The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-14

principles involved in the measures proposed for h,
adoption uniformly discussed and settled in the
House resolution, or motion for a committee
When the majority Of the House has determined that
report by bill shall be made any subject in confomi
~ with principles thus previously established, COM
mlttee, of which the majority always friends Of the
proposed measure, is named to mature and perfect its
details The proprety Of this course is obvious, and
mas The merit of precludng some very announcement
consequences OF our practice, according TO which our
Johl'ees, instead Of being mere ministerial agents OF
'ne Rouse, are turned into sort Of sabegislatnres.
passing upon the principles OF all measures committed
'heih, and ioesalng, in degree, and prejudi-
eng the opinions Of the House According to the
suet parliamentary course committees have the merit
OF renectlng, with perfect exactness all the shares Of
ieeng ana opinion that pass the minds Of deli
berative assembly in the fluctuations OF debate-so that
there Is scarcely possibility that such difficulties both
as 10 the principles and the details Of measure
frequently embanass the proceedings Of this House after
report has been made, should arise there. The
Speaker being almost invariably elected the represent
tave OF party is expected to appoint committees
on party principles, and so il happens that the Execu
tive, where has majority in this House at the open
ing Of Congress, exercises through the Chair an in
hucnce which unknown in the constitutional monarch
les Of Europe, and is enabled through the chairman Of
our own committees to give direction to the business
OF the House, and the opinions OF the country, the
very opposite OF that which would be impressed upon
them by the fairly expressed Of majority here
g. g. the case Of the Sub-treasury. The Committee Of
Ways and Means appointed by the Speaker has repeat
edy reported BILL which has often been rejected by
the House. So far the committees, connected with
the great Executive Departments Of the Government,
are concerned there is pausiblty IN the preten-
sion that the Administration with which the great bulk
OF our most important originate ought TO have
majority OF It's friends upon them Al any rate, the
practice Is now so nSeteate that too late TO find fault
with it but surely this is why principle SO
irregular should be extended other cases. and least of
all. such cases as that House nd this
leads me back to the proposition from which dgressed
just now, which is, that if there ever was an
traordnary case calling FOR the exercise Of the
power reserved to the House. of electng its own COM
mittees that case is the under consideration
What is it, sir The Administration, through its
official organ in this House, comes here and demands,
at our hands, a committee-to do what! Why, to IN
qure how it happened that of the principal agents
OF the Executive has been guilty OF maversation In
Office What right in the FIRST place, has the Executive
10 make any such call upon this House, What have
we to do with the conduct Of officers appointed by IT.
removable at Its WILL subjected perpetuay TO its CEN
sure and superntendence responsible to il for their good
behaviour Is itself responsible TO the country through
this House! The very proposal Of such an interior
ence as this implies confusion Of ideas, which can
only be accounted for by the extraordinary development
OF the Executive power which has taken place in the
silent progress Of things and to which become
SO much accustomed that we are losing sight oil the
simplest and most elementary principles Of our Co
vernment. What is the meaning of that fundamental
separation OF the executive the legislative, and the Judi
cia powers-of what practical effect will it be-if such
system as is implied in the motion Of the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Cambreleng) should be carried
out IN the appointment of committee, according to
the wishes of the Administrations system by which
we shall be made to the responsibility OF another
department of the Government, without any OF the
powers essential to the performance OF its Duties
system by which whatever is odous in that RESPONSE
bty shall fall lot without any Of the honor, the
iUHa he eHic hat should
Sir the Constitution contempates no such confusion
and consequent destruction Of responsibilities We
placed here the associate but the antagonist not
copartners, but check and counerpose, to the
Executive. We are to watch it with jealous eye to
call it continual account to inquire to impeach, to
punish it. We are the grand Jury-the great inquest
Of the country-our business is inqusIoral We repre-
SENT in word, the popular jealousy OF power When,
therefore, the Executive asks to appoint committee
of this kind our answer, if it.confrm to the true theory
of the Government must be, 1--WE shall appoint one,
but not for your behoofwe hold you TO your whole
sponsibty under the Constitution; if we look at all
into this business, it will OF course be with view to
discover and correct your and if need be- to
visit them with appropriate penalties The very fact
that it is necessary inquire at all, requires the inqui
son to be severe unsparng, and, In some Sort even
hostile to you" With what Of color, them can
you come here, and, acknowledging by the every re-
quest you make that there is occasion for the exercise
of powers a check upon the Executive, demand,
in the BREATH that shall exercise those powers
under your dictaton and through your friends, to be
appointed in the usual way % party grounds
Sir, if stopped here, every body, think, would
agree that the argument sufficiently establishes that II
there calling for the election of com
mittee by the House itself, and not its appointment by
the Char-espccialy if it is to act on the prnepl
avowed by its friends here Of the right Of the Govern
ment to control Of the committeethat case is the
one before you But this is by means all, The ar
gument have hitherto urged would be good under any
clrcn INST How purb utnr ID n unHp
what deny the very extraordinary crcum
stances Of the present case! What are besea 1t is
now ten years since man. represented ny gentlemen
themselves laborng under the darkest imputations
and especially obnoxious to suspicion in regard to his
prudence and fidelity in money matters, was appointed
by the late President to Of the most important Pc
cunary rusts-perhaps the most important in this coun-
try. | understood the gentleman from New York,
(Mr. Cambreleng) to say that the appointment was
made against the wishes Of the party in power and ex-
pressy against those of the actual President OF the
United States. [Mr. Cambreleng assenied Well,
sir, this hardly warm in office before what bad
been foretod occurred He was deiaulter from the be-
ginning but his defacaons were at hrst, comparatively
ncouslderabe, and such might have escaped atten
ton, or been plausbly accounted for. At the end OF
four years. defauter he was, he reapponted TO
ofiicc--thc gentleman from MARYLAND (Mr Thomas)
says much against the wishes OF some OF the best
friends of the Executive, that they went SO far as to
their influence with the Senate to have the nomination
rejected tneTe-Dnt Oh lat mole neIeaHef hleI lHS
second appointment, he still observed, at first, certain
degree Of moderation for the end of another year he
in default only $4,000 so, q think but now,
hardened by habit, embroidered by success. counting
with greater confidence upon the nveteate dowsiness
Of the sentnels of the Treasury whom he had found so
long hooking their charge with snores," he plunged
desperately forward his OF fraud, and in the
Of the three last years. under the eyes Of this very
Secretary Of the Treasury, and for twelve months to-
geher during which the greater part the whole defsca-
cation occuued-under the Administration Of the very
President who denounced him from the first unwor-
thy OF any conhdence-achieved peculation mag
ncent to place hun by she side Of the great historic
punderers Of antquity,he devastators Of subjugaed
provinces One fact just brought to light aggrayates
still more the monstrous characteristics Of this
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