Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-05-15

,urouoht. in almost every instance, in their poll
tica character and principles; staunch republl-
cans converted in year OF two, into rank con-
Isolidationists! Whether the change be effected
bv the perfllmed atmosphere of the court the
differing stars, orders, insignia, &c. that cap
fvate the fancy, or the habit of only hearing of
the Federal Union, as National Government
and hearing no mention Of the States as COM
posing If. shall not undertake to say; but
have list, and were it not inviduous, would
put my finger on the names especially OF the
southern gentlemen who have undergone TINS
unhappy conversion. But, sir, it is not merely
spelling the good republicans you send abroad,
but the tendency of the system is to spoil your
good Presidents that your $25, 900 keeps at home-
Nothing has been considered more f1atterlng
through all ages, to the vanity OF kings ana mo
narchs, and ali the tribe, under whatever name,
who exercise the chief executive ociice, .laii "
be surrounded by large bevy OF representa-
tiyes of foreign countries. Their brilliant, gau-
DIV. laced. jewelled and plumed hnery, ADDS
vastly TO the giided show of an American IRE
sident's soilies and Lerees, and he Qf vain, ia
tuitous old man) would be tempted to multiply
useless missions abroad, under the expectation
that the courtesies of foreign nations Wouid
make a return in kind, and by that means sur
round the President with mimick court OF MS
own 1t is wrong, sir, altogether wrong! OuuS
are plain people, and this fudgery is utterly
unsnited to their taste. repeat sir, that our
system of foreign intercourse IS radicaly WiohS'
unsuted to an agricultural, distant, peaceiui re-
public, useless, at the pest corruptiiS ~ its te
denotes. of our officers abroad ana AT nome;
and that if will be a god-send it they do not, as
fonr of them were near doing, embroil US with
foreign nations.
The policy of this country, Mr.. Chairman, in
regard to foreign nations, consider as liked
and established by public opinion: that IS, to
cultivate friendly commercial relations with the
-boIo hnt tn ha nOltlcdl
or connexions with any foreign government
whatever To attend to our commercial rela-
tons, reiterate, our conSulS are amply compe-
tent
1t has been said, sir, q think by the honora--
BILE Chairman of the Committee OF Ways and
Means) that this is not the proper place, time,
occasion or manner of opposing the system OF
foreign intercourse and foreign missions.
crave pardon, sir, for entertaining an opposite
opinion: under favor, think it is precisely the
place. time, occasion and manner, most ut and
proper for opposing the system itself, as we'll as
the mode of making appointments under 1t
NY leading motive, and am not so squeamlsh
as not to avow it, is to restrain the PRESIDENT
within the constitutional limits Of the appointing
power; to compel him by means OF specific
and limited appropriation, to consult the SENATE,
to which body the Constitution and the people
have confded a moiety Of the appointing pow
er before he sends ministers on all sorts OF er-
rands and to all sorts of places intend, be-
fore this clause is disposed Of to move an
amendment restricting the expenditure to ap,
pointments made 'by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate" That is the Consttu-
ton, sir, and intend to sustain the Senate IN
the maintenance and exercise OF the powers
confded to it by the people, to the utmost OF my
poor ability; and if this amendment be rejected,
shall vote for striking out, according 10 the
motion Of the gentleman from Connecticut MI.
FooT) the entire appropriation.
Butitissaid, the annual appropriation bill is not
a proper occasion to make war on these abuses.
When or where else can | contest it? II the
Committee on Foreign Relations had reported
separate bill, Gas | think the better plan)
and had permitted the appropriation bill to
contain nothing but those expenditures estab-
lshed and regulated by law, should have sad
so too, and acted accordingly; but instead OF
that, they are crammed into this bill, and am
not allowed to choose field even between Phar-
salia and Philippi. But sir, the appropriation
BILL or vote of supplies, is fit time and occa-
sion, and the very best means of checking Elk
ecutive abuses and usurpations The power
over the supplies is worth in practice, all your
parchment and paper constitutions; it has been
the great conservative principle ofEnglish liber
ty in all its struggles with the crown, through
out the long line Of her usurping Planta-
genet Kings her treacherous Stuarts and stub
born Guelphs
Sir. it is the Spanish Ditto curb rampant ex-
ecutve power here as we'll as in that iustrlous
country from which we obtained some OF the
soundest principles and safeguards of liberty.
tits the best hold that the people have upon the
rein, to check abuse or usurpation OF power;
and as long (and it will not be long) as am
entrusted with portion OF that power as their
representative, | shall hold fast to it for their
benefit and put it to stern and practical purposes
Yes sir, withhold the money OF the people from
their proud, forgetful servants and the ram
pant lion becomes as gentle as the timd lamb!
1t is said that this appropriation for the sala-
ries and outfits of Minister'S is small and neon
siderable and indeed, that the salaries OF all
our Foreign Ministers are too low, and altogeth-
er insufficient to sustain the dignity OF their dip
lomatic character in their association with those
of other countries. In regard to the first, an
swer, that no matter how small the approprla-
ton, (but thirty six thousand dollars is not so
very small sum- it does not avoid the neces-
cessty of obtaining the consent of that consulta
tive branch of the Government established by
the People, Asst respects the supposed lnsufh-
cheney of the outfit and salary, | am not pre-
pared to decide from any specific information;
but this | will saw that he who seeks an office,