Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-05-21
The EspIorAGE COMMISSION.
III. Er,r,,f;r, 3ufbo,;f,y

The Globe has dragged into day the true political
character Of the Commissions that have been Instituted
a, Washington, for investigation and espionage. 1t
shows how such system calculated 10 raise up Sc
csst informers-to hunt down men by suspcion-to
encourage private enemies to glut their malignty-to
enable Infatuated par,izans to crafty their party feel
ings-and It might have added, put into the power
Of needy and greedy Office hunters to caumniate and
RAISE storm of persecution against the very men
whose Offices they desire TO clutch the spos Of vic
tory. The Globe also shows, how such an Espionage
Commission, headed by such man as George Pon-
dexter, may use their powers for the qualification of
their avarice-and receive accommodation, in the
shape of douceurs, from persons who are threatened
with denunciaton from some miserable spy and inform
We take up this matter upon another KEY; and
We demand by what authority these Commissioners
are appointed. Under what law is it, that MIR. Web.
ter has appointed Mathew st. Clair Clarke and his
colleagues 10 pry into the affairs of the laborers
Washington: Under what law is it, that Mr. Ewing
has sent "Old Poins and his congenal colleagues to
York; Or, under what provision of the Constitution
MT, that the Executive authorities a, Washington APP
pom. officers at pleasure, to do their behess, and to
draw money from the public Treasury to pay them for
which there has been appropriation made by law The
ihselsgencer has attempted, under an article upon
lae Executive authority to answer some of the
previous positions of the Globe-and to show, for e1
ample that BY the act Of March, 1899, "the Collector
hal, with the appreciation of the principal officer of
Tue treasury Department, employ proper persons
Weghers, measurers, inspectors at the several ports
within his district" Scc.-also, that by the act of
March, 1885, the Postmaster General is directed
appoint two assistants and the necessary clerks
&c but il does not show Us, BY virtue of what
law these Espionage Commissioners be created
Cd hsttum. The Nat. lntelligencer aourishes away
a'he, too soon, when it says with sort Of braggado
GA, I'VE hope that shall hear more COM
PANT from men who to have forgotten that there
are any laws or constitutional provisions, that the Pre-
scent does not discharge the proper duties OF his sta
on' ana That the able gentlemen of the Cabinet do
10, understand their legal and constitutional duties
ou' with all due Difference 10 these able gentlemen,
We should like to the authority under which they
Oease these unlimited commissions. Do they find il
"A The Constitutions Do we End any thing like it in
Inc following provision, ed clause Cd section, ed art
Se He shall nominate, and by and with the advice
sad consent of the Senate shall appoint AMBASSADORS
o'aer public ministers and consus, Judges Of the
peme court, and all other officers Of the United States
a0ss appointments not herein otherwise provided
S'' and rhieh shall be established By id,c. But the
s'ess may, by iar vest the appointment of such in
oh'cers as they think proper, in the President
oae IN the courts of law, in the heads of depart
e"ts. Where is the law IF none, then where is
.he authority to create them To show the reader
~" carefully this clause of the Constitution was
'oed so as to provide against the multiplication Of
at the pleasure of the President, lay before
1im Inc following extracts from "The Madison Papers,
rage AZ, third volume:
Nh SHERAAs objected to the sentence, sand shall
ppon officers in all not otherwise provided for
ms Constitution He admitted it TO be proper that
ssny officers in the Executive Department should be
"'pp0insed, but contended that many ought not ,-u