Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-10-30
WHOLE NO. 1877.
From the National Inteliigencer.
REMOVALS FROM OFFICE.

No subject occasioned longer and
mole serious debate in the first session OF
Congress under the present Constitution
ol the Unitcd States, than this. Some
members insisted that the trainers of the
Constitutions, intended that the Heads Of
Department, like the Judges, should hold
their Offices during good 6ehariorr, and
be removable by impeachment only
Others were Of opinion, that, in case Of
incapacity, or Of such sickness or aliena--
ton OF mind as should disable the officers
from fulfilling their duties, they ought to-
be removed by The President, by and ,riih
the adrice and consent Of The Senate, (the
authority which appointed them,) while
others thought that the President alone,
as the Chief Executive Officer, ought to
exercise this power
Having in the press, for publication,
the Debate of the Fmst Congress. We
have been much interested in the iInpor-
tant discussions Of the first session. We
bave been surprised to find how very
correctly the difficulties, that would
there after arise from placing the power
OF removal from Office, in the hands ol>
the President alone, were portrayed
have been so nearly realized, as to ap-
pear more like prophecy, than unreason-
able jealousy OF the exercise of legiti-
mate power, which they were then thought
! by many to be. Witness the following
remarks on an amendment offered by Mr.
WHITE, (from Virg ginia,) to strike out Of
the bill for establishing the Department
of Foreign Affairs, the clause making the
Secretary removable by the President
Of the Unite. States.
MIR SMITH, South Carolina who con-
tended that the Heads of Department
could be removed from office by I'M
peachmcnt only, said: We are not al
why's to expect Chief Magistrate in
whom such entire confidence can be
placed as in the present. Perhaps gen.
tlemcn arc SO much daZZled with the
.Hiendor Of the virtues of the present
President, as not to be able to see into
iuluiity. The trainers of the Constitu,,
ton did not coniine their views 10 tne
first person who was look ed up to fill the
Presidential chair. If they had, they
, might have omitted those checks and
guards with which the powers Of the Ex-
ccutive are surrounded. They knew,
from the course of human events, that
:. they could not always expect to be so
% . highly favored of Heaven as at present
q They supposed man might get into
y power, who, it was possible, might mis-
= '. behave. We ought to follow :heir ex.
.. ample, and contemplate this power in the
= hands Of an ambitious man, who might
apply it to dangerous purposes. Ii we
- = give this power to the President, he may
! from caprice, remove the most worthy
y y, men from Office. His will and pleasure
y ~ will be the slight tenure by which an Of:
" flee is TO be held, and OF conse qucnce
~ you render the officer the mere State de.
pendent, the abject slave of person who
may be disposed to abuse the confidenc,
- his fnllow-citizens have placed in him
Is there not danger in making your Sec
retary of Foreign Affairs dependent up
on the will and pleasure of the Presi
dent? Can gentlemen see the danger
A. on one side only Suppose the Press
ly dent averse to a just and honorable wa
Is, which Congress have embarked in, cal
he he not countenance the Secretary Of Wa
iy (fer it is in contemplation to establish
ch such an officer in the waste Of publ,
ng stores, and msapplic alton ofthe supplies
n Nay, cannot he dragoon your officer in
nd to compliance with his designs, b,
threatening him with a removal, by which
his reputation and property would be de-
IS, stroyed? If the officer were es.ablishet et
I'd on better tenure, as would dare to b,
is honest; he would know himself invulne
rable in his integrity, and defy the shaft
- of malevolence, though aimed with Ma
chiaveliau policy. He would be bar
rier TO your Executive officer, aud sav,
the State from ruin.
o" Mr.. GERRY Massachusetts, though
~ the power Of removal from office ough
). to be in the hands of :hose who appointed
., to office, to wit: in the President, by and
., with the consent Of the Senate 1t ap.
'u pears to me (said he) that permanency
VI was expected in the Magistracy and
therefore the Senate were combined in
hd the appointment to office. But if the
President alone has the power or remo-
l., val, ii is in his power at any time to de-
ne stroy oil that has been done. Such q
'' principle would be destructive of the in
tention Of the Constitution, expressed by
= giving the power Of appointment to the
Senate. Ii also subverts the clause
on which gives the Senate the sole power ol
nd trying impeachments, because the Pre-
sident may remove the officer in order to
screen him from the effects Of their judg-
ms ment on an impeachment. Why should
ne we construe any part Of the Constitution
u IN such manner as to destroy its essen
tial principles, when a more consonant