Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1831-04-28
CAST Congress-2d Session.
MR.. TAZEWELL'S SPEECH.
| CoSCLUDED.

Lei me moi be mi>unde stood do not mean
Ia doubt tie power Of the President to appoin,
secret agents, when and how be pleasesi nor
d. mean 10 advante any CLAIM on tue part
of the Senate. TO participate IN the exercise Of
any such power. As a simple individual, ]
would humbly suggest to him, il might be
permitted so to do, that whenever ke stands
in need Of secret agents, who are really de-
signed 10 he such, he had better abstain
from putting his own name TO the warrant 6" en-
10 them and never to ermit il 10 be authen-
treated by the great seal Such II proceeding
NAV sometimes prove hazardous aud | think
would no, be very Creditable to the nation
whose seal it's. But as n Senator, do claim
for the Senate in the language OF the Const
luton, the right OF advising 4 conserving To the
appointment Of any and every officer oil the
United States no matter what may he his nam 4,
what his duties or how he may be instructed
to perform them. Aud it is only because Sc
cret agents are not officers of the United States,
but the mere agenis OF the President, OF of his
Secretaries, or oil his militsgy or naval com.
manders, tnat discluim all participation IN
their appointment.
II i. this distinction between officers of the
Government, and the mere agents otis officers,
which constitute the striking difference between
the case referred TO by the Senator from ILL.,
nois, and that now before US. In tDis case these
C0mmiss oners ere officers OF the United
Sstes-commissoned as such-authorized by
that commission to pledge our faith and honor
--enimed, as the bearers Oi our great SEAL TO
be regarded every where as the representatives
oil the sovereignty whose emblem It Sand TO
claim all the immunities accorded by the pub
lie Law, TO such representatives Of any power
on earth. Whereas, your secret agents IN
south America, your bearers OF dispatches or
III
mSsion-had no authority 10 pledge your ta''h
wee never 'tusied With your great sral-ano
had no, Single privilege any where, which any
Other indlvidus, cit Zen mig ht not equally well
cam. In sAort, they were mol officers OF the
ohntd States, but he messengers (eIther spe-
cal or geIeIaD Of their officers. ST., II mo- a.
nes NE, TO hear the high iunctionaiies OF the
.'"''oh degraded bya comparison with such
ee"try as these and their secret commis
s'o"s' assimla,ed TO he y arran,s VI messfn
ee''' or the secret letters Of spies. know but
que OF 'hrse Commissioners personally but o
NV" WIZ say, that the same Lofty spirit whici
,e'used TO bring his ship To Constaniinople, un
=. wan her ports tIiced up, her guns shown
"' "ef nag aud peDnaHts ali abroad, woult
"ase made him cast your parchment from hin
""h scorn, If il had even been limited, that i
"as Intended 10 constitute him any other thar
P"o"c minister vi his country, whose hon
" anu whose interest he has so proudly sus
hned.
oo', Mr.. President, The question is not whe
NV 'hese commissioners were what the Sem
". LON llnois calls public ministers, but whe
, %e' ,ney we're officers Of the United States
ae President may not make an origiua
s,p'nt OF any such officers, without ih
m;' aud consent OF the Senate. To deter
n,i.' u'' Question, you mus, hook to their CON
~'"oh' This YOU hnd in tie same form wit