Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-23

vacancies, occasioncd by removals, made by him
MI. Madison removed the Marshal of Georgia in
iooo. On The 7th of March, 1914, Mr. Mcigs was
nominated to the senate Postmaster General
ond q motion was made in the Senate, the object
OF which was to ascertain from the President whe-
ther the office was vacant; and, if so, how it had
become 30: This proposition negatived, and the
nomination OF MIR. Meigs approved.
MIR. Monroe, on the 18th Dec 1917 nominal ed
Consul, Receiver of Public Monies, and Naval
officer at Wilmington North Carolina to snnn,,
vacancies occasioDed by removals On the 5th Of
March, 1925. Mr. John Quincy Adams Nominated
a person as Consul to Gil a VACANCY accustomed bv
removal. y
l have selected the cases referred TO. for tho
purpose of showing that every President has ey
erclsed the power, now contested for the first timo
since 1885 and no question ever raised in the
Senate, except upon the nomination of Dir. Meirs
as Postmaster Gcuera and then Il majority of th q
Senate decided that the President could not he
questioned upon the subject.
When gentlemen contend against this power, and
Its exercise by the President, they forget tina,
| the President is elected by the PEOPLE and is res.
ponsible to them; and his tenure of office is ever
shorter than own. Besides, he must for lono
time have stood before the public and his conduci
have been well examined. In this think there is
great security. If gentlemen will only exercise =
little patience, in about two years and halfthev car
try this question between the present Chief Magis-
trate and themselves, before the great American
ltribuRal-rHE PEOPLE
So long as the present practice continues Won CO.
cure responsibility Now, the President is looked r.
as accountable for the manner in which the whole
Executive Department is conducted; and so lone as
he can alone remove the subordinate officers this ac
countabillty Is Just; but the moment YOU force mon
d. continue them upon him, you furnish him with mr..
guments which will exone,ate him before the M
ton. May he not justly say that he has no contro
over inc inferior officers IN the Executive Depart
ment; that his wishes dsregarded and that he
has no power to coerce those engaged in performing
dinerent duties, to execute his Will. The state of in
suoordnatIon which must follow, in practice, fron
ene opnion conended for on the other side, will de-
s'foy all harmony and responsibility If this now.
er OF controlling the Executive be assumed by tn,
senate, all the great powers of The Government will
] be concentrated in this body. Already we can pre
ven. inc representative will from having effect by ne
gaivng the bills of the other house. and by the move,
OF the Senate now contended for we ran brinr tbc
| Executive to our feet. vas
why Is 1t that we hear much complaint on the
suolec. or removals from, office? 1t is owing to q
congenialIty of feeling among Office holders State
ano Federal throughout the whole country Thev
nave common interest in giving public opinion di.
rection III their own favor. Hence, whenever a re-
lovai taxes place, ALL or most of then unite in con-
denmlnglt, aud they have succeeded in piyinr CIV
rency TO the idea, that there is an actual oynersbn
OF once IN the possessor, and they speak of their Of
noes as they do of lands and other property which
nave bought and paid for; when, in truth q speak
OF Executive ohces) the offices are created for the
PUBIC benefit, and they employed as mere apents
perform the duties, long as their services will
pc more advantageous to the public, than others who
| no
gagged who viii, IN the opinion of the appointing now
peter promote the public interests they ought to
De displaced Much has been said about turninr
men out who are unable to make livelihood in any
| been done. In this wide extended country f7r,ish
| ing soch variety of means for mental and manuel
employments IT an individual cannot live without of
hce, pronounce him unfit for that. If this idea
VIM" 10 Do ear estiy pressed, to prevail YOUR ooy-
ernnent viii beeonr1 parish for the snnnort f nSod
igais and spcndthrfs; who, havinp desf roved tbs;
own substance, will claim employment and suppor,
.Ile PUBIC treasury. 1t is also urged, that some
are removed VINO have been many wears in Office -
thnk the error lies IN furnishing this a. eument to
them by having retained them so Ionn The o+I;ces
held by these individuals. have either been adva7-
tageous and profitable, or otherwise IF tho frst
they ought not to monopolize the benefits Nor ,oo
great period: they should give place to others an
not exclude all their contemporaries during their
whole llves 1T the office has been disadvanta oeous
they ought to be relieved from the burden
Gentlemen say it is imputation on the character
OF an ofhcer to be deprived of his Office. 1t is not
so, except SO far officers have made so by
ing IL as an argument for retaining their places. It
only proves, that there is another man as vol ouali
ned as ne is to perform the duties; end that the gov
eminent can be administered without his aid
After all, consider this subject of removal as n
matter wholly between the Chief Magistrate and the
people, with which the Senate has NOTHING IN do
except TO see that worthy men are not snnon,oJ
ROW TINS power ought to be exercised is left TO the
Executive discretion, not to ours ~
~"e.' MI Seherson came INTO power he found
most of the Offices filled by his political adversar;es
lie made liberal of this power, dcerninu
its exercise healthfu to the body polite In answer
to the New Haven remonsrance, which WINS ags;ns,
removals. ne insists, thatn order securea fair par
tIcpatlon In the Offices of the Government be nprs,
use this power, few die Speaking of the officers
and none resign"
Were to give my own opinion MS citizen. I
should say, that all who had prosttuted their Official
Influence and power for electoneerna nurnosos
should be removed; likewise all who loved their M -
more than their country, and had manifested such
feelings and dispositions made apparent thu. hev
would reloice at failure of the administration, ra
er :Ian y success. For free, full independent en-
ercise OF the right of suffrage, no man should bs 20
moved. These are my opinions, nor am aware that
the present ADMINISTRATION has gone beyond them.
now say to gentlemen, that all charges of pro-
Scrlption and OF Cutting vengeance are but the NH
bling OF minnows at mountain; they cannot remove
one pebble from its base and although am aware
that can add nothing to the strength or beauty of
1EA