Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-04-24
IN THE SENATE OF THE U. STATES.
MAncu ~, 1880 - tr.
RYECJfT1YE SESSION. ~
SPEECH or MR. BARToN-oy

no qu siion being upon resolution oollna on Tho
P!es.seit for, the cause of removal of certain off
GERS hif. banroa rose aud addressed the Senate
Me. fres,dcnt Upon the importan, questions o
tue power OF thu President of the Unitcd States 70
ton,vo from Office; aud OF tho Senate to RESTRAIN him
IN IA abusive exercise OF that power, depend the
questions whether we to have. in each succeed
ing Presidency, four years despotsm with an ire
sponsiblc tyraut, il he BIZ disposed Rcpubli-
can Government Of laws with checked and restrain
Cd Executives.
To the discussion of these questions, involved in
The calls for information Of the causes OF removals now
pending before the Senate, I come avowctlly as a
CLEANER after the Senator from Delaware, Mr.. Clay
'on,) nnd if can find any heads of wheat worth
'icein this clean shorn field. which he has pas
sec will endeavor to gather and them; but
IT find mono, IL viii bo dshonor to rake aud bind
after snch n GRADER, in such field
=. " is NO longer dispute abott names, such Fee
deriiist or Republicans Ultra Fcdcralist or Demo-
c'sE National Republican or Slste-veto Republican;
!. or any other cav: words phrases with p.nch To
.eee,ve the public aud rally rar,izaps fond our re-
srective standards.
~ ga dTpuic in whirhsis involved Tie preservation
or republican iltutons ard our constitution Ii.
Dert.cs.
The isues are now frly joined upon the great fun
Elemental principles of the government, without re-
gard 10 party names
The majority contend that tho President has the
power TO remove Federal officers of the class now
oo''re US, and that the Senate has no right inquire
ihto inc canse OF removal; but must presume the
restrain
President in abusive exercise Of that power; but
must rely or mPeachng hin, by the House of Repre-
sen;at.vcs!
Tae minority d.ny all these positions except the
moving power Tor cause; ;nd claim thar the settled
practice ofthe Senate shall be adheredto. That the
provisional power of renewal from Office by Presi-
dc,t, when it exists all is high legal trust 20 be
EXERCISED only tor the pual!c benefit, in sound diScre
tinfr ca,isc relating The Iical conduct or fitness
otthc incvu,bcn,; and should not be perverted from
It's high purposes {" those OF parz:a Wadre or pnY
sonai vcngance, FOR opinion sake or the exercise
ol the elective .Fsncse make room for rewards
for votes. or influence in our Presidential Elections
Or IN word, to purposes Of tyranny ard bribery
combined.
We eoa,cnd for the restraining powers ofthc Sc
nate OF the United States rs understood by tho CO.
temporary expuundcrs of the Federal Constitution,
IN mattersof displacing well of appointing Fc.
CeTai OGcefs IN opposition 10 orbitrary Executive
secretion. and seryility Executive will, and of
rendering the Senate the venal register Of Executive
cdcts! For The freedom Of inquiry into the exercise
of Executive discretion and official rusts in oppos-
ton to Executive rrcsponsibility, and screening the
Executive from the light oftruth by suppression of
Tree inquiry into our public affairs, in the identical
cases OF fenoyai now before the Senate.
We contendfor the freedom and purity OF elections,
cnawed by Official purishments, and uncorrupied by
official rewards; In opposition TO removals from Of
nee Tor such causes as those above sraio1.-
Here arc the issues joined between us; and from
yoir decision, should il be against u.s. and against ell
your own 'crcr decisions ofthe saiue questions when
o.ner men we've IN power, we will appeal to the peo
nie OF the United Sta c., whose behalf we contend
1pl whoerc ways honest when rightly informed of
the merits Of a Cause
ihese questions are of vastly more importance TO
ne pefmanency and purity OF our liberties. andtn tho
great cause oIfree governments OF laws, contra
ClSiingu5hed from arbitrary governments of Execu-
tive viii, than either ofthe Presidential questions of
themselves, that have agitated this republic since its
foundation; and OF more Importance than any question
OF public policy, political economy, or expediency
th, oft az
lapse of half century.
These are the only questions on which felt any
desire 20 address the Senate. Ny former remarks
sprRug oHt from the occasions that produced them:
o1t on these feel compesd by the verbal and writ
Gu injunction OF some OF the g.eat minority in Mis-
alsslpPi, to present their views and NV own.
WIKI that minority have had the hoHS 10 act for
many years through good and through evil report, IN
al the attacks made upon the the Constitution
Union IN thatEtatc ia the snpe of relief ave. Judge
brcakiugS STOP laws; and The loan-olico act-tbat
bold attempt TO tsSse bills Of credit by the authority
"i State TO retrieve the falleD fortunes of ndyentu
rcTj and spectators ~ violation Of the letter and spi
r.t OF that Instrument,
IN oil attacks upon that best legncy Of our ances-
tors, the oct OF Union, have stood together some
times IN minorItles, agains. the powers of interest
ana ignorance; knowing that the preservation of its
principles, CLOCKS and restraints, chiefly distinguish
Is our government OF law and liberty from those de-
spotic governments Of arbitrary Executive discretion
mat nave so long despoiled the best rights Of man
a
And in this most fearful Of all attacks ever made
upon the Constituion-introducinga four years des
posm, if the President be so disposed and striking
Ut our elective franchise, the root Of our constitution
al Liberties, we viii stand together again, whether in
majority or minority and invite all who love the
PRESIDENT npch, but love their country more to join
with u.s. and rally around tho standard ofthe ConsIi
tution.
II - no question whether President may remove,
at his own viii and pleasure, his Secretary of Slater
!sat was the very question before Congress in the
great debate Of, 1889.
Such an officer is the merS pen in the hand Of the
President 10 write vth-bou1J TO do iuet such things
ms are prescribed by the patsonJ orde-s of the Pre-
sldent IN matters for which the President himself is
responsible as the head Of the Executive Depart
inent ana consequently he must eEeTcse his freedom
of sslestlaa7, or how could he bc Responsible
In such case tho act Of July, 1879, settles the
question by acknowledging the lBwf;1 right in the
PTzidcnt to dismiss this instrument when Re pleased
Nobody would wish TO force disagreenblc mem
ofNk Al.