Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-06-01
SPEECH OF Mr.. HOLMES, OF MAInn.
CONTINUED.

h
We now come to tho removals made by the present
Administrations and Sir. approach the subject more
sorrow than in nnger When I:was last elected
entertained nopreudices against or enmlies against
the present Chief Magistrate. Ihad no personal or
political Quarres settle; no private oreis to as
suage l did not form my opinion of his choracte
from those wlso had engaged in personal
With him, but who are now his jealous supporters
Notwiths,on ding their characters were high, and
might have been Just lied in believing their Testimony
concluded 1t might have been under high excite
ment, and made the proper allowances had more
over, no special partaity for the last incumbent He
vas not my hrst preference; but knew them both.
had Witnessed the last Administrations and though
cav, or thought saw something to dislike. saw
much to approve. and when President had done
Well for the first four yeurs, deemed policy as well
as justice, to try him again. rather than venture upon
new experiment and thus to keep the public mind
in an eternal excitement. had served two years in
athis Senate With the present President, and though
my personal paralities were all in his favor, is my
deliberate belief that he had the qualifications for
THIS exalted Offices and confess tllut nothing has
since occurred to shake this belief While my iudr-
roent compelled TO fear my partialcs induced me
to hope When was in the other House q distn
eulshed member from Georgia, since Senator here
and now no more, introduced resolution declaring
that General Jackson, as commander of the army
had I'm taking st. Marks and the Barrancas violated
tue Constitution of the United States; but my feeble
powers were excrted against that resolution Yet
the Whole delegation of Georgia majority of South
Carolina, among whom the ever-to- be a,nented
ilowndes and decided majority of the Virginia del
egation voied for it..
don't speak this matter of reproa oh anaiust
those States but as proof that had nothing against
the man. as msny of his present worshippers had.
and when was last elected, and took nv leave of
the Legislature of Maine, expressly told them that
although General Jackson not the choice of the
state yet they must not expect me, as heir Senator
TO persist IN continued hostility to his measures
thati should condemn where | must. bat approve
where could I have DONE and shall continue to
Go SO; but in this OF prescription without and
against all reason, must and will condemn
Let us now see what has been dune, and is now
doIng During forty years and under six daserent
presidents, We can find but seventy three removals
not averaging two in each year. Long as the period
and imperfect ,Hsthe history, fuVe asceitaned
good causes for nearly half and it is fair to infer that
there were causes equally good for the removals of
most OF the rest How is ii now? In one short
month, this Executive removed more than had been
removed tor the whole forty years, and in one short
year, three times the number !! The heads of De
partments may be set down as removals for cons,d
oring the example of the last administration. thcv
Would not have resigned, had they not been assured
that they should be removed and the conduct of the
SENATE, IN poStponing nominations was to them
lint broad enough We will set down Eve. The
removals in the Departments of principals and subo,-
dmates must be charged to the account of The Pres.
deht' Ior all tins was done under his eye These
We're forty six. Phe nominations of Rlr Adams
postponed 10 the 9TH of March last and thus reiec
ten must be considered the act of the Senate nv
the advice and at the request of the President elect
hir
eight, making 80! pretty good beginning Now
II has been ascertained that the other removals nm
to this time have anaouR ed to not less than one hun
cred ana hffy making, of removals by the Pres-
deht, ana chiefly IN the recess, two hundred and
thirty nine in the first year, more than three times
'he number removed by all former Presidents for for
y years But this Is not all. By an official report
Hom the Fostmaste' General. we learn that he had
as that time removed four hundred and ninety one
OF hls deputes and, he had brohab bly, not exaane
rated to sny the least. and we hnow the sood
work Is gong on, 1T IS moderate set these down
at I've hundred 1t within reasonable calcn,at ion
10 put the clerks and other dependents on those Oh
ces at i've hundred more Add to these the s,bor8i-
Hate officers of the customs removed as officially re
gorted-one hundred and fifty one. Add to these
deputy collectors and clerks 10 tho customs depntv
marshais, private secretaries Of foreign ministers
clerks 10 land and in other Offices surveyors snd 9th
ers and it is witbin bounds to calculate six bundred
9ore-masing in the first year about two thousand!
Now, why all this individual distress7-for what MIR
poscs Let US inquire--fbe people want gbt. ri
there was good cause they Will approve but If not
they viii condemn. Why are you dumb, pbe rem
snhs-ee ASH the reasons. Speak You are but
tpe servants OF the people; aud speak in LANGUAGE
winch they can understand, and they will Judge YOU
lGpartially? Why this dark siences 1t wns never
30 before Has your President done what he is
asnaFned OF! Come out nianfiiliy and let him come
out manfuly and Tell the causes; and if they are
good. the people will be satisfied But all this seems
y nave been done in utter contempt of the Senate
Z " we're kept together from the 9TH to the 18th
narcn' an extra session, beyond all precedent Che
president proceeded with snaiIs pace and very liz
tie business done. But our backs were SCARCELY
termed when the fires of prosecutions we're kindled.
snd have ever since raged witil relentless fury
But the greatest outrage of all is, that the Pres-
den; has invaded our dominions, and actually reno
we'd, and in the recess too, officer of the two hous
cs OF Gongressl Sir, the President bad as good
right 10 remove the Secretary of the Senate as the
librarian This Library is 'the Library of Congress-
the purchase. of Mr.. Jeffcrsons library gas for
The two houses of Congress- The rules for ROY
ernng it are to be nude by the presiding officers of
me Two houses The law, to be sure, gives
tne power OF appointment to the President; but so
soon as he has exercised it, he is funcus oco to all
iutents and purposes = ~
The Presfded has DO control over this Library any
more than one OF our clerks. usy stranger We
we do the Justices Of the Supreme Court and Other
Officers. But be cannot, any more than they, die