Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-05-06

cular nominations for reasons Of his own, whether others
concur with him In those reasons or not. tho grounds OF
the votes OF individual members can never be set forth,
nor autheniicaiy known. The committee cannot under
take any inquiry into such grounds Of Individual opinion:
nor do they kne " any torn In which the Senate itself. II
II were so inclined. could compel individuals to state the
reasons Of their votes. The committee, therefore, do not
suppose IL proper for the Senate by any proceeding 10
be adopted on its part, 10 undertake 10 sci forth the Tea.
sons OF memb rs Tor rejecting these persons. II Is enough,
that the Senate In the exercise Of an unique stionab.c con.
sii'utionai right has refused It's advice and consent to the
nominations. THIS has been officially certified TO The Pre-
s'den', aud The committee think there is no g,ound Tor
further inquiry.
The President disc'aim.. indeed. in term-, all tight to In.
quirc Into the reasonsof The Senate for rejecting any nominA.
,ion; and yet the message immediately undertakes to infer,
from tacts and circumstances, what those reasons. which in
hienced the Senate In this case, must have been, and ro.s
o % 70 argue, n'uch at large, against the validity oi such
supposed reasons. The Committee are of opinion tina, IL.
as ne PRESIDENT admits. he cannot inquire Into tho rea.
sons OF me Senate Tor refusing is assent to nomination., IL
IS Sill more clear that those reasons cannot, with prou,is.
W. be assumed, and made subjects Of comment.
i"cases IN which nominations are rejected, for reason.
Ahec"hg me character OF the persons nominated, tho
committee think that no inference is 10 be drawn, excep,
what the vote shews; that Is To say, that the Senate with.
holds its advice aud consent from the nominations =
ana me Senate, not being bound TO give reasons for its
votes IN these cases, II is not bound, nor would IL be pro
per 'or ", ne the committee think, 10 give any answer 10
remarks founded ON the presumption OF what such reasons
mus. nave oeen' IN the present case. They feel themselves
therefore, compelled, to forego any response whatever In
.ne message OF the President. in this particular. as well by
W. reasons before assigned, as out oil respect 10 that hiph
omcer. The President acts upon his own views of NH.
ne pohcy, In making nominations to the Senate and
the Senate does no more when il confirms r rejects sucb
h'i'naaons. For either Of these CO. ordinate departments
TO enter into the consideration OF the motives of the other
would not, aud could not .aiL, in the end, to break oil har-
m'n'ons intercourse bstwceu them. This, YOUR commit.
tee would deplorc as highly hi furious 10 the best interest.
OF Tue country. The President, doubtless, asks himself.
:" ue Gaze OF every nomination for office. whether the
PERSON De NJ Tor the Office; whether he be actuate,l by
corrcei views and motives; aud whether he be likely to
DC Influenced by those considr rations which should sio,e
govern him in The discharge OF his duties: Is me- homes,
capable, ami faithful! Beiup sstisfsd in ty,..a ., -,; - -
Tho President submits his name to the Senate. yher, m.
same inquiries. arise, aud is decision should be presumed
U oe dictated BY the high considerations as those which
govern tile President, in originating the nomination.. For
these reasons, the committee have altogether RETAINED
'o,m entering into any discussion Of The legal dsties and
ooi<auons OF directors OF the Bank appointed by the
PRESIDENT and Senate, which form the main tonic Of the
message. "o
The committee would not feel that II had fully .c,,;,.
ted itself OF it's obiigstions, if il did no, avail Itself nj NH.
occasion to call the attention Of the Senate TO the general
subject oil re- denomination. $500
The committee do not denv that a r,,b, ,f..,
nation exists; but they are of opinion. tba, in v.,v
cisar anu strong cases only, should the Senate rever,.
oeT,S'ons which 1t has deliberately formed and Off.
c'aiy communicated TO the President. In military and
haVsi appointments IL is possible that questions. not NJ
personal Illness for office, but OF the RIGHT of in,iviIu,is
.o RANK aud grade, may arise between the President and
oe"s'e' anu mat nominations may be rejected. pending
suc" questions, which might properly be rene ed un.
ar o'hsr laws, or a new Stale OF circumstances. And
III regard too, 10 diplomatic appointments. the ~ cs,ion
so'nen'hes turn, not on the Ii ness of the
person hominated,b but OIL the propiiety of any appoin,m.n,
W VI my suCu mission as u proposed. II ma ipf,-,,.,;.
e"o"'u De gwen, shedding new light sdii.factory to the Sc.
nate, IN such case il may be a proper reason Tor ,sresinn
70 nominations once rejected; nor will the committee saw
mat there may not be other cases in which a person once
nJee.eu may De properly again presented 10 the Senate
D"t the committee think that in a case in which the Jeci.
