Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-03-19

Linn, NcRoberts, Nicholson, Sewer, Smith, OF
CT. Sturgeon, Tappan, Walker, Wilamsll'
Woodtury-1S.
Mr.. Clay then rose and moved that the score.
tary of the Senate be directed to deliver to Blair
q Rives their official bond.
This motion was also carried, by the same
vote.
The Vice President then, in pursuance of the
notice he had previously given, withdrew from
the chair as presiding officer for the residue oil
the present session.
On motion of Mr.. Clay, the Senate proceed
cd to ballot for President pro ten.
On the ballot forty-six votes were cast--o
which number.
Mr.. SouTHArp, of New Jersey, received..26
Mr.. KING, of Alabama, received ....... 10
scattering .............. .............
From the National Tntelligencer
CURIOUS g. INTERESTING COINCIDENCE.
On the 4th of March, 1890, and just about
the hour of II O'Clock on that day, the honorable
JoHN M. CLAYTON, then Senator from the
State of Delaware, in speech on Mr.. Foot's
resolution, made the following remarkable pre-
dicton in regard to the future destiny OF the
present President Of the Uni,ed States, then the
recalled Minister to Colombia which was, Oh
the 18th of this month, fully verified:
Mr.. CLAYTON first Observed "Another year has
rolled away-our ldes of March are come This day,
which is the anniversary of the Chief Magistrates
Inauguration, brings with ii some strange reininis-
cencc of the past and some still stranger dnticpd-
tionS Of The future. On the last ith of March, and
at about this very hour of the day, the American Sc
nate followed tho American President in the progress
Of his stately triumph, TO that scene where, in the
essence of assembled thousands of his counrymen,
he proclaimed to the world the principles upon which
he intended TO administer the Government. lndcpen-
IDENTITY of the fact that the whole subject has been
thrust into this debate, there seems to be pro
nr"ty in devong portion Of the passing hour to the
CO.. leraon of the extent and influence of Executive
authority"
The honorable Senator then proceeded TO COM
ncnt on the abuse Of power of removal from
Office, and put this case:
"inform us why the gallan, HARRrsoS, the Hero Of
Fort Mclgs, the victor at Tppccanoe and the Thames
veteran in council as in the field, distinguished for
his virtues in all the rea ipns of the citizen, the SOL
der, and the statcsnan-whv, ask, he pres
crbcd as unfit to represent his country abroad, and
withdrawn from Columbia, to make room for Thomas
Il. Mare! He had scarcely arrived nj Rogota--thc
ink was still fresh on the Executive record which in
formed the Presidcn that II the advice of the Sc
nate that he should represent there when the order
for his removal VS. announced. This could not have
been done for any official misconduct. There had
been no time 10 inq.re into that Was his fidelity
ds,rusted then Or how did the public good require
his dismissal Think you it will tell well in the m
nas OF history, shat he who had 50 often pcrcd life
and limb IN the ygot cf manhood TO secure the bles-
sings of liberty to Others was punished for the cycr-
else OF the elective franchise in his old age? Sir twas
an nrt, disguise 1t as we may, which, by holding out
the idea thai he had lost the confidence Of his country,
might tend to bring down his gray hairs with sorrow
10 the grave. But the glory hc acquired BY the cN-
pa'gn the Wabash. and by those hard earned vic
torres for which he received the warmos' ncknowedg
mon,s OF merit from the Legislature OF Kentucky and
Of
of Congress can never be eface and any effort to
disgrace Their honored object ,,iN recol on those ,rho
i'dHe ~ nntt other men, in better days shah proper
~ estimate his ,corth and again cheer ts d.cining
y.ars '.ih proos9f nj. countrys confidence and Pra-
Htllle"
On the Fourth OF March, ISL, and at the
very hour of the day when this prediction was
made eleven years ago, WIN. Henry HARRISON,
the prescribed Minister to Columbia. in proof of
his countrys confidence and gratitude, was
lnaururatcd the President of The United States ;
and his prosecutors were taught that the effort
to degrade the honored object of their proscrip-
ton has fully rccolled on all who made it.
That the prediction is precisely quoted, see
tn. Register Of Debates, vol. 6, part l, page
PIP, March 4. 1880.
| MIDNIGHT JUDGES
Ono or he most odous, offensive and unporular
acts, which marked the retirement Of John Adams
from ciiicc-thc appointment Of batch OF Judges al
midnight on the night of the Thru of March-has
been re-enacted by the Administration of Marin Van
Buren, attended too, by circumstances of peculiar ar
Srava'ot and IN the case Of of them it is hciev.
ed with the grossrst corruption. We allude to tina,
Of Philemon Dickers0n, on: of the isrpng members
Of Congress from New.Iersev. Soon after the cleo
ton IN that Stale, vacancy occurred on the Bench Of
the District Court and Mahlon Dcterson late See.
rc'afy OF me Navy situation to which he had prov
ei himself incompetent, was appointed by President
van Buren to I'LL II. IL was well understood at the
time, and was publicly spoken Of thathe was appon
tea only for the purpose of holding the Office in us
ior ms brother Philemon, when the administration
should have used him as long as was necessary tc
answer Their purposes. Philemon was one of the mi
Monty claimants of a seat in Congress and it was ne
cessaty to me ascendancy of the administration tina
the seats OF the returned members should be vacaed
and given TO those claimants The fragrant OUTRAGE
on the sovereign rights of the People of Nnw.Jcrsey
by which this object was effected, is still fresh in tn,
| minds of all 0ur readers
Placed thus, by executive influence in the sea
winch rghituily belonged to another, the comrlet,
suhsarvlcncy Of Philemon Dickerson to the will of Tho
Executive, was more certainly assured BY the priz
i which was held up before him If he performed nj
that was required of him in that situation he wo,lt
ne appointed Judge, and if he did not he would los
the appointment. He was faithful to the very close
the sessonand ihen AZ the last moment, received hi
Ftrdrd grosscr case of corruption does not staiI
our annals 1t was fit and proper conclusion o
such an administration as that of Martin Van Ba
rem.
The appointment OF Judge Daniell as Associate
judge oil the Supreme Court though not marked witt
the same gross and offensive features was still hrhl
objectionable The Southern and Western Cffcnits
needed arevsIon on account of the great inequality il
the amount OF their business The death Of Judp
Barbour afforded an opportunity for this revision, an
me Senate immediately passed bill abolshine Julg
Barbous circuit and attaching the different par,ion
o II to the adjoining circuits and establishing +, ney
; circuit N the West. BY this arrangement the JUDI
10 M the vacancy must be taken from the new cir
cut. Notwithstanding this, their own decision. ,hn
twas inexPellen 10 fill the vacancy from the eystn
creult, ana notwithstanding the renonsrnncc. of m
wing Senators, who asked for delay only all il shoI
he ascertanet whether the bill would ps;s The Hons,
~ me nomination was taken up and forced throur
by ne power yer of party discipline. John Y Masor
another of Van Buren's leaders in the House Of Rev
resen' 'iycs was Immediately ren1rdtd bv beino or
pointed District Judge, to Ill the vacancy created II
hr promotion of Judge Danie This was tho In.
struggle Of cxping Loco Focoism in the Seno,e :
The deed was consummaed, but the next dnv so,
the Senate eorganized and the power departed fro,
the hands Of those who Ind so much abusedi il. m,
it will be used by those into whose hands il has no.
fallen, with a greater regard to the public good
hope and believe.