or for fe If for good behavior, is this and
all other petty officers to be impeached and tried be-
fore this high tribunal? Mr. K. said he understood
the Senator from Missouri as admitting that the Ex
ecutive had the power to remove but then this pow
to be exercised only upon sufficient cause; and
pray, said Mr. K. who is be the Judge THIS cause?
the Executive alone, or the Executive and Senate
united? The President is bound 10 see the laws faith
fully executed, and this duty he cannot perform with
out control over his agents. He is responsible for
the execution of the high trust eposed In him by the
Constitution, and in this responsibility so lar as the
execution of laws is concerned, the Senate does not
participate
Suppose then the President should think Fl, employ in the
public service who public delinquent deauter
for example, omany years standing and the Senate should
pose this objection this power removal cannot be
ALL because the removing vested in the President and
Senate isneurazed by this division of opinion the
tc the execution Of the laws rendered injurious ope
ration of continued denquenCes The President
may be called account for abuse of his executive
thority How should the Senators of this republican
federation appear when sitting his judges if his plea jus
caon filed that the Senate would coasent to the
moyal OF oicef mai conduCt brought
him impeachment. Sir executive officer whose
of office fixed by law, must, of necessity hold his
mission al the pleasure Of the executive otherwise the
tive is Irresponsible agent of the government The practices
of every President showed that such had been their opinion
The practice with regard to the very Office in question: fully
exemphed the correctness of this opinion ere Mr. K
the commission first issued by Mr. Madison followed by
tber from Mr. Monroe, both in declaring that the ap
pontce held his commission the pleasure Of the President
the United States for the time beng Mr. H. said had beer
his intention TO discuss the question of the Presidents
of removal on t OCCASION age but he would
pass upon time allotted for important dsc0ssioD by
stunning of the time of the Senate at present.
Mr. BARTON said he desired only reply few promDen
remarks of the Senator from Illinois He inmates that MIR
Hunt may be detauler. Is that good for ngui
r instead o: conceamen Is citizen be stabbed in tn
dark by nsnuations and denied the benefits of the open light
Let know what the is and if be reasonable one
will say about the REMOVAL although canno
vote for the person contemplated to take charge old Ian
Titles and records in Missouri Mr. Hunt had old navy
count with the many but asserts his in
tegy fairness III that matter and challenges investigation
q andlgh That account, il be hned at understood
the former administration that appointed him. presume lie
Us have Il causes, be they good or bad.
The Senator from Illinois declined saying thing about III
character qualifications Of the proposed SUCCESSOR he says
the nomination pending Mr. B. said he had gone be
hind the Executive veil get facts he mad stated On tn