Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-04-29
CONGRESS-.

Mr.. Calhoun presented memorial from
David Melville, complaining that he had
been removed from an Office held by him in
the custom house, Newport r. |. as weigher
and gauger nearly ten years; that he had
inquired the reason for such removal by the
collector, and it was intimated to him, that
the collector was compelled to remove him,
as he had not qualified himself, or disqual-
fled himself, from voting at elections in that
State, by the sale Of his freehold properly.
He had applied to the Secretary of the Treas
ury for redress which was not afforded him,
and who refused to communicate any reason
or justification for this act, which he (Mr. O.
denounced as one of the grossest oppression
that had ever come to his knowledge. 1t
appeared that no Office was too high or too
low to satiate the desire to prescribe those
who would not become the mnions Of the
executive The memorial fully laid bare
the party machinery by which elections were
managed BY a combination Of demag ogues,
and the case was one that claimed serious
investigation. The man removed |was ac-
,knowledged TO have discharged all the du-
ties of his Office with zeal aud fidelity.-He
moved the reference of the memorial TO the
Committee on Commerce.
MIR. Clay stated that if the facts presented
in the memorial were true, it presented
case of the most aggravated and arbitrary
oppression. But there was difficulty in
the way, which he suggested that those Sen
alors who espoused the e1pungiag doctrines
only could remove. The only remedy for
the evil was impeachment OF somebody,
whether Collector, Secretary of the Treas
ury, or it might be found 10 reach the Pres
ident himself Ought not Senators who
maintained that doctrine to raise the prelim-
mary questions Ifthe remedy was as he
stated, one to be reached only by impeach-
ment, it was memorial which they ought
not to vote to receive They could not con
stitutionally receive it. He threw this out
that Senators might test the efficacy of their
own doctrine, and act upon it instanter.
Mr. King of Ala. remarked that no one
who knew him would suppose he would
sanction any act of oppression. He rather
suspected this took place during the admin
istraion of Mr.. Secretary Ingham, who GER
tainy had not proved himself the most SIREN
uous and consistent supporter Of the Admin
istration. He considered the Senate dis
charged their duties best, by receiving all
petitions, even those for abolition, and he
could not act on the suggestion Of the Sen
ator from Kentucky
Mr.. Grundy knew the Collector to be so
honorable man, that without further evil
dence he was compelled to disbeieve the
statements made.
Mr.. Niles ridiculed the idea that there
was any oppression in the case 1t was the
simple case of custom house officer re-
moved by the competent authority, by and
xuith IF ,,,ft ha
Treasury. There was primG facie case
then, that he had been rightfully removed
AS 10 what was said about impeac hment
for it, he believed there were just as good
grounds to impeach for this removal as there
were for the removal of the Deposites. The
memoriolist talked of party prescription, of
demagogues, tyranny and oppression; what
interest had the Senate in such matters
Why did he not tell a simple story, and not
mix it up with politics2 No he rather
wished to send it here for political purposes,
and he had sent ii to be presented by the
Senator from South Carolina, who wished
to deny to the President The power of re-
moval from office. He contended that there
was no violation Of law in the removal but
that it was in accordance with that principle |
on which the government ought TO be con-
Quoted. rotation in Office. This was doc
trine different from that held by the Senator
from South Carolina, who rather maintained
in his report on the subject, that Office ought
to be freehold-a perpetuity.
Mr.. Goldsborough said, to avoid any diff
Guilty as to the suggestion thrown out about
impeachment, and as similar memorial
would doubtless be presented to the House
oil Representatives II was desirable to post
pone action on it, he moved TO lay the me-
mortal on the table; but withdrew i, in ia
vor Of
Mr.. Knight, who rose to state that al
though he personally knew nothing of the
facts in the memorial yet that he knew Mr.
Melville TO be highly respectable man.
Mr.. Hubbard said that there was no allie.
cation that the petitioner was improperly
removed, but from the remarks made he
presumed it was intended TO make the Sec
rotary of the Treasury Mr. Woodbury., an |
object of attack. He knew him well, and
would vouch that he was utterly incapable
of being concerned in transaction OF the
kind stigmatized by the Senator from South
Carolina. He would vote for the reference
Mr.. Calhoun insisted that il was the duty
OF the Secretary of the Treasury, as the
facts were related 10 him, to have nvest-
gated them If they were correct, he GER
tainly was to blame for not affording redress,
or removing the Collector. Was he to
understand that it was to be principle avow.
ed that officials were to be justified in dis.
charging faithful officer because he had
no vote, or would not obey party mandate
I'll L.