The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-09
APPOINTMENTS no OFFICE

APPOINTMENTS no OFFICE.
In a 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 to Office by President--who is
defeated candidate for re-election-and the
course they pursued during the winter Of 1923
49, Upon examining the Executive Journal Of
the Senate for that session, we find still strong
er illustration of their inconsstency-of their
disregard of principle, and law, and the Con-
stitution then-and their INSCRIPTIONS partizan-
ship, than was given even by the discreditable
proceedings on the nomination of Mr. CRrTTEN-
DEN to 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
the People, is exercising every day, with their
sanction and concurrence
During the debate on Mr.. Crittenden's nomi-
nation, Mr.. Chambers then Senator from
Maryland, offered a 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 the history Of the Government well know,
with these views The present partisans Of
ton, or at 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
vernment which conformed to, and was based
upon, that doctrine. They determined,!by their
recorded votes, that it was expedient and proper
to alter the settled practice; and they deemed
1t not e1pedient to act upon nominations of the
President, made three months previous to the
! expiration of his term.
! Must not these gentlemen now have consi-
derable share of assurance-must not their fore
heads be pretty well bronzed by frequent politi-
cal tergiversation-- 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
though condemned by the people, endeavor to
perpetuate their power and patronage!
We have the satisfaction of xnowing that ouI
suggestion that all persons who succeed in OBJ
tanning Office from President Van Buren,, by col
fusion and the trick of resignation on the part o.
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
with the general concurrence of the friends o.
General HARRISON here and has been cordi
ally responded to by several of the independent
presses of the country. The subject has been
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 CON
demned Administration, to establish newsystems
Of policy, reminded the partisans of Mr.. Van
Buren, now in the Senate, and who were also
members in 1928, '29, of the course they pur-
sued. He said he would not, as they did, deny
to the President the fair use Of his power and pa
tronage But, he added, if the Senators thought,
that by prematurely and unnecessarily filling up
ofices,-by systematic tapping over of appoint
ments for the next four years-General Haui-
son would be prevented from using his just con-
stitutional power they would find themselves
mistaken. That illustrious citizen and soldier
will be President, on the fourth of March, and
he will exercise the powers and discharge the
duties Of President, with patriotism-with firm
ness-with moderation-but, the spoiIsmen may
be assured, in such manner as to give no coun-
tenance or support to their pretensons.