Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-01-11
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON
To the Editor of the ~ Y. Courier f Enquirer:
WASHINGTON. D. c.. January 9Th, 1894

w ASHINGTON, u w., JduudIy olii,
Congress have now been in session more tnan
q month, and no nomination of Secretary OF
the Treasury has yet been made. This is the
more unwarrantable, inaSmuch as the PreSl-
dent has had since the last adjournment, three
secretaries, viz Mr.. McLane Mr.. Duane and
Mr. fancy. The refusal or neglect to make
nomination to the Senate, at an early perlod
after their meeting where vacancy has peen
created is an assumption of power, not defen-
sible 1t is true, the commission granted by the
Executive, during the recess, may continue
until the end of the next session. This pro-
vision was intended to guard against contingent
ces which might occur, in cases where the ON
Ger resided at a great distance from the seat OF
governments or was employed in foreign
country. The object was to give certainty
and legality to all his acts, until he should have
been duly appointed, "by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate" But it never was
contemplated, to grant the President the power
of removing all the public functionaries, and
appointing Others at his pleasure, on the 9th
of March, 1888, to be continued until the 9th OF
June 1884, period ofone gear and three months.
And yet, such is the power which the present
advocates of Executive infallibility claim for
him. and in conformity with which, ne is now
acting A doctrine too monstrous to be tole-
rated.
The Kitchen Cabinet is convulsed with the
most agonizing throes on the subject OF new APP
4
inc for the block is Col Ashton, marshal OF this
| district The Colonel is to be removed. That
| portion of the Cabinet which is under the man.
aGement and control of DR.. Jones, the postmas
| ter have determined on Mr.. Thomas Cochran
| as the successor of Mr. Ashton. But there are
| difficulties to be overcome, and the Senate is
| not the least of them. The whole appointing
| power will soon come under review. The COM
| missions of Mr. Duane and Mr.. fancy may cast
some light on the subject. Mr.. Cochran is SAID
to have been very instrumental in procuring
the removal of General Mercer and the appoint
| ment of Major Eaton, as President of the Chesa-
| peake and Ohio Canal Company. This is, GER
tainly, strong recommendation to one branch
| of the government, but not equally satisfactory
| TO another whose advice will be required
This difficulty, however, can be avoided, by
waiting until the Senate adjourns, and filling up
| the vacancy for year.
Colonel Ashton will have no right to COM
| plain of if he should be removed, because he
well knows the game that was played towards
MIR. Tench Ringgold, his predecessor. 1t is a
notorious fact and | believe within the know
ledge of Col Ashton, that the President exhibit
| ed towards Mr.. Ringgold, up to the hour of his
removal the most unremittng kindness and at
tention, protesting friendship for, and desire
! to serve him. So warm, and so cordial were
these professions, that fortyeight hours before
he was dismissed, neither he nor his friend be-
| lieved that he would be thus unceremoniously
thrust from Office; and the more especially, as
the late President Monroe had asked of General
Jackson, as a personal favor, that he would con-
tinue MIR Ringgold as marshal. Colonel Ash
toms day of deliverance, however, is near at
hand He will then have leisure to mediate on
the virtue of sincerity