Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-10-15
ExTRAcrs FROM THE LAws.-No. 3.

TO tine House Representatives ON the bill entitled, IAN
act to establish the Treasury Department.
ExrsAcrs FROM THE LAws-No 3.
On the 9th July, 1859, act approved, the hrst
BE enacted Sc, That there shall be an Executive
Department to be denominated the Department OF Foreign
On the 81 of September approved the first
clause follows:
BE IL enacted, sc That there shall be a De apartment
OF Treasury, &c.
Section I. BE it further enacted, That chenerer the
SECRETARY ShoH be rehoced from oce 6y me fTesi"eW
of The Uoited States any other case OF vacancy in
the office OF Secretary the assistant shall during the va
cancy have the charge and custody OF e reeous oooSs'
aud papers apperiaiung TO the SAID Once.
The passed, approved September lith, 1889,
entitled act for e>tabhing the salaries OF the
tipe officers of government, with their assistants and
cierk.;' the first clause reading thus:
"Be ii enacted sc, Tina, there shall be allowed to the
officers hereafter mcntionc the following annual salaries,
payable quarterly at the Treasury OF the United States
TO Secretary of the Treasury, $3500 To the Secre
the Department OF State, 81. $500 To tho Secie
tsry OF the Department OF War, So $780, sc. SC.
On the 18Th of September act passed changing the
name OF the Department sty led "an Executive Depart
men denomnacd the Department ot Foreign AHilrs the
first clause OF which reads thus
"Be it enacted, Sc. THAI the Executive Department
dcnomnacd the Department OF Foreign Affairs sh vi here
after be denominatcd the Department OF S,ate," SC.
Extracts from Ltoyrs Debates.
Mr. GooDHUE was decidedly agsinst combining the
Senate in this business he wished TO mike the President
Responsible for the conduct OF the officers who TO
execute the duties OF his branch OF the government
II the removal aud appointment placed in the hands
OF body, the responsibility would he esscned
Tie admitted, there was poprie,y in allowing the s. nate
to advise the President in the choice OF olcsr-; this the
constitution had ordained Tor wise purposes; but there
could be real advantage arising from the of
the Senate to the removal, but great iii dvantage it
mig begct faction and party, which would prevent the
Senate from wing proper attention 10 the pubc
upon the whole he concluded the community would be
served by the best when the Senate with
the Preslen, in the appointments butt any oversight
committed IL could best he corrected, by the
ding agent II the peculiar duty of the President,
watch the executive officers, but of what avail would
be his Inspections unless he had power correct the
abuses he might discover
! Mr.. MADISON 1t is one OF The most prominent fcn
lures OF the Constitution, principle that pervades the
whole system that there should be the highest possible
degree OF responsibility in all the executive officers there
of; any thing therefore which tends TO lessen this response
by TO its spirit and and unless it is
sadled upon expressly by the letter OF that work.
shall oppose the admission of it into any act OF the Legs
laure. Now, il the he ads OF the Executive Departments
subjected removal by the President alone we
in him security for the god behavior OF the officer:
does not conform to the judgment OF the President in
doing the executive duties OF his office, he be dis.
paced this makes him responsible TO the great executive
power, aud makes the President responsible the public
Tor the conduct OF The person he has nominated aud ap
pointed to aid him in the administration of his department.
1t is evidently the intention of the cont tuition that the
first magistrate shonld be responsible r the executive
depar meny far ther fore do not make the OH.
GERS who.are aid him in the duties that department
responsible to hun, he is not responsible to his country
The constiu ion arms that the executive power shall
be in the Pres dent: Are there exceptions to this
proposition! Yes there The constitution says that,
in appointing TO office, the senate, shall be associated with
the President unless in the of inferior officers when
this exception believe not 10 the constitution has
invested all executive power in the President venture
TO assert, that The Legislature has right diminish or
modify his executive horiy.
The question resolves itself into this Is the pow
er OF dispacng, an executive power conceive that if
whatsoever Is in its executive, il il the
Lpower oil appointing overseeing, and controlling those
who execute The laws. II the constitution had not quail
fed the power of the President appointing to Office by
associa'ing the Senate with him in .a; business would
be clear that he would have the right by virtue Of
his executive power TO make such appointment? Should
be authoriZcd IN defiance OF that clause cons
ution," lie executive power shall I've vested in Pre-
sdent, ts unite the Senate with the President in The APP
pointmen TO office? conceive not. u ii is admitted
should not be authorized do this think may be dis
pued whether we have right associate them in re-
moving persons from oce, the being much
OF an eSecu i've nature as the other and the first only is
authorized by being excepted OF the general
abshed by the constitution, in the Sc words che
tive power shall be vested IA the President"
MR. VINING, take il that the best principle is, that
he who responsible for the conduct the officer ought
to have the power of removing INN by adhering to this
principle, shall be led make right decision the
point in debate Perhaps might be equally right that the
responsible person should have the appointment of those
who to aid him. But this is qualified by ex-
press spuAtionn the constitution aud therefore be
submitted TO- Yet nevertheless, the responsibility is kept
up the President takes the lead in the business he
inmates wherefore ne becomes answerable for the off
GER But whose officer is he 2 Not the Senate's for
they have executive business 10 perform. The
tive duties all vested in The President.
| Mr.. AMEs.-The experimenting power possessed by
the President will perhaps enable him dis a base
intention before il is ripe Tor execution. IL may hap
pen that the treasurer he disposed beray the pub
lie chest TO the enemy, and irure the be-
You'd the possibility reparaon should the President be
restrained from removing dangerous officer. until
the slow iormaity OF an impeachment complied WITH
when the nature OF The rendered the application OF
sudden and decisive remedy indispensable
believe experience has convinced us that il il an irk-
business and officers frequently connu-
ed in place after they become unfit erform the duties
than turned out while their talents and integrity
full But advantages may result from keeping the power
they will Oe stimulated to do their duty to the satisfaction
of the principal who is be responsible whole
executive department
II the President is inclined shelter himself behind
the Senate with respect TO having continued improper
person in office, loose The responsibility which our
greatest security the blame among many will be lost
Another reason occurs 10 against blending these pow
An officer who superintends the public revenue will
port in the Senate, upon attempt OF the President
remove him, ii will be out Of the power OF the House.
when applied TO by the first gistrate to mpeach him
with success Tor the proving charges of NAL
conduct against him will be under the power the Off
cer all the papers necessary TO convict him be with
held while the person continues in his office. Protection
may be rendered for projections; and this officer
such extensive influence il may be exered to procure the
election of his friends These circumstances in addition
those stated by the gentleman from Jersey, (r Boudi
no) must clearly evnce every gentleman the mpro-
pretty of connecting the Senate with the President n re-
moving from office.
| Mr.. IAwRANCE.--In the constitution the heads
Of departments considered the mere assistants
Of the President, in the performance OF his executive