Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-04-29

L
now appeal to the settled practice ofthe Senate for
half century, and will quote the majority against
III support of the republican character of
our government in opposition to the dcspotsm
now declared Oh this floor. The gentleman from
Delaware has taken so ample range this /
branch OF the subject, that l shall content myself
with lew prominent instances.
!. In the celebrated contest between Mr.. Mon |
roc anu the Senate upon the military nominations |
III inc year lS2S, the Senate looked behind the
NATIONS oil Coils. Towson and GadSden, without any
objection to them, and there found Cen Bisscll and
Col Jones IN situation that, III the opinion of
the Senate, gave them right To the offices of
Col end Artillery, and Adiuiant General-and
practically asserted their restraining power by re-
Jcctlng the nominations OF the two former officers
to FL those places. Mr. Monroe acQucsced in the
decision of the advisory power of the Senate, and
nominated Colonel Jones, who holds the office
OF AdJutant General; and Mr.. Adams when Pres
ldent, acquiesced in the case of Bisselrs, and
nominated him for the other Office General Bssels
friends contendcd he In the Army, liable TO be
arranged TO that service by order, and needed no
nomination; and rejected 1t on that ground it
would cut Oft some years pay to appoint him anew.
On the Committee that recommended tins course,
was the Senator from Missouri, (Nlr. Bcnton.)
There was n contest III the Senate concerning
the true construction of the law OF 1891 reduce
the army but none upon the great duty OF the
stralnng power of the Senate, although the Pres
iGcnt had the right by law strike officers from
the roll as he had not proceeded under tina; power
: In the Panama discussion and report IN 1896
when Mr.. Adams President, there was u dis
PutC upon l!iC cNpeu!ency OF attending
cipatihg IN the proposed American Congress at Pan
ANA ana Tacu6aya; but none as To tho restraining
powers OF the Senate. The present majority, or SO
many as had seats here at that trmc acted upon the
comprehensive prlncplc--that it the right and
day oil the Senate 10 look behind the nominations,
ana re-cNpofe all the ground ever which the mind of
the PRESIDENT might be supposed have passed i'll ar
rlVlng al ms conclusion 10 send III the nominations.
On Feb 20, 1896, MIR. Rowan submitted, among
otherS, the following resolution, which on the 22d
we're inodihed by Mr. Woodbury., except the follow
mg' winch they both voted for as it IL
"Resoived, That it the unique stonablc right OF
tho Senate To call, in respectful terms, upon the
President of the United States, for such information
as may be IN his possession and which the Senate
ueem necessary to the faithful discharge OF the du-
ties imposed upon it by he Constitution: and more
especially, the duties resulting from matters which
the Cons tuition makes II the duty OF the President
10 submit TO the nate, for their advice and consent.
ueemed 1t unnecessary TO make question about
'hIng 'unqucs'ionoble, and have Il vote upon il;
ana moved It's indefinite post Appointment, which was
carried; but we called for all such information with
C"' csitatIon as an unqucstionUblc right The fol-
owing members of the present minority voted even
against poStponing The resolution, affirming pow
or gwen by the Constitution, and not dependent on
our resolution VIZ: Benton Diclerson, Ellis, Hayne
Kane, King, Rowan. White Woodbury., ; Mr.. Tuze
wen being absent, and ali the Senators appointed to
lie heads of Departments, are now shrinking from
similar CALI
>. The only remaining conspicuous instance which
shall deem 1t necessary To quote Is the rpport TO
curtall Executive patronage already quoted. show.
ing that the powers you now conccde to The Presi
dent make him o monarch!
| Thus we sec that portion Of the present majority
yeeTlng, and vibrating under different adnnis IA
tons, like a Surveyors needle among the mineral
banks OF Missouri, according to the power of the
attraction; first pointing the new dgGings then 10
Nine au Brlton then TO Nalles on the Platin,
wacfy me 81. Francois and MerimccE. Th fty
ere never fixed TO the polls Of the Constitutions but
seem TO govern by the law OF maiorl;y-the law OF
| tOrCri An Qlmnlst ration that M
ment for cause, would thank the Senate for its yd
counsel anu ADVICE upon The causes Of the removals
ana aFoW them IKE open mcn OF conscious rsc,jtuGc
Inc people are nSt dissatisfied with the Nd.nui,tra-
ton FOR removing upon cause, a. thcy have. dore in
several instances IN and of this CITY: but the al
tack upon the freedom and purity Of elections IS Il
KING at Tue root OF the tree Of liberty, and, if not
arrested, VIII leave 1t IN tins Republic as IN So many
Others, stripped Of It's bloom and foliage the scalLed
victim OF whitening dcspoism.
There are two remaining objections Of the Senator
\ from Louisiana, Mr.. L.) 10 be answered.
1 He transfers himself back to the birth of the Re-
public and magIncs all to be untred theory before
him, when IN fact we have been practising harmoni.
ousiy upon TINS cstraining power Of the Senate for
ha't century, with salutary effect. He imaGincs
the lrs step IN removing officer under ne syscu,
advocated by the minority, would be 10 convene The
senate and submit TIE Of COMPLAINT 10 them.
ana dePrecateS the expense and trouble, aud, above
all, tho case with which delinquent wlle The Sen
ate were converting and debating could trusEcr him
self ana his Ill gotten wealth beyond the reach Of ia
vcstisalon, as this Administration are modestly re-
ti!ng from that light to hide their bushes His pre-
iseS are wholly Imaginary, and his conclusions are
OF course, equally visionary.
The organising act Of suspcndiug tic functions,
ana arrest!ng tie career of delinquent officers is and
ought 10 be, with tie President either dufino ,lo
recess or the session Of the Senate; aud the matter il
/ then submitted 10 them when they are in regular
session, IN the established manner VIC have desert.
/ bed
! The delinquency Of a revenue officer is not tho
! emergency for converting an extra session of the
senate. That power was given for great cmcrgcn-
CTS of State.
lie supposes great difficulty from vcxatious COM
NM 1t IS found, IN pucticc, eusy to distinguish
between qucrnlous and yeXatous allegations of reno
yea dchnquents, and tho manly, indignant sense Of
In'gh-hahdGd PRESIDENTIAL or low purity cabinet ty-
ronnlcs, the gentleman himself supposed il 10 bc
some years ago, TO draw the broad distinction be,
tween the summary process OF Mr.. Jefferson in sci
eng INC batturc az New Orleans and tho due bro
ed n lutv FIR LioIt 4,