. ., ~ senate mas been deliberately made upon the sole
question o. tue hlness oil the persons Tor the off ces 10 " which
'hey are nominated, and its assent has been wi,hbyLi i,
ought not, without very strong and clear cason n c,,,,a.
~" e.,sio upon q denomination. The committee have
use ue journals oil the Senate TO be examined i'm refer.
fhce to the practice of re nomination, and ib.v find ,i,a,
'Su.hg the presidential terms, OF General W ashineion. MIR
John Adams aud MIR. Jefferson no instance of % monte.
y" W onee once occurred and yet there are not
wanting Instances Of the rejection of nomina,ion. ,,a,s
ny ,nose i,ius'fious citizens, the motives for which il would
U . u'hcui now 10 ascertain. To illustrate this. il is only
necessary TO select the case OF Colonel Fisblurn a 81
W an' soldier oil The Revolution, who was nominated hy Gen.
;.. as""s' as me collector OF Savannah, and was re-.
Jee'ou oy me Senate. And, although the President
was OBVIOUSLY mortified by The decision, the pomina,ion
na'"'S oeen made In a great measure upon his n ? rson,I
knowledge OF the individual, he contented bim.rIf .ner
The REJECTION. with addressing a letter to the senate. con.
tanning his reasons for the nomination of Colonel Fishburn.
individual. ""' ~ ""'"e'
During The administration OF Mr.. Madison two instances
o:u 0. re nominations oil the same persons TO the same
onees 10 when they; had originally been nominated
no''n"m S"acKenbush was nominated as an ensign and
reJected-re- nominated aud confirmed. And Geo. Rrown
was nominated a Collector tor the FIRST cole ction district Of
Maryiaiia; and alter a rejection was re- nonina,ed and
confirmed. What reasons Influenced the PresiJcu, 10 Nm
sue this course in the two instances referred 10. q r ,Le Sa.
na'e 20 concur ~ H., the committee have now no means of
NV titbt dltOn oil MT nntn
'he instances OF denomination became more frequent: Lut
seVsrai ot'bein were nominations TO military appoi,imen,s
anu III q majority oil The cases, no direct vote REJECTING tJe
nominations hal passed the Senate. The case. of re .no,ni.
nation by Mr.. Monroe, alter a rejection, were James G. ,Ls.
den, as AIlutant.G and Nathan Tow.on AZ Colonel.
Charles VandcveDter, as navy agent, and Duff Green ~
receiver; all oil which were rejected ntheir rc.uon;n,.
uon. Ihe hrst two nominations were purely MILITARY.
ano involved an interesting and difficult question of grade,
A""' ID "e opihioD oil The President, called TOR the most
minute and elaborate investigation. What no,;ves i'm.
PEELED io The denomination Of The two last. the con,,i,e.
cannot undertake to say. During the Jour wears of Air
" y. Adams administration, no instance of re .nomina.
non appears TO have occurred, unless the nop,;n,uo, ri
p""ey' whose nomination previously made by MIR.
Monroe, had been postponed, and that OF Peter S.iIIv
whose nomination ny MIR. Monroe, had teen laid unon
the 'aD'e al tie last day Of the Session, and who al ,ha
commencement OF the succeeding Executive session w as
again presented to the Senate, are TO be considered a. re-.
"ohh'nanons' eince The 81 OF nj arch, 1920, four instances
OF re- nominations, aiier rejection by the Senate, have oc.
CURED. In two Of these Instances, the persons, re.,omi.
hd'ed were sg'in rejected; in the third the nomination
was agreed TO; AND The fourth Is the case now before US
Inc committee perceive, with regret, an in,ima,ion in
~ message fiat The President NAY not see fit 10 se.d to
The Senate The names Of any o,her persons 10 be Direct.
os oil The Bank except those whose nominations have
been already rejected. While the Senate will exercise
us own rights, according TO its views Of it, duty. il will
ie"ve 10 other officers Of. the Government TO decide for
themselves on the manner they will perform their duties.
committee know no reason why these Offices should
not be hHcd, or why, in this case, no further nomina,ion
should be made, alter the Senate has exercised its upoues.
uonaoie rigbtoi rejecting particular persons who have
oeen nominated, any more tt,ao in other cases. The Sc.
ha'e wiz he ready, at all times, 10 receive and consider
any snch nominations as the President NAV present
toit- IL claims no authority 10 control him In his mimi.
hauohs, our II cannot surrender the exercise OF is own
HR"' OF "eciuipg Tor itself on the pfoptiety of advising and
rohsenu"g u appointments to Office. i, cannot, deprive
nsen !, Tvs own powers; 1t cannot surrender its own
fOnaltnt0nHI III cfn "a