Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-03-26

Mr.. HUNTINGTON said, when he rose yesterday
to address the Senate, it not his intention 10 dis
cuss, at large, the merits Of this resolution il
now his purpose to do so. When, few weeks since,
they had before the Senate the resolution TO appnint
these gentlemen Printers TO tine Senate, he improved
the opportunity TO express his views OF some of the
points Incidentally and or others more particularly,
which involved IN the resolution now before the
Senate. 1t was not his purpose to repeat them: aud
he would not say word IN the resolution. were
not that he felt desirons 10 reply 10 some Of the
eunenis that had been urged against tsome reply To
what rad been brought forward and he asserted (with
deerence 10 The honorable mrtnber 10 whom lie should
alludc3 what he considered Of the most extra
nate. AnSs- although II stated BY The honorable
Senator from Pepnsy lvani., Mr. Bucaananl who ad-
vanced them, that hr believed he could be sustained
by every Judge The bench below them, and by every
Judge ana respectable lawyer the turou, notwIih-
standing his r-spec, for his Mr. B.. legal attain
nens and his atlltles, lie cit ao., constr ined 10
say that he did believe that .. the Senate tn
positions would have been advanced and attempted
be maintained By any respectable professional lawyer
that tie opinions could be lawfully maintained lie
IL ght 10 wrong lie did profess, and oush not 10
have entire confidence III his vie"s, but he be-
l-ved that on analysis Of the subject, Il would be
found that the charges against them could not be sue
cessiuliy maintained. What were they.
lst That The office OF Printer this BODY is IN no
Office that Vi hat he does is merely mechani.
officer, and IS such, not subject 20 removal.
I'd. That II he be an officer, competent for thus
body 10 contract with hm SUCH; that they had no
right, aud would be breach Of faith and honor on the
part Of this Senate to pass ms resolution Tor the effect
Of It would be 10 break their pgh,ed faith, and dsre-
gard their pighieG honor.
These we're the two positions; and il would De his
design 10 show that they had foundation in ptinci-
pie il analogy.
The Senator had stated what, lie had no doubt, was
,l,.,
had gone forth 10 the country that repeal Of rather
that removal and dismissal of these implied in
breach Of contract; and those who sustained the
resolution the table to be he'd out TO the
community, those who, in effect, prepared 10
break doan the nviolabili,y which ought to be
thrown around and by the Constitution and Laws Of
the country thrown around all legal constitutional
contracts.
lie (Mr H. did not belong 10 tina class Of politicians
who think all far in politics. to another class, who
think that the spos belong 10 the yictors nor yet TO
another class who think that the supremacy Of the laws
and the solemnliy and binding obligation Of contracts
is no, 10 be maintained No: his habits, his employ
lnent his business life, had led him at least to the
maintenance OF what he conceived true doctrine; and
that was, that the laws, the Constitution and laws, are
supreme and 10 be maintained; and that lawful con-
tracts be enforced When this was presented, m
ever such case should occur that resolution should
be passed by either branch of Congress- both, direct
the performance of great public work, alter con-
tract had been made they would not find him one that
would in his place and offer resolution, that the
contract should be rescinded.
He should not contend that 1t was not binding and
support resolution which, If passed, would destroy the
obligatory force Of the contract No: it this resou-
ton implied in II any thing of the nature o. breach
of con,rac- its effect was, in the slightest degree, TO
violate the honor and faith OF the Senate, he would be
one Of the last in this body 10 interfere Win It's que
and free execution.
Blu, believing as he did, that there was in this act
proposed be done, interference IN the slightest
degree, with any contract expressed or inplied-oe-
cyinC il the power OF this Senate TO pass Inns
resolution IN the legal, constitutional power and be-
.vinr further that II was required, he should come
m. and If there were responsibility IN vo,ng IN
favor If H. he should take this responsibility, AMI ieel
tina, he was dsschargng what he not only had right
10 d. but what, under the circumstances, was an I'M
porous duty.
