Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-01-03
POLITICAL.

From the Norfolk Beacon Dec. 30.
Ii will be remembered that ga meeting of the Friends
of State Rights opposed to the present Administration
held at the Court House short time since, VIXEN
Committee was appointed TO communicate with Capt.
Enmcrson, to his views certain political questions
The following correspondence the result:
FROM THE COMMITTEE TO CAPT. EMMER-
NonroLK, November Goth 1874
DEAR SIR: At recent meeting of the friends of
States Sights in this place the undersigned appointed
Committee your opinion upon such Questions
might to them of interest the party which
they represent and in the discharge of the duty thus
imposed upon them they respectfully submit the follow
ing subjects of inquiry upon which they ask be made
acquainted with your views.
TO the body which the undersigned represent as well
TO the whole nation, il is matter Of peculiar i'm
portance to know the opinion of candidates tor their re-
presentation to the in which the powers of
the Federal Government are to be exercised; and re-
gardlng the prominent gentlemen, ia nomination
Tor the Presidency opponents of derent modes of
administration they desire TO be able inform their con-
stituents which of these gentlemen would be the object
OF your preference in the of the election devoly-
ing upon the House of Representatives
From the declaration and acts of the present President
oil the u States the undersigned infer that it is his OPT
MON that most of the officers of the Government are his
officers, subject to be by him removed without reference
TO the fidelity with which their official duties have been
performed and they refer you 10 the dismissal the
late Secretary of the Treasury, VIM. j. Duane as a
practical illustration of this principle The undersigned
desire to be informed whether you regard the power of
removal conferred upon the President, for the pur
pose of protecting the country from the malfeasancc or
mbecility of its agents or as means of punishment for
non-c conformity in opinion with the President
1t is substantially asserted by the President in his
Protest. that IT is not competent to the Senate of the u
States to review pass upon the acts of the Executive
branch of the Government nasmuch the Constitution
clothes the Senate with the power try the President
in the event of his impeachment by the other house of
Legislature; and any expression of opinion therefore
pre-judgmen OF his Do you in the OPT
non that the power of the Senate TO express an opinion
upon the official conduct of Executive officer is re-
strcted 10 the single of the impeachment of that
officer
Do you regard the President of the United States as
the sole guardian of the public treasures
Do you not consider that the Federal Government
can iegmatey exercise power, which is not either
expressly delegated to it in the Constitutions or necessa
ry and proper TO eicctuate some delegated power9
Do you not regard it TO be the duty Of the Representa-
tive TO obey the instructions of his constituents upon all
questions of expediency, preference and to vacac
his scat in the representative body, when he is de-
sired by his constituents to do act deemed by him
violative of the Constitution
In conclusion, the undersigned beg assure YOU that
II IS their sincere wish and the desire also those whom
they represent TO sustain you in the approaching con-
test against their present Representative; and they hope
and believe, that coincidence Of opinion upon the mpor
tant subjects TO which they have called your attention
will unite the States Rights party in your support
Respectfully, your obedent servants
JNO. N. TAZEWELI.
WIN. II. MCFARLAND, ( Coarggittc.
II j. GWATHMEY,
Addressed to ARTHUR EMMERsoS ESQ.