The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-04


UNITED STATES SENATE.
"a 4 TUESDAY. june q
Mr.. SMITH, Of Connecticut, presented the creden
tiaIs Of the Hon. JABEx w. HuNrrSoToS, Senator
let from Connecticut for the unexprcd term Of the
Istr Mr. BErrs Mr. ii. was then duly qualified, and
took his seat.
passGslpsIos soa esanlos's sAxE. s,sas.sss.s
Mr.. CLAY, Of Kentucky, presented the memorial
Of Gen. james G. Reynolds, late postmaster a Rey-
noLdsburg, Ohio. 81 s. .4 s sis si4As, n
M c. stated that he had been requested to present
this petition after other Senators had been requested
and had declined to present i and which he accord
inply now presented, though he was aware that the
petiiioner under existing circumstances, could have
no practical remedy.
fhe case was one Of respectable man, high in Of
fee in tho militia ofthe country having been disnissed
from his office deputy postmaster by another subor
dinate officer, the late Postmaster General AND
when through member Of the House Of Representa-
tiyes he applied the Department to learn the rea-
sons OF his dsissa the answer was that representa-
tons had been made which showed the Dismissal to be
proper but the Postmaster General did not choose to
throw any light those representations, or TO state the
reasons for his dismissal
This Mr.. g. emphatically described an injury,
not merely on account Of the party being deprived OF
his emoluments but more especially on account OF the
candesne stain thus put upon his character and the
injustice done him by refusing him all opportunity TO
yindicate his character. And it, was probable he
was dismissed for difference in political opinion the
case was no better Mr.. O. spoke with great earnest
ness against the existence and the exercise OF 80 ire
sponsi6e power which refused even the reasons for
its arbitrary measures t
In connection with this Mr.. c. read the paragraph
from the Baltimore paper in regard TO the court Of in
ouiry at Barnums, under the direction Of Gen. Wool
This Mr.. c. characterized most extraordinary, and
as tending TO the most detestable results
Rcqrctting that in this there could be no re-
mcdy Mr. G. moved, the only disposition that could
be made Of the memorial, that Il be laid the table.
MIR ALLEN with great emphasis, denounced the
notion Of once in Office always in Office and from the
fact that every effort is made TO the President
of the Unied States and other representative officers
he argued with great earnesness that il perfectly
proper all officers Whatever, differing in OPT
Mon from the party in power; and he quoted w ash
ngton as authority in favor ofthis doctrine The re-
movals of this and the late Administration he insist
ed, had not been onc-tcnth Of what were demanded
by the people. Mr.. A. also made wholesale de-
nunciaton 0. the banks.
Mr.. CLAY denied that he had said any thing in
favor Of perpetual tenure Of office The only com
plant was that the officer was dismissed without
cause or at least without the assignment Of cause
| and without giving him opportunity to yindicate
himself the tendency, If not the aim, of which was
| TO leave stigma on his character. Mr.. c. charac
terzed somewhat satiricay, the confoundng of dis
missa from office by the votes of the people with
like this of arbitrary dismissal Of one subor
dnate Executive officer by another, without cause
and without q hearing, AMI he again denounced the
existence and the exercise of such irresponsible
power as utterly abhorrent the genius Of free
institutions, and Inconsistent with their continuance.
One the other must fall.
Mr. G.. adverted to the fact that in Government
like ours IL one party used unfair means fraud, and
falsehood they would more or less be met by their
own weapons. The proper question then was, not
who dismissed from office, but what party first
made of this means for carrying their points.
The question was who began this foul play and what
was lie And as IN who hpOan n Mr. G.
defed the Senator from Ohio to point to one
der the administration of Mr. J. q. Adams Of dismis
sal from Office for political opinions.
As to the banks, they were now before the Senate,
which the Senator'S political friends had
the power to carry here and il carried every where
it would doubtless destroy them.
Mr.. ALLEN, Of Ohio, again rose, and made
heightened speech in the course of which he assailed
and the Harrisburg Convention
| He was followed by Mr.. CRITTENDEN in a
speech Of remarkable ability.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN said he did not intend to en-
ter generally into the discussion, but whished vim
dictate the reputation Of Washington and Harrison
from the scrcdt Of having entertained opinions such
| as those which the Ohio Senator had attributed to
them. He repealed the idea that the Father Of his
Country ever had counenanced prescription for OPT
MONS sake and read letter addressed by that illus
trious man to an applicant for Office stating in dis
tinct terms that fitness integrity, and fidelity were
the only qualifications he required or looked for If
Washington could thus be traduccd as giving autho
rity for the petty mean acts of small politicians,
there is little to wonder that General Harrison
is arbitrarily charged with the thing.
But neither of them wrote line, or uttered
sentiment which can be construed into favor of re-
moval for political differences Of opnon-n support Of
the atrocious doctrine, that all the public offices of
the country only booty-only spois 10 be dstri-
bued as the rewards of partisan services.
Mr.. Cittcnden then referred to the personal attack
which Allen had made General Harrison and spoke
with spirit and power, which will not soon be for
gotten by those who had the good fortune to listen TO
him. II was, indeed, splendid burst of indignant
eloquence and imbued with all the best qualities of
his peculiar stylc--sparklng wit-keen and cutting
sarcasm-laughte irony--elevated sentiment
-whiIeover all was thrown the radiance Of his rich
and classic Imagination.
He noticed, at the outset, the remarkable change
in the course adopted by the Administration party
towards General Harrison. At first they pre-
tended to rdicue the nomination. They af.
fectcd to turn the first bursting out Of the popular
enthusiasm into contempt but they soon found that
would not do; and they are now trying the plan of
misrepresentation and calumny. The most nnheard
of dcnuncations and libels daily uttered by
the press in the pay and interest of the party and I'M
der the authority of the Head of the Government
against the veteran Patriot and Statesman They
have been caught up and repeated by the vulgar bull
lies and braggadocios Of Van Burenism in the House