The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-03-17

: world, although the President, last MAJ
s thought it expedient to employ the bel
' talents and the greatest experience 70 th
country to represent Us there. lfthi& wa
I necessary then, subsequent events in Eu
rope, yeferred to by many gentlemfn ]
this debate, have rendered it cbviQpsl
necessary at this time. "a
have now, mr.. Speaker, presented hir
ly and candidly TO the House, my vie4 Q
the only information, in regard TO this Als
sioD, we can act on, communicated 10 u b,
the President of the United States.
presents to Us, may be permitted 20 Ay
an extraordinary and unusual ststeS o
things; and, before / take my seat, fsl
show there il mo- prec don't for IL in ths dis
tory Of our Government. IN the first place
have we Minister at the Court Of Rnssia!!
In the second place, have we such Min.
ister. or one under such circumstances as
to require US to make this appropriation
And farther, have we, as the Representa-.
tives Of the People. and holding the purse
strings Of the Nation, right to express
our opinions of the Presidents conduct, in
regard to this mission, and the conduct Of
the Minister he has sent to Russia? five
have q Minister at the Court of Russia, he
must have been appointed and commission
ed pursuant TO The Constitution and laws Of
the United Stsles, although he may be de-
nominated a Minister, and accredited as
such at foreign Court, is not and cannot
by rs be recognized as such. Does the
appointing power rest exclusively with the
President Of the United States? Let the
Constitution of the United States settle this
question. "The President Of the United
States shall nominate, and by and with the
advice and consent Of the Senate shall ap.
point Ambassadors, and other public Min
ls,ers."--The power TO nominate is vested.
exclusively in the President, but no ap-
pointment can be made without the advice
and consent Of the Senate; and 1t is the
province of the Senate to act upon every
thing sppcrtaning to The nomination before
the appointment is complete. The Minis.
ter must be commissioned by the Presi.
dent, according TO the ratification Of his
nomination. Suppose rur. Randolph nom.
mated by the President. and, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate, ap.
pointed Minister tothc Court of st. Peters
burgh. had been. in conformity to previ
ous arrangement between him and the
President. commissioned Minister plchipo
ten,ary 10 the Court Of Stockholm. ls
there a man in ,his House who would say
that wc ought 10 make an appropriation Tor
his salary? Ipresums not. lie would be
illegally commissioned; would not De our
Minister 10 Sweden, and could not be the
Minister Of the United States at the Court
OF Russia. What is tie present case: mr..
Randolph il nominated by the President,
Minister To the Court of Russia, with the
previous understanding between him aud
the President, that he should have the
privilege committed to his discretion Of
residing in England, or any other part of
Europe, whenever he should think proper
to exercise that privilege, and for an un
limited period Of time. This agreement
and this discrot otionary exercise Of privilege,
is unknown to the Senate. with whose ad
| vice and consent the appointment was
been made. TO me, mr.. Speaker, the
whole proceedings appear to have been
irregular, illegal, unprecedented; and the
whole transaction void FROM tho beginning
that we consequently have no Minister,
and, until one is appointed, it is unneccs,
sary TO make any appropriation for his sal.
airy; and if he has received an outfit, be
has received what, by law, he was not en-
titled to.-Suppose this nomination had
been sent 10 the Senate with all the facts
disclosed, thnt tho President has siuce
communicated TO us in relation to it--this
discretionary power 10 exercise the privi'
Ilege committed 10 him of residing in Eng
land.--Is there political friend or foe, ir
that body, that would or could have voted
for il No, sir, not one, and ] contend
that as 10 such appointments, tho Senate il
a CO. ordinate branch. o..
The next consideration is, our right 4
withhold the appropriation required, if we
are dissatisfied with the course adopted by
the President and his Minister. five can
not express our dissatisfaction in this way
know Of none in which it can be done
If we willingly make the appropriation
with all the information which has beer
!. given US, we sanction the whole proceed
ings; and what has been done will contin
, ue 10 be done, by this and all our futur,
Presidents, so often as circuinsta noes shall
require them to adopt the preccdentwhicl
8 will be established. Sir, VIC have SOM
. knowledge Of our relative concerns wit
> Russia, and can Judge whether, at thi
time, we can be ss well represented at tha
! Cour, by a Secretary Of Legation a. BY
> Minister Plenipotcntiary, and on this sub
ject ought 10 express our opinions w
. have a right to say that our concerns wit
Russia are, at this time, such as 10 requir
!, . a resident Minister, and If the Prcsiden
thinks they can be as well attended 10 b
: a Minister residing in England, we ma
: so far differ as 10 warrant Us in withholdin
\ the appropriation.
III But. mr. Speaker, 80 far .: mr.. Rsn
b dolph's salary is connected with thls qnes
}. ton, and the argument used is fosndsd Q
# the necessity Of an appropriation TO pay hi
/, salary, We can derive some light from q
!; examination Of the laws Of the Unite
o States, which do not contemplate yearl
. salary wnen years service has not bee
o rendered.
b BY ,helaw on this subject, We asd thu