Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-04-13
lTWFNTY-SIXTH CONGRESS---2d SESSION
UNITED STATES SENATE-Erecutirc Session
DISMISSAL OF THE PRINTERS TO THE SENATE
HcdnesdQn .afarch 10 lS4I-[CoHcLupEpl

UNITED STATES SENATE recutirc Session.
DISMISSAL OF THE PRINTERS TO THE SENATE
Wednesday, March TO- ls4l-[CoScLupEDl
MIR. WOODBURY. observed, that at one time he
had not expected to take part in this debate Most Of
what lie afterwards intended say had been recently
explained by others. He should, therefore, crowd
himse on the attention of the Senate for only few
minutes, and OH matters connected with his peculiar
position, what not already exhausted. The
question before US probably appeared somewhat differ
ent TO HIM. as q new member than TO those who mao
occupied seat here in February, and mingled in
the excitement and discussions which accompanied
the election of the present Printers. To him some oil
these questions seemed extraordinary. lie was sum
moned here to session of the Senate without the
House OF Representatives,; and OF course, session Tor
the transaction of Executive business merely. This
body was permanent one; and hence It was supposed
that no officers TO be elected, II no vacan-
cies aready existed. But if they did exist, he enter
:aiae5 doubt could complete the organization OF
the bcCy, and ill those vacancies, II the officers were
believed to be necessary If we had any business Tor
them to do and whether such election was conduct
ed with open closed DOORS not very material, II
being an organic measure, or in other Words an act
OF inherent power, or dennmlnatcd by the Senator
from Delaware, Mr. Bayard 'absolute power II
was neither Legislative nor Executive, strictly speak.
ing; but being one reorganization, it seemed proper,
either TO precede any other business or 10 be taken mp
when the necessary occasion demanded But what did
Printer vacant Nothing ofthe kind. The resolution
under consideration not then required TO organ
nc this body, but tended directly to diSoreani-e It,
went to create vacancies, instead Of filing them 1T
assigned no reason whatever for making them, and
did not even propose to fill them, when made. On its
face, therefore, il seemed designating, well out
OF order, irregular and unnecessary Most unfortu-
nately, then, commence proceeding dsOrgan-
Izalion. Where they will end, remains 10 be seen.
But 1t has been observed that sometimes, if not on
this OCCASION it uslable TO force vacancies, and
then proceed TO elections. In such cases, how
ever, 1t would seem proper preliminary, that in some
report resolution, or motion, for il should at
least be assigned if no, proved order that II might
appear on the record why action proposed, and
definite notice given of what TO be met. If the
last election OF Printers considered unconstitu-
tIonal, or, if the incumbents had since grossly misbe
haved IN their official capacity, why are not these
grounds OF removal regularly set FORTH If, consider
ing the Printers merely officers, and in no respect con-
tractors II IS admitted that various grounds might be
supposed which could be considered sufficient, if duly
stated, and proved. But unless these done, the
proceeding looked extraordinary, and members
acting the dark and our journal, he feared,
would appear tiscreditabe. But aside from tins, what
reasons have been assigned orally, in favor of the re-
solution Nobody has pretended, in this debate, as |
understand H. hat the election Of Blair and Rycs
unconstitutional. The mover himself Mr.. Mangum
says he will no, call il and il the opposite side,
party, seriously assumed such ground, their acts
should correspond, and they would at proceed 10
choose SUCCESSORS to the present ncubents instead Of
offering this resolution to remove them.
The resolution ITSELF then recognises them TO be in
Office conSttutonally. Indeed, they elected al
the usual time, in the usual manner and on the usual
terms, which have prevailed Tor nearly twenty years in
this body. What should mpeach such an election !,
The only argument against lis validity that have
heard this occasion, has been, that the other House
had recently obtained their printing 10 be done al a
tha, ~
1919. But il would be difficult TO prove that the de-
parturc from the law by House violated its force
with the other, which might prefer to ndhere 10 the
law that the members OF the other Hose could
not procure their printing 10 be done more economical
" than the law required, if opportunity offered and
still not be guilty Of any Illegally, the law itself
become void.
Considering these Printers, therefore, duly in Of
flee, and, for argument merely at this moment that no
contract exists but that The present resolution proposes
to dismiss them from office only the queslon-and in
my view the first, If not the most important question
recurs Is il intended to be done with or without
cause: Which: Its language is silent on that point,
and hence the natural inference may he, that the re-
moval is contemplated to be made without cause
Yet several gentlemen, in debate, strongly disclain
any such design motive, and detail various reasons
for the measure. But, in the threshold, all Of us
ought to form explicit opinions on this point. IL is due
to Justice frankness, manness And If, III truth, any
member votes for The removal without cause, then pre-
sumo the act in him. admitted to be an arbitrary act
1t is merely SIC roio-sic jubeo 1t is act which
will not presume TO occur as appears TO me one
utterly unworthy this dignlfed assembly. 1t would be
sheer caprice and wantonness and if not rank injustice,
il at least be indicated in the high forum OF
the American Senate.
Whatever collector might do to I tide-waiter, in a
moment Of irritation and dspeasure, this assembly OF
ambassadors from the sovereign States of our great
Union can never set an example of removal without
any cause whatever because derogatory to IL and at
the samc time so dangerous to other legislative
bles Over whole country they look up 10 US for
decorum gravity, caution and wisdom. Beyond all
this. if these Printers be at the time contractors,
which shall endeavor to demonstrate hereafter such
a removal, without any cause whatever, would not
only be arbitrary, and Of evil example, but grossly H.
legal.
In either view, therefore, whether officers con-
tractors, understand all the gentlemen on the other
side who have spoken, admit the existence OF cause
for the removal and thus admit the improperly Of act
inc without one. Then, what is The cause what its
validity? and how is it ascertained or tred'
The gentleman from North Carolina, who offered
the resolution, says II is cause, not sofefy Potheat-
The member from Kentucky Mr.. Clayl avowed it
was cause touching something infamous in the man
apcmcnt of the public press. Others appeared 70
sneak of mere political difference c opinion as suh-
Gent TO Justify the removal. Others, who have not
vet spoken supposed to be ready to vote Tor their
dismissal either for that reason alone, or Tor that cou
Piled win some uHueHHeu 'he''AP"'o'''J
Of temper difference of fashion and appearance, or
want OF harmony in feeling and taste Now, let me
caution gentlemen who may, even IN common cases
remove from Office for mere difference IN poil'cn
opinions though most the other side it is believed
are pledged not 10 Mt all for that cause ina,
they stand on very slippery ground in removal o.
printers for n mere difference in political views: In
the first place. the suciency of this cause in ordinary
instances is viewed not alike among all gentlemen On
either side. But do moi propose to discuss hat ques
ton now. Be it remembered, however, that he VINO
votes for this removal for that cause alone, ana mas
heretofore censured others for removals on account OF
H. must admit that he has done wrong 10 Others OF
is doing one himself. D.oL
If his course be now right, was theirs. But much
more than this If such ri sht in relation
to officers not Printers, and adopted by ordinary trbn
nails, by follows that it IS e1pedent or Jus.
tiiable in respect to class Of officers connected WIN
the public press Nor should it ever, in my apPrehen
sion be hastily exercised in the unusual form PROPOSED
by such political tribunal the Senate whose dong
can be communicated 10 their respective States only %
very limited extent except through free bold and
vigant press say, then, in this vew that the pre-
sent 10 new case in our annals. Grant, then, that