Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-05-28
SPEECH OF MR.. HOLMES, OF MAlEp.
CONTESTED.

Sir. the powers of the Senate, surrendered to
the President, Gun never be reclaimed--once gone,
they gone forever You will probably, never find
President very complaisant, very modest, as
TO ask You to ake them tCck. Surely 1t is not be
expected tron, the present Chief Magistrate Iftbe
President of the United States abuses this power Of
removal, We know that this President has DONE
ard most wantony, where is the redress? Can Con
gross tegiSlase to reach the caSeS In 1895, bi
With an elaborate report, was presented by Select
COMMITTEE, to restrain Executive patronage, which
provided that whenever the President removed and
appointed in the ii should be his duty, on his
nomination to the Senate ofthe officer thus appointed,
to communicate to them the for the semOrote
The bill and report have after slunlbering for four
ycsr3 boon revived this season. and now on your
orders of the day Whether it is intended to act up
tie subject not It very certain that this rem
cdy never reach the mischief. Suppose that this
bill should pass both hosses of Congress and YOU.
tho friends of the President, should, in body, pre-
sent 1t to him for his signature, wba would probably
be his reply? Gentlemen, you have over and over,
agu'n and again. determined that had right
and appoint ~ the recess, ad i5ttul,, aud up
on my high rcsponsbility'-I have you here before
INC Sin black and white You have repeatedly set
tied the point, that this was business exclusively
my own, and that you had no rgh; to question my
reasons or motives; and ii you should, bound
to respond Now gentlemsn if have this power
pray tohese did get ii? Surely not by legislation
Tor Congress has never given it BIZ Law phere IS
then, but answer to the oaestion-I c!erice &c
from The Constitution Itself; and fit is grant in the
Constitution, what right have you 70 take 1t from
by Legislation? Your law is therefore, unco1sstuiion
al. Take 1t back, and if two thirds be found TO
take this power f ON M, which majority of you
have repeatedly declared now have by the Consti-
tuition, do It, and will appeal 10 the people; and we
shall see what credit ycu VIII get for constituency
Now, suppose he should make this concise but pun
gent argument, how would you answer him? I think
1t might pu2zc the Eiscs to give answer susfac-
tory to HIM
But he might ald-"G Gentlemen, this is not all;
Your bill and report were presented On early pc
nod OF The administration OF predecessor: il was
permitted to sleep till this tllne-now, when l. at
your instance and request, have exercised The power
OF renewal beyond ali precedent you offer me d law
to restrain ule Whatever NAV be yoar motives the
public will draw but inference from the trans
ac'on; hey will say this subject &c, ed OH
under Mr Adama's administration, because it was
Unnecessary; he never abused this power there was
mischief, and therefore no need OF reDledv-
But the danger has now become alarming the dis
iress aud misery which have created have produced
such sensations hat be restrained by nv own
friends. H. therefore, approve this law, Sign nv
own condemnation. my own death warrant. Take it
back, and If two thirds of both houses will pass this
vote Of censure me, let them do ii 1" So we see
SIR that this remedy by Legislation would be vsonarv
when President conducted correctly there would
be no necessity for the law and when as in the case
before US, he abused the power his approval of the
law would be an acknowledgment of the abuse
consequently ihe remedy by legislation is the meres
vision.
w hat other remedy do grave Senators proposes-
impeachment? Now. to it, provokes me to an
invoinnta srniie-noi smile o. appreciation. bit of
very different character. Impeachmentl C,,i.;c,
President OF the United States by two thirds ,f
the SENATE tor an exercise of power in Which u ma
jorty of the Senate had repeatedly determined
that ne coaM DO n" wrong? Slr, such propos ton
carries upon the very face of it it's own conaeuua-
zion. Besides, the Senate has no contro! over i'm
peaehments; it cannot tuepeach; it can only t7y 1t
stands here as the guardian of estate Rights' and
Is 1t prohaoe that the House of Representatives, the
popular branch would ever impeach President for
violating these? Sir, the trainers of this Consti.u-
ton We're never stupid TO entertain thoughf
that impeachment the remedy for this abuse of
Executive power Mr.. Madison and othors TO he
sure, enters AIMED an opinion that 1T was an iupeach
able offence Mr. Hamilton was of the belief that
The power of removal by the President did not exist
at all Bui shall remble for my country when the |
tina shall come that the President of the IT, States
shall De tried on an impeachment. 1t would be
perii9as experiment, and testing he Constitution in
It's wcakcs' point Nothing, perhaps, but absolute
PaIPabe, overt treason, could justify the attempt.-
The event would agitate the Government TO IFS CEN
tre--t would be the shock of an earthquake Sjav
never live to see the time when President of the
United STATES shall be tried on impeachment!-
1ow ever, SIT, never shall live TO see it. So long
as Executive patronage Is thus profusey poured into
both Houses OF Congress, my life for it. no President
will ever be mpeaciIed much less convicted let him
do what he may. One eighth of the last and this
senate, and large number of the members of the
other House, have been appointed TO important Off
ces and tins, too, against Con Jacksons own solemn D
pledge; and after his never tell me that the remedy
Tor any abuse OF power is impeachment
But the Senator from Louisiana DIR Lieingstonl
can feel no danger OF Executive patronage from ap
polntmenrs f'om he Senate; and bis reason is ths,
q seat Of q Senator is exalted and SD desirable
that 10 gift of the Executive could detaoh hin, from
IT. 1t might have been once, and wish to heaven
1t we're SO still. But am practical man; l take
thing as they are, and consider one fact worth
bundled theories We know full weII-thc truth
stoTes Us in the face, that there arc many Offices in
the gift of the Executive which Senators Will paGlv
accept because they hare accepted them This throws
his theory to th winds But as he has induced in
speculation, let me speculate too-and think can
ind strong reasons why Senators would become soil
citous for ExecutI7e Office. 1t would seem to me
there were two classes that would desire them: The
first is the young aud AMBITIOUS; and ambition nro
psrly tempered and under reasonable restraint is
virtue. The Senate il not stepping stone" 10 the
inghest office IN the gift OF the Repnblic it is not