Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-03-23


mated twcnty-three persons to the Senate, to fiji
vacancies occasioncd by removals, made by him.
Mr. Madison removed the Marshal of Georgia in
1906. On tho 18th of March, 1914, Mr. Mcigs was
nominated TO the senate as Postmaster General
and motion made in the Senate, the object
OF which was TO ascertain from the President who
Their the Office wac vocan and, If so, how il had
become so? This proposition ncgatived, and the
nomination of Mr.. Meigs approved.
Mr.. Monroe, on the 18th Dec 1917 nominated
Consul, Receiver of Public Monies, and Naval
officer at Wilmington, North Carolina, to supply
vacancies occasioncd by removals. On tho 5th Of
March, 1925. Mr.. John Quincy Adams nominntcd
person = Csusui e Gil vacancy ocsasioned by
purpose OF showing that every President has ex-
crciscd the power, contested for the first time
since 1882; and no question ever raised in the
Senate, except upon the nomination of Dir. Meirs
as Postmaster Generals and then majority of tn q
Senate decided that the President could not be
questioned upon the subject.
When gentlemen contend against this power, and
its exercise by the President, they TO forget that
the President is elected by the People. and is res
ponsibe to them; and his tenure of Office is even
shorter than Besides, he must for LONG
time have stood before the public, md his conduct
have been well examined. In this think there is
great security. IL gentlemen will only exercise n
little patience IN about two years and halftley can
try this question between the present Chief Maos-
trate and themselves, before the great American
tribunal-ruE PEOPLE.
cure responsibility. Now. the President is looked to
as accountable for the manner IN which the whole
Executive Department is conducted and so long as
he can alone remove the subordinate officers this ac-
countabiilfy rs Just; but the YOU force men,
& continue them upon him, You furnish him with ar
gumcnts which will cXoneratc him before the ma
tiou May he not Justly saw. that he has no cont rol
over the inferior officers in the Executive Depart
meni; that his wishes diSressrdcd and that he
has power to coerce those enra red in pcrfnrupp
different duties, to execute his WIZ The state of i'm
subordinaion which must follow, in practice from
the opinion contendcd for the other side will de-
siroy all harmony and responsibility. IF this now
or of controlling the Executive be assumed by the
Senate, all the great powers of the Government will
be concentrated in this body. Already we can pre-
vent the representative will from having effect by ne
ga'Wmg the bills of tho other house and by the power
ofthc Senate now contendcd for, we can bring the
Executive 10 feet.
why Is 1t that we hear much complaint on the
subject ot removals from Office? IL is owing TO q
congeniallty OF feeling among office holders State
and Federal, throughout the whole country 'Thev
have common interest in giving public opinion di-
reetion III their own favor. Hence whenever n re-
naval takes place, ALL or most of them, unite in con-
demninglt, and they have succeeded in irving cur
rcncy 10 the idea, that there is an actual ownership
OF office IN The possessor and they speak of their Of
hccs as they do of lands and other property which
hey have bought and paid for; when, in truth II speak
of Executive odhces the Offices created for the
public benefit, and they employed as mere spen,s
to perform the duties. so long their services will
he more advantageous TO the public than others who
can he employedi and so soon others can be en-
gagged who viii, in the opinion Of the appointing pow
cr better promote the public interests thew oopbt "a
be displaced. Much has been said about turning
men out who are unable to make livelihood in any
o'hcr way. When hear this, know that right has
Oech DONE In tins wide extended country, furnish
ing such variety Of means for mental and manuel
embloyments, II an individual cannot live without of
flee, pronounce him unfit for that. If this idea
which j. earnestly Preo-od i, TO prevail YOUR rov
E,rt bn 3 4
igals and spcndhri s; who, having DESTROYED their
own substance, will claim employment and summon,
from the public Treasury. II is also urged that some
are removed who have been MANY wears in Office
think the error lies IN furnishing this Argument to
them by having retained them so long. The Offices
held by these individuals. have either been adya,-
tageous and profitable, otherwise. If the first
they ought to monopoIize the benefits FOR too
great period: they should give place Others and
not exclude all their contemporaries during their
whole lives. II the Office has been dsadvantareous,
they ought to be relieved from the burden.
Gentlemen say II IS imputation on the character
OF an officer to be deprived of his Office Tt is no,
so except far officers have made il So by press
ing 1t as argument for retaining their places /,
only proves, that there is another man as well ouai-
fed he is to perform the duties; and that the oov
eminent can be administered without his aid.
After all, consider this subject of removal as q
matter wholly between the Chief Magistrate and the
people, with which the Senate has nothing 10 do
except to see that unworthy men are not appointed
Executive discretion, not to ours.
When Dir. Jefferson came into power, he found
most OF the Offices filed by his political ndversaries
lie made hboral use OF this power, dcernine
its exercise ealthful to the body polite. In answer
to the New Haven remonsrance, which was against
removals. nc insists that in order TO secure fair par
tcipaon in the Offices of the Government, he must
use this power, 'fcw die Speaking of the officers
and none resign"
Were to give my own opinion us n citizen,
should say, that all who had prostitutcd their official
Influence and power for eectioneering purposes
should be removed; likewise all who loved their par.
~ more than their country, and had manifested such
feelings and dispositions made apparent that hey
would rejoice at failure of the administration
or than ITS success For free, full Independent ex
erclse OF the right Of suffrage, should be- re-
moved. These are my opinions, am ! aware that
the present administration hns gone beyond them.
now say to gentlemen, that all charges of pro.
scrpon and Of Cutting vengeance are but the nib
bling of minnows Mt mountain; ticy cannot remove
one pebble from IT'S base: and although ! nm aware
that can add nothing to the strength beauty oil
that vast pillar Of renOwn which the trent and mt