Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-04-13

Mr. CALHOUN said: heIong, Mr. President. 10 rla,
political school which regards with lealnus eye The
patronage &" this Government and believes tina. the less
It's patronage the better. CONSISTENCY with the obircs
tor which the Government instituted. Tins think.
ing nave made political move OF any importance,
Tor the last twelve thirteen years which bad for
It's object directly or indirectly the reduction Of patron.
aye. But, notwithstanding this, | cannot bring mind
to support his bill decidedly approve ol lis object
Among other difficulties there IL constitutions! ohj"c-
ton. which cannot surmnunt. and which shall "Ith
out further rrinatSs proceed 10 state and consider.
This bill proposes 10 rct tie ypnalty Of dsmisscn
on large class al the officers u this Government who
shall elec'nr"r, or attempt To control influence the
election OF Pnblic unCnnrrICS either OF he General
State GTyCrrmrnts, without 5sn. gushing between
their official and individual character ciIizens and
the question Is. has Congress the constitutional right
pass such Law That again involves prior aud still
more g"nerat qnrsion: has this Government the autor
ty I" interfere with the electoral rights of he citizens Of
The States;
IN the .fsi place what none Will deny, that it blongs
TO The STATES separately 10 determine SHALL and " no
shall not exercise the right OF suffrage and The
cGnd that belongs 10 them, IN like Inanuer 10 regulate
that right; That s In pass all laws that be
~ 10 lis free the hand and pre-
vent It's abuse on the nher | next advance the propo.
sItIGn, which NJ one in 10" least with
situations, familiar with the CONSTITUTIONS will venture
to question: that rs far citizens c0ncsrned. his
right 6eiO0gs soey 10 The HaseS tic exclusion Of
| The Gencrni G0serHnacn' which can wise touch in
uTieTe Win IL; WITHOUT rlUScsndlDT the ri the
! Constitution. Thus far there he difference Of
! opinion
But ri'iz"n may be also officer of th, Govern.
ment which brings up the question, has Isht
make penal for him To his ujrai power control
or intueucr elections, Can il, Tor instance. make it
penal III collector, other officer who holds bond,
IN his official character, citizen, to threaten to
force It, il he should refuse to vote tor his iaVoe
d!dair: regard this proposition less clear Than
the preceding Whenever the Government invests
individual with power which may b. used Ia the injury
OF others. or The public, IS manifest HAT II onty
has the right bat that 1t IN duty bound 10 prevent it,
abuse, far practicable. Bat 1t must br borne
mind, that CITIZEN does not TO be in becoming
Fedora! officer. This Government must, accordingly
take special care in So Cing him penalties for HE
aGu.r Of his oil AL po"rt that it does interfere III
any with his prIyule rights a CiliZpn and winch
are has been stated under the exclusive control I'll
the Stairs But such taken either in this bill
or the Substitute Props~d hy It's author. Neither make
any distinction whatever between The GGciat and pirate
acts u the ctTrcr citizen The bnaGrst and most
comprehensive terms used comprrhendng and sub.
jrcliEg all acts without discrimination to character,
10 the proposed penalty Under is provisions II an oi-
iicrr should express opinion at Any candidate, say
q. President, IIo candidate Tor r. election,
whether favorable nr untUv"'abIr, or 10 whisper
opinion relating 10 his Administration, whether gpnI
bad, he would suhj"cL himself 10 lie penalty Of this BILL
certainly II he had brought The who' OF his official
power bear directly the freedom Of election That
LI, CONTAINING such broad ana ludIscrimIna;" pros"
sOus IranscenGs ie pO"erS III Congress- and violates
DIR the authority Of his State, ana gnarnu'icd by The
provision Of Tie CpGStIutrv, wIch III" IRE, dom
speech 10 all, clear, after what has been SAID,
require udGIrion' ILLUSTRATION. 1t pass without
the charging The power al the Government by the
abrdguIrni o! The rIgh;s Of The citizen
Bni may be rep red that ;i"!e instances where
the GnvcIntnenr has su! ecnI its officers la penalties
for acts Of private character, which the Constr
tuition gwen 1t Cunf" Such undoubtedly Is ,hr
fact, and It., F'ght 10 d. in lhe referred
i'll The discussion, Cannot BE- drnIrd bn all such
GSrin sulshed irou that under coGsid by ns
broad To- be mistaken IL all ni them the pro.
