Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-05-29

=, lndt the senate entertain
t, eu aeclIve objections to the confirmation
J. VI .hese four persons; and the journal, of
d "h''n 'h' president usually sees a copy.
y eou'u nov 'ail to show that each and every
e one OF ,fTih was rejected by clear ma
r lorlty OF tbet whole senate The nrecisa
,s character OF The ohjectiens taken bv each
, a'o every member of this majority, or even
d nc general character of such objections, it
. "ou'n p' pr'snmptuous in the committee
10 a'lem y .sfcertain. They cannot be
expected = 60 s3to private conference with
t member, ai.l ea,.- r.
he majority or minority, upon this or any
tber question, as to the reasons of their
votes. 1t must be obvious that. from the
consilution Of the senate, from the man.
ner OF its proceedings, from the absolute
right OF every member 10 vote for or gaInst
particular nominations, for reasons of his
lwn, whether others concur with him in
nose reasons or not, the grounds of the
votes OF individual members can never be
set forth, nor automatically known. The
committee cannot undertake any inquiry
INTO such grounds of individual opinion:
nor do they know any form in which the
senate Itself, II 1t were SO inclined, could
compel individuals to state the reasons of
helr votes. The committee, therefore, do
not suppose it proper for the senate, bv
any proceeding to be adopted on its part.
TO undertake to set forth the reasons of
members for rejecting these persons. 1t is
enough that the senate, IN The exercise of
an unquestionable constitutional right, has
refused It's advice and consent to the nomi-
nations. This has been officially certified
TO the president, and the committee think
there is no ground for further inquiry.
The president disclaims, indeed In terms.
an right to inquire into the reasons of the
senate tor rejecting any nomination; and
yet The message Immediately undertakes
10 lnIer, from facts and circumstances,
what those reasons, which influenced the
senate in this case, must hare been. and
goes on to argue, much at large, against
Inc validity OF such supposed reasons. The
committee are opinion that if, as the pres-
deht admits, he cannot inquire into the
reasons OF the senate for refusing its assent
70 nominations, it is still more clear that
these reasons cannot with proprietv, be
assumed, and made subjects of common inv.
In cases in which nominations are re-
Jected Tor reasons affecting the character
OF thepersons nominated, the committee
think that no inference is to be drawn
except the vote shows: that is to saw:
that the senate withholds It's advice and
consent from the nominations And the
senate, not being bound to give reasons for
lis vote In these cases, ii is not bound, nor
would 1t be proper for it, as the committee
ny n NJ TO RI
ed on the presumption of what such rea-
sons must have been in the present case.
They feel themselves, therefore, compelled
TO iorego any response whatever to the
message OF the president in this particular,
as well by the reasons before assigned, as
out OF respect to that high officer.
The president acts upon his own views
of public policy in making nominations to
The senate; and the senate does no more
when II confirms or rejects such nomina
TONS
For either Of these coordinate depart
menls to enter into the consideration of the
other would not. aud could not fail. in the
end, to break up all harmonious inter
course between them. This your commit.
lee would deplore as highly injurious to the
best interests Of the country. The presi-
dent, doubtless, asks himself, in the case
ot every nomination for Office, whether the
person be fit for the office; whether he be
actuated by correct views and motives.
and whether he be likely to be influenced
by those considerations which should alone
govern him IN the discharge of his duties
10 he honest, capable, and faithful? BEING
satisfied IN these particulars, the president
submits his name to the senate, where the
same inquiries arise, and its decision should
be presumed to dictated by the same hi n
considerations as those which govern the
president IN originating the nomination,
I For these reasons, the committee have
. altogether RETAINED from entering into anv
discussion of the legal duties and obiga-
tions OF directors of the bank, appointed
by the president and senate, which form
'he main topic of the message.
The committee would not feel that it had
fully acquitted itself of its obligations, if
1t did not avail itself of this occasion to
call the attention of the senate to the gene
raj subject of denomination.
The committee do not deny that right
'Iof denomination exists; but thew are of
Opinion that, in very clear and strong cases
only should the senate reverse decisions
which it has deliberately formed, and Off
/, lciol ly TOD IL,