South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-01-02

on all our leading measures, and upon
the aoueue" OF the "lead" of all our
measures ? The underings and all
tells US what is to be done, and what
not Upon the Appropriation bills,
particularly, who has the chief control,
the Executive or the Legislative De-
partment ? Sir, refer to all the
members of the House as witnesses.
| ask of all the Chairmen of Commit
tees, of every member of each Gem
miisee, the Executive Departments
do not Interfere with our legislation 2
Not always, perhaps, with the knowl-
edge and consent or by the order OF
the President, but habitually without
orders, and always in pursuance OF
their own interests.
But this is dealing too much in gen.
eraIities for my own interest, and is
tfifiing, comparatively, with subject
of most serious moment. | will spe-
city more signal and warning in
stance of Executive Interference with
the Legislative action Of this House by
the President himself, the facts in re-
lation to which can verify and make
good before the House and the Nation.
Sir, the power of the President o.
yer single appointment alone, COM
manded, on this floor, thirty five votes
at least, in favor of one Of the most
important Executive acts which ever
agilated this country or affected its in
terests. Ga no other question than
the great Deposite Question of last
session, verify believe and have rea-
son to know would, if required,
make oath 10 support of the opinion
that the majority of the House was
decidedly against the act Of the Presi-
dent, in reason, conviction, and con-
science. But, Sir, the trus sense Of
the Commons was stifed. The Spca.
ker of the House was kept in tina,
chair, (pointing to the Speakers
Chair with an Executive promise in
his pocket, until the work Of the mas.
ter was finished. There sat the Spea-
ker, like cancer on the body polite,
| which ramified its roots to more than
two or three, or two or three dozen
seats on this floor There were no
| less than four Chairmen Of the princi--
pal Standing Committees with their
eyes Of aspiration fixed upon that high
place, each longing to be successor to
the incumbent; and besides these,
there ives another candidate, also on
an i'm portant Commillee. To say no.
thing of the subordina,es on these
Committees, vho no doubt we're some
ofthem willing TO have their Chair
man respectively elected Speaker, to
create a fair vacancy for themselves,
!, il is surely moderate 10 calculation to
saw that each OF those five candidates
had at least half dozen Of Jealous
friends were poor indeed if they
had not. Each candidate looked to
what is here called administration
uotes,o-a term which imports Exec.
utive interference, by the by-to elect
him, and according to my arithmetic,
Sir, the FIVE candidates, with their six
friends each, made thirty five votes,
that according to the worth OF the
prize Of Speakers chair, were morally
certain 10 be administration Ostes.' y
Less than one third OF that number OF
votes would, if changed from one side
to the other' have changed the vote Of
the House on that vital question and
| | presume that no one here, who sees
and knows what we all see and know,
can doubt that these thirty-fve votes,
taken as the least possible number to
be affected, we're not influenced by,
but left free and Independent OF Exec
ulive influence /! By the aid of these
two officers, the Minister to England
and the Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatlves, the one Executive, the o.
Their Legislative-one of whom the
President appoints, and the other he
does not actually appoint--lhe Pfesi-
dent, suppose, was not enabled to
command majority on this fo,r
What may not our President do 10 leg
islatiou when he has cur Speaker for
his tools So much for specifications
by which, let it be understood, dc
not intend to be involved in aoy per-
sonalities.
The gentleman says that he "looks ts
the voice of the People !"-Ay, sir, ane
| so do l. and SO do we ALL The time Is
now short--in due time, sir-yet a little
while longer, and that voice shall come
up to US and to high places in tones OF
thunder!
The gentleman says that have DE.
NoUNcED the President. Denounced tht
President l deny it, sir. Twice have
lsupported the President for his office
| with q zeal if not ahllily which mlgh