The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-09
IMPROVEMENTS 1,o oFFICE.

APPOINTMENTS 10 OFFICE.
In recent article, under this head, we en-
deavored to impress on our readers, the marked
difference between the conduct now Of promi-
nent members of the SPoILs PARTy in reference
to nominations 70 office by President-who is
a defeated candidate for re-eection-and the
course they pursued during the winter Of 1928
~ Upon examining the Executive Journal Of
the Senate Tor that session. we find still strong
er illustration Of their nconsistency-of their
disregard OF principle, and law, and the Con
stitution then-and their INSCRIPTIONS partizan-
SNIP than was given even by the discrediable
proceedings on the nomination Of Mr. CRirrEN-
DEN 10 seat on the Bench Of the Supreme
Court, to which we have already referred We
discover that, not content with anticipating
Their power and patronage by three months, they
positively, and in terms, denied to PRESIDENT
ADAMS the very right TO nominate and appoint
which PRESIDENT VAN buren,, after an over
Whelming and Unprecedented condemnation by
me People, Is exercising every day, with their
sanction and concurrence
During the debate on MIR. Crittenden's nom-
nation, MIR. Chambers, then Senator from
Maryland, offered resolution declaring that the
power of the President TO nominate and appoint
was intended to be exercised by him during the
whole period for which he should be elected, for
all such vacancies as should occur during that
period, and that the duty of the Senate to con-
firm or reject the nominations of the President,
was as imperative as his duty to nominate
The practice Of the Executive and the Senate
had previously accorded, as all men acquainted
with these views. The present partsans of
MIR. Van Buren, land, no doubt, by his instiga-
ton, or al least, most certainly, in perfect com
pliance with his wishes rejected the doctrine
expressed in the resolution of Mr.. Chambers,
and repudiated the uniform practice of the Go
yernment which contormed to, and was based
upon, that doctrine They determned,by their
recorded votes, that il was expedent and proper
TO alter the settled practice; and they deemed
II not eapedient to act upon nominations of the
President, made three months previous TO the
expiration of his term.
Must not these gentlemen now have cons-
| derable share of assurance-must not their fore
heads be pretty well bronzed by frequent polil-
cal terglversatlon-to seek TO take advantage of
the doctrines which they lately condemned and
repealed, and even go farther and, by appoint
ments from and after the period to which they
are allowed by the Constitution to hold on,
though condemned by the people cndeayor TO
perpetuate their power and patronage
We have the satisfaction Of knowing that our
hat all ~, IN, oh
tanning Office from President Van Buren,, by col
fusion and the trick of resignation on the part Of
obnoxious incumbents, or by appointments from
and after the fourth Of March next, ought to be
among the first to be furnished by the coming
! Administration, with making papers, meets
4 with the general concurrence Of the friends OF
| General HARRISON here; and has been cordi-
ally responded to by several of the independent
presses of the country. The subject has been
4 publicly referred to, also, in the Senate. Mr..
\ CLAY, of Kentucky, few days ago, while re-
monstrating against the course of the party now
in power in undertaking at the close of a con-
demned Administration 10 establish new systems
of policy, reminded the partisans Of Mr. Van
Buren, now in the Senate and who were also
sued. He said he would not as they did, deny
TO the President the fair Of his power and pa
tronage But, he added, if the Senators thought
that by prematurely and unnecessarily filling up
otlices,-by systematic tapping over Of appoint
ments for the next -four years-Genera Harri-
son would be prevented from using his just con
stitutlona power they would find themselves
mistaken. That illustrous citizen and soldier
will be President, on the fourth of March, and
he will exercise the powers and discharge the
duties Of President, with patriotsm--with firm
ness-with moderation-but, the spoilsmen may
be assured, in such manner as to give no coun-
tcnance or support TO their pretenslons.