Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1836-01-12


not Upon tho appropriation bills, particularly
who has the chief don,ro!, the Executive OF the
Legislative Department Sir, | refer to all the
members of the House witnesses. ask Of all
the oha6nen Of committees, of every member of
each committee, II the Executive departments do
not interfere with oui legislstionl Not always
perbsps, with the knowledge and consent or by
the order Of the President, but habiiuAly without
orders, aud always in pursuance Of their own in
tercsis.
Bu, this is dealing too much in generalities for
my own interest, and is trfing, comparatively
with subject of most serious moment. will
specify more signal and warning instance of
Executive interference with the legislative action
Of this House BY the President himself, the facts
in relation to which can verfy aud make good
before the House and the nation
Sir. the power of the Presden, over single
appointment, alone, commanded, on this floor ihir-
y-hve votes at least, in favor of one of the most
important Executive acts which ever agitaed this
country or affected its interests. On no other
question than the great Deposite Question Of last
session. ] verify believe and have reason to know
II would, If required, make oath in support of the
opinion that the majority of the House vas de-
cidedy against the act of the President in reason
conviction and conscience. But sir, the true
of the House kept in that chair, (pon'ing TO
the Speakers Chair,) with an Executive promise
in his pocket until the work Of the master was fin
ished There sat the Speaker, like cancer on
the body polite, which ramifed its roots TO more
than two or three, or two or three dozen seats on
this floor There were no less than bur Chairmen
of the principal Standing COMMITTEES With their eyes
of aspiration fixed upon that high place, each long
ing 10 be successor TO the incumbent; aud besides
these, there was another candidate, also on All i'm
portant committee. To say nothing of the sub
ordinates these committees who DO doubt were
some of them willing to have. their chairmen re-
spectively elected Speaker to create fair vacancy
for themselves it is surely moderate in calculation
to say that each of those five candidates had at
least half dozen of Jealous :riends-they were
poor indeed if they had not. Each candidate
! looked to VIVA. is here called decentralization
rotes,"--a term which imports Executive interfe.
renee, by the by-to elect him, and according to
my arithmetic, sir the five candidates with their
friends each made thirty five votes that
cording to the worth Of tho prize of Speaker 8
chair, morally certain to DO administration
rotes." Less than third of that number of
votes would, if changed from side to the other,
have changed the vote of the House on that vital
| question and presume that no one here who
| sees ard knows what we all see aud know, can
doubt that these thiryfv votes taken as the least
possible number to be affected were not influenced
! by but left free and independent of Executive in
hnence! BY the aid Of these two officers, the
! Minister to England and the Speaker of the House
of Representatives, the one Executive the other
| legslatiyc-one of whom the President appoints,
and the other he does mol actually appoint-the
President, ] suppose, was not enabled to cJnmand
majority on this floor What NAV not our Pres
A. 4
for his tool So much for Specifications, by
which let il be understood | do not intend 10 be
involved 10 any personalities.
The gentleman says that he 'Gooks to the voice
of the people!" Ay, sir, and so do I, and CO
we all. The time is now short-in due time, sill
yet little while longer, and that voice shall
come up to and 10 high places, in tones of thun.
der.
The gentleman says that | have denounced the
President Denounced the President | deny it,
SIR Twice have supported he President for his
Office, with zeal, if not ability, which might ex-
ert itself equally ardent again, under the same cir
cumstanccs. But, sir, not for the President, nor
myself, will conceal facts and truths from the peo-
pie. when they are so pointedly called for by both
the gentleman and the good of the country. Has
it to this that political truth dare not be told
lest the President be denounced Yes, sir, there
is party which makes the President "a scape
goat" for its rims, and which always take shelter
under his great name. There are those who, n
their acts be denounced, always raise the cry OF
accommodation against the President" who has al
much reason as any man | know of, to pray God
TO save him from Of his friends Why
should denounce the President in the discussion
Of this question He does not hope, call for thu
resolution. For the country's sake, hope he doe'
not desire this debaspg obsequousDess from thin
House. No patriot ask that one department
of Government shall humble itself TO another
Sir, ! hope that the gentleman himself II he op
pretended what ! do from this resolution would
withdraw It and spurn it. have that respect fol
him to believe-he knows that am personally his
friend-ihat If he foresaw tie effects which
think foresee from this, his measure, so humilst
ing 10 this House. he would abandon It al once
Bot, sr, I must say not, however, in aliusion Il
this instance that there are too many voluntary
and grstuitons offerings Of fesly aud aatery mad'
10 the President which must nsuseate him who 4
attempted 10 be faltered by them, which gall ih'
spirits Of freemeu attached to him, and which im
pair the spirit Of free institutions TO which thos'
ffeemen ave sill more attached. SIR, the under
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