Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-03-28

Der OF it, has alleged without contradiction in the de-
bate here from the very author OF the report of that
Committee, which in 1896 examined every Depart
inent Cf the Government for abuses, aud reported
SIX bills to check the current OF executive power.
with n voumnous exposition OF t;iets and alleged
GRIMES, to lay the foundation of legislative intcrir-
encc. Look at the report! One of the bills con-
tans q clause to compel the President to assign the
causes for every removal from any office referred
in that bill. II was not only deemed proper then to
disclose impeachabe matter, but necessary to compel
that disclosure for executive as well as Legislative
purposes Nd,c the very course recommended at that
time rs right for no purpose. Another Of these bills
provided that no Postmaster, where the profits of
his Office amounts To certain sum, shall be appoin
ted TO or removed from office but by the President,
and Senate, The argument in favor of this bill then
pressed upon the people, was that the influence and
patronage OF the Department vast, that it
had become one of the 'arbite-s Of human fate in
this country, and could longer Go safely trusted to
a Single individual Tho Committee, instead oftel
Ing us they were "--aid to ferret out crimes,
they "hold themselves to be acting the spirit the
Constitution IL 1aborlnG TO multiply the guards and
close the avenues to the possible abuse of power,
and the tmpeachabis matter which is now so ob-c-
tionabe feature In this inquiry was then glorious
discovery, that 5000 copies of the report were
printed by the Senate. and scattered phout the
country We see here who were the petty consta-
bes ofNtut day. and ifa change of times has not
produced change of principle too, we shall now
proceed fearessly in fereting out abuses of every
description which we can reform nhioit. II, for
doing receive the appelIaton Of petty consta
bes. let us rely for our reward the app obation
OF our consclences and country, taking care TO
merit no more humble title than that OF honest con
stables who never charge double compensation fer
their trouble.
But it is alleged that this question decided by
the Senate at the last session. when they refused
inquire into the which induced the president to
sweep the list of civil officers, and the aid Of prece
dent vs. invoked to effect suppression of this inves
CATION. Sir, am not aware that this Senate has in
the goomiest period Of subserviency to executive
will, decided the abstract principle, that even the
President IS abovS the law, that his principles of
action, while administering the constitution are not
liable to investigation. Iknow well that in the exec
u,ive sessions during tile las, year. inquiries in part
cuiar Cases OF removal were repeatedly refused some
thinking the inquiries inexpcdent in those particular
instances. The power of the representatives of the
States was held in Slight estimation by the advocates
OF executive influence At that day. il is true; but
even then man pretended that all the subordinate
officers OF the Cove '.nent should be covered With
the same geis which protected their chief The ar.
Gument then WAS sir, that t.re President answer
able only To the people who elected him the polls,
and not TO their Representative distinction hch
never bowed with respect, anal which i'll think
is entitled But the chiefs of department are
ucither elected by the people the States, an
swersble to either in a6y other way than through
their Representatives here by whom their whole DOW,
ers are conferred The Postmaster General, ike the
rest OF these chiefs, officer unknown to the
stitn,iop and the creature of the law ONLY Congress
enacted the law which constitutes his whole authority
tor action Ii made him. II re peal that law ami
rnmske h'm. Upon the very principles conceded by
! those who sheltered your President from scrutiny,
me Chet ct this Department is amenable, like every
other creature ofthe law. TO his creators And if no,
then IS every other executive officer of this govern
me"i at all times, and under all circumstance, above
, fh" vsFy law which established his Uhi-e. You can
not on this principle, investigate the conduct of
the most petty ofG in the customs. whou; inya.
ding the royal prerOSatiye and the principle that the
"king can do no wrong" which England knows
only IN theory, is here transferred every snburd.
nate OF The Government. until every "pelting petty
otcer' becomes tyrsnt amenabie to no human trib
unal but the will of his political chief
There does not exist in this Government drpart
ment which, by law is held SO irresponsible 20 Con
gress or the People the Post O!ice. 1t disburs.s
annually from its own funds, Si.9G2, GOO among the
people, OF Which $685.. COO psid Pus,masters all
Subject 10 be removed for smile or frown at Rnv
moment, by its chief. The sum Of million two
hundred and seveni yfour thousand dollars is pad for
transportation Of The Uail to individuals who ave
equally liable for smile frown to be embarrassed
by the regula ions of the Department, Lsucn for in
stance, as the loss of single rip) and driven from lie
employment. If soldier of the Revolution apply for
scanty rittance Of one hundred dollars per annun
his claim must be scrutirlzed and The Will of Con
gress, tardiY expressed, sanction the compensa
uon, or II Is loss. But bow many thousands are dis.
ouFsed by the Chief of this Department at bis will un
der the name Of extra compensation to con,r,r,rrs
and ohcers, OF which no account is rendered TO Con
grcss or the People! The items COMPOSING the i'm,
menSe expenditure of one million two hundred ind
seVeutyfour thousand dollars are no where laid befor.
The public and IT is alleged that in the disposition of
been committed What check, what control do Won
can you, now exercise over this disbursement OF
tile public treasure? Is there any department Of M,
or any other Government whose means of controing
pubic opinion are SO ample, that Is subject 10 no
check or limit? nod from its Chief now creates ~
any moment clerk wh'a salary of a ,hnuoonl
or ht'een hundred dollars or drives him from -tfice
ana you are not even consulted To the propriey of
The measure nay, YOU remain in utter 'ienorance, op
the tact, tor the annual report does condescend
give you single item in the whole mass Of these dis
RTnF Mt In al, ~
three thousand dollars arc annually paid away un-
DER e head OF ncden,a Expenses the vii Of This chef
OF Department. aud there is on this floor vim car
state tie number and The substance Of the prncIpa tens
whch compose IL All that you know of is that in the 70.
Ply par oi me mighty expenditure Of nearly millions nj
u.arS winch ls Department annually layises upon teuy
M mousand oIcer9 and agents stated he cnmno.ed f
Incidental Expenses" SIR, possible that i, can rsca
mnkng intellect, how easy part of these immense sums
might DC Pald away TO hfeng agent for eectionec inc
'ouf unne' the pTeence OF public duty l. It, dare /, h. n"
ne that there agents the ernpovmen, M hIs
the whose compensation, defaycd out Of the public n,rc
regulated by his sole control and services ara nrve,
MADE known TO Tue people their Representatives here YET,
IN auhon to all these expenditures the Department draws a.,
nuay from he Treasury the sum Of CT lg dol,,s -