Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-10-26

of internal Improvement. The great aud leading
measures of the national Legislature are all resist
ed by 1T. These, strange as it may seem, depend
on the opposition for support. We have, in truth,
AN opposition without which il would DC difficult
for tho government to got along at all. APP
peal To every member of congress present land
am happy to see many here) to say what would
now become of the government, If all the mem
brrs of the opposition were withdrawn from
gress. For myself, declare my convictions
that its continuance might probably DO very short.
Take away the opposition from Congress, and let
us what would probably bo done the frs;
sion. The TARiEF would be entirely rcpeated.
Every cnacmt mt having protection by duties its
main object would be struck from the statute book.
! This would DC the first thing done. Every work
Of internal improvement would be stopped. This
| would follow matter OF course. The banls
would go down, aud treasury money agency
would take its place. TIE judiciary Act Of 1889
would DO repealed, SO that the Supreme Court
should exercise power OF revision state de-
cisons And who would resist the doctrines of
NuLLIfIcATIoN2-Look, sir, to the votes Of Con-
grcss, for the last three years, and you will
sec that each OF these things would in all human
probability, take place at tho next session, if tho
opposition were to be withdrawn. The constitu-
ton is threatened, threaten
ed by the very fact that those entrusted with
its administration who hostile to its essential
powers.
| But, sir, in my opinion, greater danger vet
threatens the constitution and the government; and
that is from the attempt to extend the po,oer Of
Inc Erecuflue at the e1pencc Of all the other
branches Of the government, and of the pcoplc
themselves Whatever accustomed power is deni-
ell to the constitution, whatever accustomed pow
or is denied to Congress- to the Judiciary, none
is denied to the Executive. Here, there is no re-
trenchment; here. it is not thought necessary to
erect barriers against corruption.
begin, sir, with the subject of removals from
office for opinions sake,-ns L think, one of tho
most signal instances Of tho attempt to extend ex.
ecutive power. This has been leading measure,
n cardinal point i'll tho course of the administra-
tion 1t has proceeded, from the first, u seated
system Of prescription for political opinions; and
tins sysesft has carried into operation to the full
extent Of its ability. The President has not only
! filled all vacancies with his friends, generally
those most distinguished personal partizans, but
he has turned out political opponents, and thus
created vacancies, in order that he might fill them
with his own friends L think the number of re-
| movals and appointments is said to be too thou
sand While tho administration and its friends
have been attempting - circumscribe, and to de-
cry the powers belonging to other branches, it has
thus seized into its own hands patronage most
pernicious and corruptng, authority over mems
means of living most tyranncal and odous and n
power to punish free for political opinions, al
together intolcrable.
! You will remember, Sir that the constitution
/ says not one word about the Presidents power of
\ removal from Office. IL is power, raised entire
ly by construction. 1t is constructive power, in
troduced at first, to meet of extreme public
necessity; but it has now become cocxtensive with
the Executive will Calling for no necessity, re-
quring no exigency. for its exercise; but to be
ercsed at all times, without CONTROL without ques-
ton, without responsibility. When the question
Of the Presidents power OF removal was debated
in the first Congress, those who argued for it, Ii
mited it to extreme cases. Cases, they said might
arise, in which it would be absolutely necessary
to remove an officer, before the Senate could bo
assembled. An officer might become insane; he
might abscond Sir, from these, and other SUPPOSE
bic cases, 1t was said, the public service might
materially suffer, if the President could not remove
4. lrtl I hat
there was little or no danger the powers being
abused, tor party or personal objects. No Presi-
: dent, 1T was hought would ever commit such an
outrage on public opinion Mr.. Madison, who
thought the power ought to exist, and to he excr-
csed in cases of high necessity, declared never
thecss, that if President should exercise the
power when not called for, by any public exigsn-
Cyl and merely for personal objects, he would de-
seroe to be impeached. BY very small majority
think in the Senate by the casting vote of the
Vice President, Congress decided in favor of the
existing power, upon the grounds which l have
mentioned. Granting the power, in u case of
clear and absolute necessity, and denying its ex-
istence every where else.
MI President, we should recooct that this qucs-
ton was discussed and thus decided when Wash
lngton was in the Executive Chair. Men knew
That, IN his hands, the power would not be abused;
nor d'd they concoiye it possible that any of his
successors could far depart from his great and
bright example, as, by abuse of the power, and
by carrying that abuse to its utmost extent, to
change the essential character of the Executive
OF the laws, into that of the chief dispenser OF
party rewards. Three four instances of removed
occurred, in tho first twelve years of the Govern
inent. At the commencement of Mr. Jeffcrson,s
administration, he made several Others not with
4 out producing much dissatisfaction; so much SO,
that he thought it expedient TO give reasons to
the people, III public paper, for even the limited
| oXteht TO which he had exercised the power. He
paced ms justification particular circumstances
and peculiar grounds; which, whether substantial
or not, showed lie; ST. that he did not regard the
power OF removal an ordinary power, still less as a
mere arbitrary one to be used as he pleased for
| whatever ends he pleased, and without RESPONSE
bity AS far as ! remember, Sir, after the early
part of Mr.. Jcffersons administration, hardly an in
stance occurred for thirty years. If there were
any instances, they were few. Bat at the COM
mencement OF the present administration the prece-
dent of these previous seized on, and u
system, regular PUN Of Government, a wcll-con-
sidered scheme for the maintenance of party pow
err 10y the patronage of Office and this patronage to
be created by general removal, adopted, and
has been carried into full operation. Indeed be-
fore Cen Jackson's inauguration the party put the
system into practice. In the last session of Mr..
son constituted majority in the Senate; and no.
limitations, made by him to fill vacancies, which
had occurred in the ordinary way, were post poned,
| ny this majority, beyond the third of March, for
! the purpose, openly aU0tped Of giving The nomina-
tim To Gen. JackSOn. A nomination for a Judge
OF the Supreme Court, and many others Of less
magnitude "ere thus disposed Of.
To he continued
tBE -NsrrrurI"NAL WING published twice a week
tuesdays and Fudaysl at EIYF dollars per apnu,r