The resolution implied two things one was-that this
Senate has the right 10 dismiss It's Printers;
And the other was-ihat il IS expedlent TO exercise
,ha, rrht. These were the only two points involved
in the resolution.
mass !, me did not mean merely vote II, but whe-
Their ,hey had the moral right 10 pass this resolution
he proposed for the purpose OF meeting the objections
nhch had been urged against by the Senator rom
Pennsylvania land he would consider II IN very hrlei
manner for lay within the compass OF nl'-she 20
endeavor 10 GnSu6 lhem. -,
S,,ose there had been no Joint resolution. The re-
solution TO elect them did not purPort on us lace 10 be
IN consequence pursuance OF JOINT resolution,
was uoihinr more or less than this hfS0'eea, nat
The S.nni, VIII tomorrow proceed 10 the appointment
of Printer for Two wears, under the l"nt RESI-
lu,or az l. a. hut ror next Congress suppose mere
had been no ION; resolution prescribing The DUTIES te
the mode q appointment &c, anu tley
had onpon,cd the Printer could they mol have removed
HIM Under this resolution
Is he an officer Ct The body II the Senator IRON
r,ht ri
nan + ,bare had been no JOINT resolutions because, he
,;s "a, tLot he i not oi"-7ttat II = contract
,ua,,e. and We cannot dissolve II BY our own act,
me hrourh, u; tie question. whether the Printer
was nm cti;ecr or moi; The Senator ron rernsy!va-
49,, s;d no was not BUT that he no more such than
- d,r,du7,s who performed services for the Sc
md ,sks tie pug" no watts IN us an oilctt
Il l,e ner.nn that makes orr h.e prepares oc' s,a
oncrv a. repairs the clock an othcer Ana neh aS"s
whether ,.,ey ase much oncers a. me rr'h'e'"
This body; They were required !" a. CEN
a,s .,i - Is 2rnrr How, then, 90 you Distinguish
H. - ee, the two: D,6 70; the Gtelhgpnt and honora
Ma s,,,or perceire the difference, ,he difference oe
r.on ,br page that waits on Us mere NOT appo'h'eo
~ ,,e Senate end Ice Printer apponee ~ '"e Wv.
i IN. Printer was not officer, he MI "an.cd -
know what al officer: Is our :" - -
e look for granted thai this would ue hefeeo 20 y
III Wbv was h. an officer Was Il not p'ceuse
he has certain duties 10 perform, ano oecauss ;"
- appon,ed BY the body 10 perform ''eSe NV. -
W,s not that the reason BNl tie Pase 80
, ,L,t renaIred their clock, was not appoiptec ~
The body the Secretary employs hun and "npGin's
him hui 10, the body itself he was not, therefore
- oI;cer of the body ia Printer was not an oAice''
thew had pot an officer exceptthe Wee Presiden, whom
.br Constitution declares an officer; ana NON .ou
cannot remove, except for msdemeanor, 'oi tieie w
no, the slightest difference, excepting the eu"es 70 :,
ne rformed between the Printer and secretary.
aoes the Secretary perform: How was he appointed,
By the body-to perform certain duties necessary 70
The well being and honor of the body what Is You,
Printer Does he not your printing inse 40 OF wiring
ou,, Do you not require of him the performance o.
certain acts What difference Is there pes%er, ~,
,uo excepting that in the one case your secrra.!
docs certain specified duties and has an annuai saia'
The Printer does some others, and has deTen. COM
nsnsaton; Blu, in both il was pno''c oilce--a
p,ube appointment, made by the body under the Con-
r,;tution, under which they were assem'ieo-
Was there any mistake in this Was he mistaken as
was ,iey ,nus come to, independent Of the
o;n, resolution And could any one doubt .nat , when
under the Joint resolution they declared tney wSuaa ap
uont an officer, whether they did appoint an ohser
They appointed one Yesterday he sersean.asArms
Was he an officer Could they net remove nun 70.
.1 -. -. ,Lar could the Secrptarv-lGSt what the