hlhilsd were. tn" first place. such IHcomp,;I
he with tin, official duties euj,ned ~ the OF
the prohibition OF c"mimssarra 10 purchase or deal
~ articles similar 10 those that made their official
duty purchase, in order prevent fraud the pub
hc And in the next the nets prohibited, involved
~ civil rights, belonging 10 the officer, individual
aud not political rights, which briung to him as Cit
zen. The iurIMcr he rGay yield Al p assure, without dis
credit Or disgrace, but lie LATER he cann" surrender
without drhaslng hlmse!t. aud vIu. up sacred trust
vested III him. by the Stale 81 hch ne ,tmher iur
the COMMON good, can this Cover nneEt demand its
surrender, without lransC,nug It's powers and InirInE
iug the rights 81 the States ar.G their Cr,z"as
It may aso be- said that cHsrs, wruld bp mn
possible Distinguish between the otIcin and the p'
teal q" The "c"r. In subject the former to
m, restraints interfering with The halter and hat
would practice rencrf III :t ciyr the admitted right
of the Government To punish It's officers Tor III" abuse of
their official pnwc:s II may b" b. lGil. evil
c.n result harv,r G,ec; OF right this Government
may labor under in such cases, amply made up by
Ia" plcnay power OF ll," states which has unlimited
control The electoral rights Of It's ctr2"nS, WHETHER
officers Of this Government OF not 10 them the sub
jral may be safely confGd Is is they who are PAL
l!cuariy Interested In seeing that right sacred
shall not BE- abused, nor the iferdom of election be
impairpd We Forget that S;aes aud the PEG
pie Of the States constituents and supPrI"rs and
We but their agents. and that II the right in question he
abnscd or the freedom Of election impaired, II is they
and moi We, who mainly suffer, and who Of course
arc the best Judges Of The rv! aud the remedy. II the
pncy Of the States demands It, They may impose what
ever RESTRAINT they please the Federal officers within
their respective limits, IN order guard against thrrr
control or influence in elections; and # be necessary
To- divest them entirely nj the right ut Surage To
those who are much interested and competent
to iuage and act this subject than are am for
ravinp the decision what ought TO be done. and
the application of the remedy Entertaining these views
am forced The conclusion that this bill IS uncons
iuonaI and there other reason L. oppose It's
! passare would be compelled To vote against IL
! Bu there are others sufficiently decisive 10 compel
me TO withhold my support, were 1t possible to remove
the constitutional objection Su far from restricting the
! patronage of the President, shoad the ball become
! law il would if ] mistake not greatly increase lis
! influence He has nov The almost unlimited power vt
| removing the Officers Of this GOVERNMENTS power,
the abuse of which has been the subject OF much and,
in nv opinion, Of just complaint the part OF the
cha nbcr which Tie Of this bill belongs on 'e
ground that il calculated 70 increase unduiy the
power and influence Of that department OF the Govern
men Now. what is the remedy tins bill proposes Tor
The very To make II The duiy rs II 10 n"E the
rirh, OF the Presdento remorc and IN dl3chagng this
high duy lie is made the sole Judge, without! limitation
or appeal The fate of the accused would br exclusively
in his hand whether charged with the offence OF opp
ing or supporting his administration Can any one, The
least ccHvcrsant with party morals or The working ~
the human heart doub, bow Inc law would be executed:
Is il not certain that 1t would be most rigdiy enforced
AGAINST all officers who should venture 10 oppose hnl,
either in the Fedora! or State Governments win cor
responding indulgence and lenity towards those VINO sup
c,r,rd hjm a single view without proongIng tir os.
! cusson will decide Should there be ffss!oehl oi
such exalted virtue and patriotism as :" nake no oscti'
| nation between friend and loe the ia" WIZ" W Pre-
-. Ln, IS M, II would be made the prsext for in
discriminate removal of all, who may refuse TO become
- aaroled naIsans; and u would thus prove