Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-05-04
DEBATE IN TIE sENArE.-Ara,L CT.


powER OF REMOVAL BY alRPREsEDENr
The res llution of Mr.. BARRON, calling upon the
President for the reasons which induced him tn re-
move Theodore Hunt from tho office Of the Recorder
OF the Land Titles in Missouri, being under consd-
Grafton,
Mr.. McKrNrrl moved to lay i, on the table until
Friday but a. the REG rest OF Nj. BARTON, the
motion withdrawn.
Mr. BAaroH said he did not intend 20 ro-argue the
general question of the powers Of the President to
remove the federal officers, as the Senate had reno
we'd the Injunction of secrecy from one case, and no
had published his argument upon that question, made
in secret session GU the l7th Marcel.
There was lie said, some peculiarly in the tenure
of this Office which distinguished this from those
OF the officers who hold under the act Of 18th May,
1890, for four years.
The Office of Recorder of Land Titles was estab-
izicd soon after the purchase of Louisana. Some
of his duties are of ministerial, and Of u-
dical nature Il was first held by j. n. Donaldson,
Esq. who fl! at the battle Of North Point Bal
more, in the late war, until he resigned and left the
country Then by Mr.. y. Bales, until he cleo.
ted Governor of Missouri, in 1924. Then by Mr..
TIunt the present recorder until of the Office
hunting oungcrs around the President, had persuaded
the President TO exceed his powers during the present
session, and remove, or affect to remove him, 20
make room for q person now nominated 10 Gil II.
From the establishment of the Office the present
session of Congress, it has been treated aud con-
siderei as Office during the good behaviour and
f.tiess OF the incumbent.
spcciul law, the tenure and duration OF the of
fee there no power of removal but what could
be derived from the constitutional obligation Of the
President to that the laws be faithfully executed
lie admitted that if the incumbent guilty Of Off
Cial delinquency or labored under physical men
tai disability 10 perform the duties, the President
could suspend his functions for that cause, and place
1T person in his place the whole proceeding being
like her originating acts CT the President, subject
to the subsequent sanction restraint OF the Sen
ate, participating in the disPacng well the up
pointing Of such officers according to the cotempo.
raneous exposition aud original understanding of our
form OF Government. lie denied that in any cases,
except tie Cabinet Oihcers the federal officers
ever intended DO rendered tie servo creatures of
| the Executive, BY being placed under his arbitrary
will but were intended to be rcemen, looking the
faithful performance OF their duties and the pro-
lection of the Senate and laws, for their offices.
twas fit, he said. that the officers of despot should
live die by the breath Of their master-that suited
such form Of government. Not so in Republic
/ a government of law.
Such was the exposition of tie Fathcrs-such his
carly lessons upon the nature OF the government of
the United States. contrary doctrine ena bled n
president to the Offices OF the Republic as brides
or weapons; rendered oil public officers civil and
military dependent for official existence upon Pres
ident; and put II IN his power employ WELD the
whole official force Of his corntry-nay the purse
and sword Of the country, against its bercs whom
ever he pleased.
! We have been told of late, by the majority, that
the President Is nearer 10 the people than the Sen
atc--holding for only four years and the Senate for
elk; and thPt therefore,, he should be left TO his res
possibility, at the end of his term to the people with
examination restraint ny the senate during hi.
term. Dir. II. said, he had been taught BY the co.
temporaBeous cxpositions Of the Fathers that the
long term, and comparatively Independent tenure o
Senators, was the very reason why the founders OF
/ the Republic gave to them the high charge Of res
trimming the Prealdent Mt every step during his term
supposlBg It impossible that such a body, the mos
permanent and constant Ofauy in the Goyernm .nt
could over NEEDLE in the election Of President, or
prostitute their stations to the end Of party strife
But, said he, look at the Inconsistency of the ma
oTty! They say the President is responsible to til,
people ut the end Of his term; and, by way of ena
bling the people to Judge whether he has, or ha
not, abused power entrusted to him for the pub
lie safety, they refuse 10 let the people know fo
what the power was exerted! How car
! the people tellPhetber he was right or wrong
whom thus kept in the dark
To for cause violating TO tie official conduct
or to the mental physical fitness of the incumben,
Is public and patriotic virtue; but to peryert tbr
power which VIC oil acknowledge 10 To-, f,i+o6scs :
Furnishing frecmef for their eyInons or vete5 ~ >,
p~iSnose supporters, or reward Office hunu wretch
| es FOR their prostitutcd services or scciampfions
would be great ofience--a gross violation of n,,,
constitutional rights by President. How can IN.
people tell for which cause the power was cycr,cd
unless the night Of inquiry into tie Of the reno
Yas be fJCrlted' lie rc,assertad that TIA cspsa i
S.Cai If being ta;esccrci YVES :iie ,c. esscnce ~
Tue power To remove at all and nothing buL consei
ousncss Of having violated the duties Of a Prnsidout
ana NE rights ofthe etIzon, could induce any Pres
a9h' 10 submit 70 be thus covered up ia .hc darh II
nc could find Scunie geryile and corrupt eno4qt ia
screen him frUn Tie public eye and examination.
b.t' Dir. j. said, he would put this call, moreover
Vi uio gfoand o public interest, by presenting 10 the
consideraon ofthe Scpato tho case ne il really exis
ted IN relation TO this Office. There was n conbipa
Won Of sPccuiators Official and unofficial, TO make for
tuuc1 by getting the unconlirmod Spanishand claims
amonhtng TO sOmetwo or three millions of arpents,
Son"Tined by this government. Thcywere men who
Had engaged on shares TO do this for tho old inhabi
tanS and other claimants Hitherto, even with tho
they had hccn I'D successful except in few small
claims Ihcy had made war upon all honest men &,
PuoAc iHnctionuios, who had stood as barriers a.
EainSt Their schemes, and eDdsayOTed 10 PROSTATE
NON Their object - 10 have every honest man re.
moved on' 'gfhoi vcv and amonvihs ,-ei tbie 30