Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-01-01


az pentIemar, entertaining similar views with
himself concerning the Bank then asked MIN %
,v;tbdraw It: and. on an assurance that ne "ouid
renew the motion before he sat down, that inuu'-
sence was reluctantly granted to him. YET o'r'
ye are charged now with adeslre to avoio DISCUS
sion! The charge cannot be sustained. IL IS
not true, Sir. We desire sitting develoPemeh'
of the affairs of the Bank. terminate as II may.
We desire full examination OF all the charges
made against it, We are ready tor full discus
sion, whenever we shall have report from tne
Committee on the subject. But maintain tnat
the instruction which it is now proposed 10 give
TO the Committee in advance, Is he that ought
only to be given if at all after full examination
Forced as he, and those with whom ne acted'
were. prematurely, into this discussion, Mr.. +.
said, he trusted he should be pardoned for occu.
plying the time of the House in answering re"
Of the arguments of the gentleman who had IN
troduced this discussion. 1t delay be the con-
sequence-if ruin be the consequence, said Ml.
p, the responsibility rests not upon US: ana II
II would be allowed US now to take vote upon
the question, would resume my seat, and let
the question be taken. know not, sir, hoi0 this
discussion may result. Its prototype, moved by
the gentleman from Kentucky, the mover was al
lowed to hang speech upon, and then It was
withdrawn Whether this proposition is to take
the same course, sir, have no means OF know
ing. The event will show.
The gentleman from South Carolina (said Mr.
P.) opened his argument by assuming that the
public deposites had been unIawfulIy removed
from the Bank of the United States; that the
President is, by reason thereof, an usurper, and
a tyrant; and he informed U.S. that this was the
great Constitutional question we were about 70
examine. Yet, Sir, the gentleman did not think
il proper to furnish US with any OF the arguments
by which he maintains these propositions, but
seemed to regard them as seif-eVldent. IL IS
true, the gentleman was unmeasured IN the vIo'
ence Of his charges against the President. He
told us that he had trampled the Constitution IN
the dust; and he seemed TO be as much enraged
on tine occasion as the Dutch bully he spoke OF
was with the lottery wheel. and ready TO strike
the administration into smashes: and with about
as much reason. The political wheel had turned
out badly for the gentleman. But II, perchance,
it took another turn; if star should be IN the
ascendant from new quarter; II he shouio draw
the prize, in word, why, then, Sir, II would be
"as fair thing as ever was"
1t is easy, Sir, to say hard things 1t is iOrtu-
nate, however. for the Chief Magistrate OF this
country, that his character is placed at such an
elevation that it requires no aid from the Repre-
sentarives of the People on this floor to sustain 1t
when assaed. He is above the reach and pow
er of any remarks made here.
But, Sir, it is said that the President is an
usurper tyrant, sc. for having removed the
late Secretary Of the Treasury This argument
supposes that the Secretary of the Treasury Is
responsible TO Congress, and not to the President
for the manner in which he discharges the duties
of his office Now, Sir, undertake to affirm
that the Secretary Of the Treasury is not only
oC Do of Init d
Statcs-but, if Congress were to pass law to
make him SO, they would exceed their power,
and the law would tie void and Of no effect. fho
Secretary IS not only not independent OF the Elk
ecutive. but it is not in the power OF Congress to
make him so By whom is the Secretary of the
Treasury appointed? Not by Congress The
law creates the office, but the appointment to 1t
is made by the President of the United States,
with the consent of the Senate. beg pardon,
Sir, for entering upon question here which has
for forty or fifty years been considered settled
question Does the gentleman mean-do those
who think with him mean, that the President has
not the power Of removing from Office the Secre-
tary of the Treasury? BY whom is he appointed!
By the President of the United States, with the
advice and consent Of the Senate. The Presi-
dent, says the Constitution, 80 shall nominate,
and, by and with the advice and consent OF the
Senate, snail appoint Ambassadors, Other puoi'c
ministers, and consuIs; judges of the supreme
court, and all other officers Of the United States
whose appointments are not herein otherwise
provided for, and which shall be established by
law. But the Congress may, BY law. vest the
appointment of such inferior officers as they
think proper, in the President alone IN me y.
courts of Law, or in the heads of departsments."
The Heads of Departments, therefore, are not
"inferior officers, and the power Of appointment
is not, and cannot be, in the President alone, or
IN the courts of law, much less in Congress. -
Further, Congress cannot by law acquire the pow
err Of controlling the appointment of Heads OF De-
partments. Under another clause OF the COnstl-
tuition, Congress may indeed appoint their own
officers; but they have no power over even the
manner of appointment of any other than 'inferi-
or officers in any other department of the Govern
ment.
By what tenure does the Secretary of the Trea-
sury, when appointed by the President, hold his
Officer Although there IS no express clause in
the Constitution authorizing his removal from Of
flee at the pleasure Of the President, yet the pow
er to remove him flows from the nature of the
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