Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-10
VIRGINIA E.ElGEsa4ATJEeE.
REMARKS o. Mr.. FONTAlNE


VIRGINIA E.EGHsa4ATgEeE.
REMARKS o. Mr.. FONTAlNE
o. THE eth OF FEERrARr,
Tn m. ssante ON tie Resolutions instructi.g the Senator'S
from Dirruin IN the Congress Of Tie United S"tes 10
introduce and rctc for rcscution directing The Ssnates
resolution of Hurch 2sth 1894 ito DC erpungea from
The journal of the Senate Of the United SnteS by caus
;uC 5ark lines to be drarn around the said resolution,
as it stands on tie original manuscript Journal and
these cords plainly erifen across the face Of he sgd
resolution and entry: ilpu"ged by order Of the Sc
nate of the United States.
The resolution of 18th March, 1894, directed to be
espunped from the journal Of the Senate Of the United
States is in these words: ResoIeed Tint Me President,
IN the late E1ecutire proceedings. IN etdo" to tic public
7eucnus has assumed himself authority and pover ROT
Of etg SsM" % ''' CONSTITUTIONS w
Mr. Speaker, since much Of the time of this ses-
sion has been consumed in discussions, which our con-
stitue mis- NAV think mi Tht nave been better employed,
was prepared to In We recorded INV this question
without debate, and 10 have relied for my Justification
with all my constituents whom could not see, on the
very full deyeoucn.ant Of tpc subject in twowteks
discussion in the other branch Of the Legislature. which
although khave not heard tae it for granted will full
~ clucidae the subject Bat we have been explicitly
informed, by gentlemen on the other side that they will
force us into the discuss aud the gentleman .rnin
Kanawha who expected 10 continue the debate,
forms you that he Cannot proceed by reason OF lnds-
position and asks some gentleman To occupy the House
for his relief, will treSpass the indulgence Of the
Senate for short time very briefly 20 the grounds
on which shall vote for his notwithstanding de-
sire to conceal from my constituents or the world my
reasons for any vote n.ay give.
In rising to support these resolutions, do it with the
perfect recollection Of the prophetic warnings hich the
party opposed to have often and sormny utter
ed, that whilst contemplate this step, there was
yawnng guph before u.s. ready tc receive all VIII, would
bndly press forward. l know i.,a politically speak.
inr that party will make that pit deep-f they Call
that he who himself into it, will the light
Of approving prop!cs countenance. know that we
have been warned That Standing the verge OF
crumbling p7cc;pica. remember all these things
and for whatever Of rcGl kindness is contained in these
cautions, tanh all my political opponents might be
disposed to lend attentive tc these ndu'anl-
tions-but forget the prophecies oi certain
political party Che same believe, now pr"p!esyng)
about two years ago. snhject intimately connected
with the present subject "t consderaon-l mean tie
Removal Of the Dep"siIcs aou remember that II was
fore,old from "gh places, that universal misery and
suffering to be felt Throughout this happy land from
that erue, cepotc net IF o@r President that political
death would be the fate Of every who dared to
tain the Administrator lr. Speaker. "you and i are
living witnesses Of the Justification Of that prophc c.
and as to the Other branch Of s!e prophecy, cannot
look abroad into our countr: any where. without seeing
abundant evidence of lis signal Justification. Believing
then, that i: is crunblng precpcr. on The verge o.
which am slanding-but firm Ground-l shall march
forward, fearlesslv relying the support Of enght
ened, just independent prope.
In discussing this subject shall not follow the
ample of the worthy Senator from Fairfax (1r McCar-
ty) by indulgng any latitude even that which might be
admissible by the Parliamentary law-but will confne
myself with the src:est rigo- t. the subject and that
TOO with all possible brevity In deciding whether the
Sena,es resolution ought 10 BE- eypunged the first qurS
ton to be determined is What the Executive pro-
ceedngs Of the President, which are therein charged
being unwa'tanted BY The " Constitution and the
laws" The President the RENEWAL of the Se
cretary who refused to do what the President believed
the public good required al his hands The second
quiry isDoes tine Senate resolution Of March 1Slh,
1884, contain the truth charging the President in
thB ft,n ,trI
and the law If succeed in proving that it dnes not
contain the truth, it regards the constitutional power
of removal but that on the contrary it is untrue, and
such is q caluany the Chief Nagstrar and further.
that in adopting that resolution, the Senate did itself
sumo power conferred by the Constitution but in
derogaton' thereof hope the Senate will agree with
me- that the resolution ought to be exPunged as we'll
for the purpose Of ,ebukng The Senate for the assump
ton Of power (and That assumption Of posrcr, TOO. tho
unholy purpose beiiers Of aiding amt atetng he
Bank OF the United SateS rs for ccing justice to an in
jured man-for you know. sir, he refused the
bic privilege of recording his defence by the side of the
charges.
On the question Of the power cc removal in fulfil.
ment of my promise Of brevy will not trouble the
Senate with an argument OF my own on question
consider clear, and which has received the slEc f
the Republican party since the existence of our
Government. will content myself with referring to
the discussion and settlement OF siis question in the
Congress of 1852 when the intentions OF the trainers
the Constitution were known and many Of them pre-
cent who were conspicuous in IFS formation-Sr If there
had not been present. many Of the trainers cr the Con-
stitution in that Congress- would not hesitate one mo.
ment 10 acknowledge the superior claims to respect
which their opinion this subject deserve. com pared
with those OF The p!esen, cay, wien party prejudice is
operating powerfully to lead the Judgment to an I'M
proper decision. On this point shall quote the decision
Of the House Of Representatives in Congress l7o and
q few short extracts from tie speech of the venerable
Madison that whose uthnrly as an ahl- ~
poun6er of the Constitution has ALWAYS been ackncw
iedged 70 be entitled tn the greatest For ys.
will only remark, that without the power of removal In
the President cannot how tie Government con,d
be administrations the President could cause ",he
Laws to be faithfully executed, required by the Con-
s,itution. 1t is 4 power which know may be abused
and for the abuse the President is liable To in,pearh
ment Mr.. Madison says g" think it aAso'nrv ,.cctssu
yY that the President should have the pawcr Of enoving
from Office: 1t will make him, in peculiar manner re-
sponsibe for their conduct and subject him 10 upeach
en himself if he suffers them 20 perpetrate with i'm
punty high crimes and msdcneanois against the L. S.
or negecfo SupcAead their conduct 10 check their
excuses. On the constitu.ionay OF the declaation
have no manner Of doubt" Again" Now ii the heads
OF the Executive Departmental sub the
President alone, haze IN him. security for the good De
hnyiour of the officers. If he dues CONFIRM la the
Judgment of the President i'll doing the Executive du.
lies of his Office, he be Displaced This makes him
responsible to the great Executive power and makes The
President responsible to the public for The conduct OF
The person he has nominated and appointed 10 aid him
In the administration of his Depaytnent.'-ln reply 10
he opinion that the Senate should have pow.
in removals they have in appointments, Mr alad
on says If You take this construction, and say, OF!
cer Of Executive Department shall moi be displaced
by and with the consent Of the Senate the President
longer answerabte for the conduct Of The officer
Iciu depend upon TIE Ssnate-yon destroy real re-
possibility, without obtaining even shadow. But