Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-11-09

an. sorry say, that the germ OF this system had
its first being in the Senate. s.
The policy began in the las, year of Mr.. Adams's
administration, when nominations, made by him to-
fill vacancies occurring by death or resignation,
were postponed, by a vote of the ma lority Of the
Senate, to period beyond the fourth OF March
then next and this was done with no other view
than that giving the patronage OF these ape
pon,men,s 10 the incoming President. Tho +
nomination of a Judge Of the Supreme Court,
among others, thus disposed OF. The
regular action OF the government was, IN this
manner, dcrangcd, and undue and unlustly obtains
cd patronage camcto be- received as among the
ordinar, means of government. Some OF the gen
tlcmcn, who concurrcd in this vote, have since,
probably, seen occasion 10 regret II. But they
thereby let loose the lion OF executive preroga-.
tive, and they have no, yet found out how
they drive il back again to It's cage. The de-
hates in the Senate on these questions IN the ses-
| sion oi 1929, 1899 not public; but l
take th, occasion To say, that the minority OF tho
Senate, az il was then constituted, including, a.
monc others, myself and colleague. commended a.
cainst this innovation upon the Constitution Tor
DAYS and for weeks hut we contcndcd IN vain.
The doctrine OF patronage thus got foothold in
the government, A general removal from Office
followed, exciting, ut first, no small share OF pub
lie attention but every exercise OF the power
rendered its exercise IN the next case stu easer
till removal ut will has become the actual system
ON which tho government is administered.
!, is hardly fit occasion, gentlemen, TO go into
the history of this power of removal. Ii was de-
clarcd To exist, in the days OF Washington, by "a
very small minority in each House of Congress.
|, has been considered existing to the present
time But no man expected II to be used as n
mere arbitrary power and those who maintained
It's existence, declared, nevertheless, that It would
Justly become matter OF Impeachment, II II should
be used for purposes, such AS those to which mo
most blind among n,rst admit they have recent
" seen il habiinally applied. had the highest
respect for those who originally ooDcurrcd IN this
construction. hut discreet nen oi the day
were div dcd on the question; us Madison and
distinguished names were on one side, ana Gcrry
and other distinguished names on the other, one may
now differ from either, without incurrr,ng the I'M
puialion of arrogance, since Inc must dilier from
some of them; and l confess my judgment would
have been that the power OF removal d"i not be-
long TO the President alone; that II was but u
part of the power OF appointment, since tho power
of appointing one man office implies the power
of ,aea,ng the office, by removing another out OF
it :; and as the whole power OF appointment is gran
ted, no, to the Prcsidcn, alone, nut to the Prcsi-
dent and Senate, the true interpretation oi th'
Constitution would have carried the power Of 70
moval into the namc hands. have however, 80
recently expressed my sentiments on thls Poh'',
in another place, that i, would be improper 10
pursue this line oi observation further
In the course of the last session, gentlemen, sew
cral bills passed the Senate, intended to correct
abuse, To restrain useless expenditure, to CURTIN
tho discretionary authority of public officers, and
to % nrol government patronage. The Post-Ofht~
Bill ,hc Custom House 3 II, aud The Bill respect
ing the tenure of office were all of this class.
None of them, however, received the favorable
consideration of the other House. believe, that,
in all these respects, reform, real, honest
reform i, dec dcdly necessary to the security
of the Constitution and, while continue in public
life shall not halt in my cndcavors to produce IT.
II is time bring back the Government 10 ITS truc
character of an agency for the people. 1t is tin'o
IN declare that oiiccs created for the people, arc
public trusts, no, private spois. II slime to bring
each and every Department within It's true original
limits il is time to assent on one hand, 10 the just
powers Of Congress, in ih,ir full extent and to re-
ss,, on the other the progress and rapid growth Oh
Executive authority
These, gentlemen, are my opinions; l have
spoken them frankly, and without reserve. Under
present Circumstance, should wish To avoid any
conccalmcnt, and to state my political opn-
ions, in their full length and breadth. ! desire
no, To stand before the country as man of no
opinions or of such a mixture oiopposc opinions,
that the rcsu, has character at all On tho
contrary | am DESTROYS of standing as one who is
bound 10 his consistency by the irankcst a"
vowal Of his sentiments, on all important and n-
icrcstnc OCCASIONS | am not partly for the Con-
slitu,ion and partly against it ; am wholly for il,
for it altogether for II as il is, and for the exer-
cise when occasion requires, OF all It's ust powers,
AZ they have heretofore been exercised by Wash
ing,on and the great men who have followed
him in its administrations
| disdain, altogether, the character, of an I'M
committed man. ! am committed, fully commit
ted committed to the full extent OF all thar am,
and all that hope. 10 the Constitution OF the coun-
try, to its law and revenue, to its dcicncc ard
maintenance, to its warm commentator to every
Ameri, an heart, and o its vndicaton and just
praise before all mankind And | am committees
against every thing, which in my judgment may
weaken cndangcr, or destroy it. am committed
against the encouragement oflocal parties and
local feelings am committed against all fOst-
erins of anti national spirit; am comnltedd against
the slightest infringement Of the original compro-
mise OF, which the Constitution was founded am
committed against any aud every arrangement Of
the powers of the several departments Of the Gov
eminent against any dcrogation from the Consti-
tutional authority OF Congress, and especially a
gaina all extension Of Executive power; and
am committed against any attempt to rule the
free people OF this country by the power and the
patronage of the Cover nment itself; am commits
ed fully and entirely committed, against making
the Government the peoples master.
These, gentlemen, are my opinions. | have