Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-05-08

as he would be useless-the shadow off
after the substance had de.
parted.
The time and the occasion which
have called forth the resolution Of the
senate, seem to impose upon me an ad
ditional obligation not TO pass il over in
silence. Nearly forty-6ve years had the
president exercised, without question
as to his rightful authority those powers
for the recent assumption of which he
is now denounced. The vicissitudes Of
peace and war had attended our gov
eminent; violent parties, watchful toI
take advantage Of any seeming usurPa.
ton on the part Of the executive, had
distracted our counsels; frequent reno
walls, or forced designations, in every
sense tantamount to removals, had been
made of the secretary and other officers
of the treasury; and yet, in no one in
stance is il known, that any man, wheth-
er patriot or partisan. had raised his
voice against it as violation Of the con.
stitution. The expediency and JUS
tice Of such changes, in reference to
public officers of all grades, have fire.
quently been the topics of discussion;
but the constitutional right Of the presi-
dent, to appoint, control, and remove the
head of the treasury, as well as other
departments, seems to have been univer-
sally conceded. And what was the oc
casion upon which other principles have
been first officially asserted! The bank
of the United States, a great moneyed
monopoly, had attempted to obtain a re
newal of It's charter, by controlling the
elections of the people and the action Of
the government. The use of its corpo-
rate funds and power in that attempt,
; was fully disclosed; and it was made
known to the president that the corpo-
ration was putting in train the same
, course of measures, with the view Of
making another vigorous effort through
an interference in the elections Of the
people, to control public opinion and
) force the government to yield to lis de
, mands. This, with its corruption of the
press, its violation Of its charter, its ex
| clusion of the government directors from
its proceedings, its neglect of duty, and
E arrogant pretensions. made it, in the
: opinion Of the president, Incompatible
with the public interest and the safety
$ of our institutions, that ii should be Ion
= ger employed as the fiscal agent Of the
y treasury. A secretary Of the treasury
), appointed in the recess Of the senate
who had not been confirmed by that bod,
and whom the president might or nigh
not at his pleasure nominate 10 them
j. refused to do what his superior in thu
executive department considered the
j. most imperative Of his duties, and be
;. came in fact, however innocent his mo
+ tives, the protector Of the bank. ANT
on this occasion it is discovered for tn,
4 first time, that those who framed the con
;. stitution misunderstood it; that the frs
q congress and all its successors have beef
4 under a delusion; that the practice o
n near forty-6ve years, is but continued
e usnrpation; that the secretary of tn,
r treasury is not responsible to the presi
dent; and that to remove him is viola
ton Of the constitution and laws, 70
: which the president deserves to stan'
t forever dishonored on the jornals of tn
NJ senate.
q There are also some other circum
stances connected with the discussion
q and passage Of the resolution, to which
q feel it to be, not only my right, but ny
/. duty, to refer. 1t appears by the jour
q nal of the senate, that among the TWEEN
ty.six senators who voted for the resolu
e ton on its final passage, and who ha'
a supported it in debate, in its origina
q form, were one Of the senators from tn
State OF Maine the two senators iron
New Jersep, and one of the senator
from Ohio. 1t also appears by the sam
, journal, and by the files of the senate
that the legislatures Of these states ha,
se.erally expressed their opinions in re
spect to the executive proceeding
+ drawn in question before the senate.
. 1.-THE protest here quotes at length the resolu
tons passed by the legislatures of Ohio, Ne,
Jersey and Maine approving the removal of tn
dsposite,, and proceeds:]
1t is thus seen that four senators hav
: declared by their votes that the presi
! dent, in the late ex scutive proceeding
in relation to the revenue, had beer
. lpuiltv nf the inone, chahIe offAnce of ssa 1