Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-01-07
IN SENATE Thursday, JANUARY 2.
MR. BENTON'S SPEECH.

REMOVAL OF rHE PUBLIC DEPosITEs.
The Senate resumed the considers oil the resolutions
submitted by Mr. Clay the 26th ulmu.
The Vice President Observed that before the disc
commenced. the Chair would take state, that
expressions OF their opinions feelings by
ia the Senate Chamber III regard TO thing said ia de
bate, inconsistent with the order Of the Senste aud
could on account be tolerated Under the hope that
the officers OF the House might have in their power by
the use OF ordinary 70 suppress any such and
being indisPosed to contound the many respectable c
zcns who are obviously DESTROYS preserving the decorum
demanded by their situation, with the few who forget
full u3mndu Of their duty in this regard The Chair had
hitherto torborne direct galleries be cleared upon
the exhibition OF such iRpropeies The experience Of
the last lew days cleHsy adcated that such
feelings could not be INDUCED with safety the order
the Senate and has induced the Chair TO that there
must be perfect silence and order observed the pert
the spectators and that, il this admonion in the
degree disregardeJ the Chair would feel be duty
take efeetuai to put stop to the rreguay, by
directing the galleries TO be Immediately cleared.
Mr. Benton, said he would take leave before he took
up the subject under debate 10 vindcae officer Of the
Senate who had been unjusty assaed, and who had
the right Of speaking for himself He alluded to the Sc
creary Of the Senate Lowrie and 10 the at pub
ely expressed in open debate by Senator from entuc-
KY, Mr Cayj TO move TO expei him from his Office il he
should remove any of his clerks for their political opinions
The threat implied knowledge belief that the Secre
tary ioended 10 make such removals. when in point of
fact no such intention existed The Secretary had
every clerk in his Office which 10 il when he came
in many years He was living in the harmo-
ny with these clerks and could but feel himself deep
iy wouaaed by threat which raised implication which
had no manner Of existence. Mr. b. said that acquan
ance OF fourteen years with the Secretary enabled him
to say that he able of the conduct
attributed, by implications him that he was bpb
empfcson Of the character of christian and &c nile
man, and would console nousy discharge his duties to
the Senate and s clerks without the slightest regard
unmerited threats. Mr. B. also spoke the animadver-
sion which had been made the time, and for the
same cause, officer OF another body be Clerk of
tho House OF Representaves.) Mr.. b. was a stranger
to him. knew nothing of what he had done, had OPT.
Mons give TO his conduct but he would saw i'm vim.
dica'on OF the privileges of the House of Representa-
ves that the conduct OF their clerk belonged them,
not TO e Senate aud that it unpaame ntary for the
Senate 10 take notice OF il.
Mr. b. then proceeded the order of the day. the re-
solutions subniited by Senator from Kentucky (Mr.
Clay the removal OF The public deposies from the Bank
Of the United States and asked for the reading of the
solutions.
The Secretary reads
"Resoiued That, by dsmissing the late Secretary Of
the Treasury, because he would no contrary his sense
OF his own duiy remove the money Of the United States
In deposte with the Bank Of the United States and its
Branches in conformity with the Presidents opinion;
by appointing his successor TO effect such removal which
has been DONE the President has assumed the exercise OF
power over the Treasury Of the United States, not
granted him by The Constitution and We and danger
10 the liberties Of The people.
Rss0lDed That the assigned by the Secreia
OF the Treasury for the removal Of The money of the
United States deposited in the Bank of the United States
and it's Branches, communicated Congress the thi,d
day of December 1885, unsatisfactory and INSULT
Gent"
Mr. b. ssid that the first OF these resolutions contained
impeaebsbie matter, and in fact though in form
direct impeachment OF the President Of tho United
States he reciied the constitutional provision that the
President might be mpeached, ]. For treason g. for
bribery 8. for high crimes; Tor misdem eanors and
said that the first resolution charged both heb crime
and misdemeanor upon the President: high crime in
violating the laws and constitution obtain power over
the public treasure TO the danger OF the liberties OF the
people and misdemesnor in dsmssng the late Secre
tary OF the Treasury from Office Mr.. b. said that The
terms OF the resolution sufficiently explicit to define
high crime, within the meaning Of the Constitution
without having recourse TO the arguments and
tons used by the mover ia illustration Of his meaning
but u any douot remained that head, IL would be re.
moved ny the whoe tenor Of the argument and especs
y that part oil which compared The Presidents conduet
10 that OF Cesar IN seizng e public treasure to aid him
IN putting end TO the liberties Of his countrv and
ry Senator In voting upon 1t, would vote as directly upo
spending the question of guilty or not guilty in ,Is
concluding scene Of formal impeachment
We are, then, said Mr.. b., trying an impeachment
But how! The Constitution gives 10 The House OF Re.
representatives. the sole power originate
suon gives the accused ghtto be present; bot he is
here. requires the Senate TO be sworn az Judges;
but are not so sworn II requires the Chief Justice
OF the United States TO preside when the President 10
tred but the Chief Justice Is not presiding II gives The
House OF Representatives right be present and IN ma
mage the prosecution; but neither the House nor its ms,
nsgers here. II requires the forms Of criminal Justice
be strictly observed; yet all these forms are neglected
and violated Ills proceeding in which the first sgis
rate Of the Republic is 10 be tried without being
and 10 which his accusers to act as his judgesi
Mr. B. called upon the Senate 10 consider well vyba,
they did before they proceeded further In The consdera
what was due TO the House Of Representatives whose
privilege was invaded, and who had right send mes
sage 10 the Senate, complaining Of the proceeding and
demanding its Abandonment He eoBiured them 10 con-