Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-04-10
sPEECH or HIR. CLAYTON.

III am right il ly views octhe constitutional pow
efs Oi the President and Senate, thus far presented
tRc formyr canneycr property remove an officer be-
lore the expiration C Ills torm bGt Tor cause clnneC-
tod Only WI the public interest, wolfe the latter can
invcSgi;e tho CAUSE and ascertain hy the F,r.s ho,y
itt thc Constitution has been complied with: and l.
th's a'i h"rty has been abused, extended beyond
us cES.ru ionai hmils tho House NAV ip,rcac6 Tho
antncr VI sucn abuses before he Senate n, the sen
ate may remove him urdtah his miuIurs. An i'm
p achneni, however. requiring n majority of tho
House to prefer II ana two thirds ofthe Senate To
sustain 1t, can rarely, perhaps never, nreva nrainst
the exercise OF executive patronage directly on Con
g'css ana the influence OF party spirit. Then sup.
pose that President. regardless of his duty md ~
the consequences either tcyposure or ilnncacb,on,
should remove all public servants WHO would no,
assent to his usirpallcn q tie soycrcjuntv
pc ana hil their places with :7YoGrics and para
stcS VINO should seek to robe h!m with the n1ari1l
purple. We have been told Chat such case NAV oc.
Ga JteS h a6G nd Sc e onGe on the verge this
filled every office IL this way. do no, say ga ,p,sair
nor do pretend 10 decide u1on thai Pit he eucs
ton no" arlscs-TEat checks have Tie nroolr ,noD
usurper who should DO those things for his own al
va1cement, Immediately after his accession to the
Presidency: II IS certain that, until the expiration
OF MS tour year term period long enough for tho
achievement OF revolution, the people have no check
upon HIM except through tie insiyrnneninliis If The
S;r9Ie; and IN such the question t1hat central
ms TIE Senate tpc1 this PotDsr. becomes one criD-
tense interest t" the American people
We have seen that, By the terms of the Consti'u-
oD the President is authorized TO fiji up all vacau.
cies happening IN The recess Of the Senate By IRAN
nag commissions which shall expire al The end of
the next session When vacancy is created by
removal the question arises can the officer removed
be rcins a;cd by the direct action of the Senate!
There are many who msnl ain the affirmative Of
Ihis question. some for whose judgments ! feel
great Difference, and with whom | usually act here,
nave so expressed tCm5e lyoS and there are certain
!y strong opinions TO support them. That OF Aexl-
sndfr sml'om expressed in the 18th number of The
Federallst IS urged with much force being in ac.
cUTdance with this construction. After enufneratnr
there as one Of the advantages TO be expected from
the cooperation of the Senate in the business of
poaiments, that it would contribute to the sta6iEi
OF the administration, lie adds, tic consent Of that
body will BIO necessary TO dipace as well az 10 an.
fnL IL is insisted that the dispaciar here referred
10, is Indicated by the 10 be, not temporary
removal by a temporary appointment, anou.s no
only 10 any attempt to change, but that the power
denied by him 10 exist the President alone was
such diSplacing power as could defy the 'discoun-
tennnce Of the SenGte'-and that, therefore, this
great statesman pressed II upon his counryrnan asone
OF the highest recommendations OF the Constitution
that change Of the Chief Ma rirtratc would not
occasion so violent general revolution in the
oihcers OF government as might be expected, if he
were the sote diSp0Ser Of Offices. Where man in
any station has given satisfactory evidence of his
fitness for it, President would be restrained
from attempting change in favor of person more
agreeable TO him, by the apprehension that tho dis
countenance OF the Senate might Illustrate the at
tempt. Those who can best estimate the value Of
steady Administrations will be disposed to prize
provision which connects tho official existence of
public men with the approbation Of that body, which
from the greatcr permanently Of It's compositions
VIII, IN all probability be less s-bjcct 10 incousisen.
cy than any other member Of the government The
weight OF Hnm,On's opinion is here set in full array
against the advocates of constructive power; and
- true that his exposition Of the Constitution was
co'cmpofancouJ with its ratification; that il was then
given to, and pressed upon, Countryman for the
purpose Of eitecilng that ratification; that it was
viewed at the time obyiatiug all objections 60 The
extent Of Executive influence, and that perhaps te
only which has ever been cast uloG his pot-
ical writings charges Tint he too much srosed
not 20 cuftsil but 10 extend gnd increase the unwrr
OF tue Fedcral Government Vt his doctrine. a.
least o. The extent con ended for Mt Tccoru,ed
by the House of Representatives in 1850: and # Tia
decisions OF that day which have been referred TO-
are TO be regarded obligatory upon u.s. he Senate
nae no dircH action upon tho removals Of the Prcsi-
dent, The question rccurs then, by what cons,.tu.
. on' mode can 10 mainipin any check upon these
abuses Of Executive power
lak' Tue true difference, between tLc pre4ert
on'"c't< on That power and myself, 10 cou8is. n
ihH'-iHcy consider The Senate standing iB The 10.
ilu D" ' G-us pryy c1Gncil 20 tho President. who
way +" h'Y NOT hdr ~ q cir advice os 90 him shall
5igN most 'zprd en-, TIrY deny the doctrine Of
Il"h.'' Unit hc Con .iifu'ion connects the official
eNs.e"i' "i pu'Hc mon with tHe appreciation or dis
0prob,t on Of ihc Senate. They danv n in ey[r,,.
kpW WHICH en be taken of TO- ons,lcr tho Son,