The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-10


therefor, and the salaries paid was taken up
Mr. SMITH, of Indiana, was mol opposed TO OBJ
tainng the information OF this resolution but he did
not know whether belonged the Senate TO call for
.he appointments by heads Of bureaus he believed
II was matter between the Executive and the heads
OF bureaus appointed by the Executive If this prin-
cple were proper IN general he had objections To
tins case.
Mr.. CLAY, of Alabama, apprehended that he had
oucheu ratner lender place, TO the friends OF this
Administration They had come into pow with pro-
LESSONS OF retrenchment and reform and it now
proper that their Transactions under the various De
pariments should I've fully exposed. Several APP
continents had been made, and he wished To know
Tue grounds for them, connected with the public busi-
ness
Mr. LINN said this was TO be a reforming Admi-
hstration and this was proper information TO be OBJ
lained All their promises had been about sincere,
as that about prescription" and he intended To
nan these counterieiters to the counter. II the late
Administration had been podigal in the expenditures
OF The Government they intended make the present
one honest, whether they would be or not They
would expose everything nothing should be kept Sc
cret-not even Their Abolition nominations here and if
'hey had told aisehoods by the ton, they should be
exposed.
Mr. SMITH reiterated his statement that if the
call was proper one, he had objections in the least
to ilsinformation. He merely wished the Senate to
decide the question whether II proper TO call for
information of heads of bureaus when no legislation
could grow out of ii.
MIR. PRESTON had objections to the call
l he reasons ought to be known, why appointments
were made. The only reason ag anst it, was that il
ana not call Tor all the accompanying information
that the relative action Of the two Administrations on
this subject ought to be included in this call. He
could readily conceive Of defeated Administration in
ht Of economy, cutting of clerks by scores or of
Executive who had annually expended millions above
the income OF the Government, coming out suddenly
and advocating rclrenchment, and opposing debt
when they left on their the obligation OF
paying of the debts they had themselves created
He wanted the comparative statements. He was free
10 say that if they forfeited The pledges given to the
people the late Administration lad they would
have the condemnation of the people as that Adn-
mist alton had received il.
Mr. Linn SAID the opponents of Van Bnren's ad
mInlsraton took the broad g.ound that removal from
office Tor opinions sake was unconstitutional
Mr.. PRES TON said if the officers found in office
had taken active parts in politics. it was not proper
that they should remain in Office having abused their
trust, and that against the party in power. If they
should 90 about 10 find out the opinions of officers
and their qualifications voters turning out thosr
who had no votes, and appointing their friends If they
should tax their salaries for eleclioneerng purposes
and make their political opinions Indispensable
qualification for Experimentation he should say the
present ought to be condemned as the last Admins
traton had been.
He trusted that gentlemen on the other side would
not suppose that he bad changed his opinions, or
would wink at any abuse because committed by his
friends Ii abuses we've half as numerous as those
they had convicted the late Administration of he as
willing they should be exposed.
The PRESIDENT announced that the morning
hour had expired, and il in order 10 prosecute the
regular business.
Mr. CLAY, of Ala. wished the resolution to be
disposed Of and TO make few remarks in reply to the
gentleman who had preceded him.
The question was taken, and Mr.. CLAY, of Ala !,
was permitted to proceed by a vote OF 20 to Is.
He said he had merely offered this resolution for the
sake of information and did not expect to find this
sensiiveness the subject He referred to the.pro-
misses of economy of the present Administration and
yet they had without showing a cause for it, provided
for loan of twelve millions dollars which amounted
by the power of reIssung Treasury notes eighteen
millions and they were also providing for increase of
revenue, by the tariff bill now before them.
MIR PRESTON offered an amendment which be-
ing modified provided for the communication of the
same Information with regard 10 such increase DIM.
mutton, and the reasons for it, during the four years,
from 1929, from 1888 and from 1887.
Mr. BENTON referred to the recent recommends
ton of the President for appropriations for the outfits
OF foreign ministers, contendng that general sweep
had been made of the Diplomatic Agents of the Gov
ernment and that their political friends among whom
Abolit'onss constituted great portion, were to be
appointed lie entered at length into the general sub
ject Of the Inconsistency of this Administration with
regard to their professions of economy and of oppos
ton to prescription
Mr. PRESTON eloquently refuted this charge,
SHOWING iHai put tWp Changes Hdu DteH one AZ
Mexico, and one appointment at Chill, where
vacancy. So slight change was Unprecedented.
Mr. BENTON further contendtd that with anti
prescription, and economy in their mouths, they
were now gong on with an unprecedented canine and
wotish appetite for spoIs
Mr. SMITH, of Indiana, hoped the Senate would
proceed with their regular business. They were now
near adjournment and had much business TO
plish. These ordinations and determinations might
be very pleasant but would not accomplish the work
af the r,Ip Ila bota tha hts
Mr. PRESTON would say word The Senator
from Missouri (Mr Benton) had commenced in his
accusations of the Administration with regard to The
Diplomatic Corps He (Mr p met him there. The
Senator had then abandoned Europe, Asia and AT
iica he had changed his ground with great rapidty
and dexterity and come To Missouri He (Mr Z. y
believed there had been case Of unreasonable reno
val made in Missouri, and that the President was de-
ceived by misrepresentation and that ough' to be
rectifed He had received earnest remonstrance
agains, it from Wigs of Missouri and he was free to
acknowledge that mistake had there arisen which he
had no doubt would be rec,ifed He then referred
severally to the of Diplomatic agencies show
ing that prescription had been abstained from in an
unusual and unprecedented manner. There was no
instance on record OF change of parties, when Di-
plomac changes had not been made in double and
triple degree. He thought that gentlemen would
therefore make nothing in their Diplomatic crusade
Mr.. BUCHANAN said the Senator from South
Carolina had said so much about retrenchment and
economy that he deemed necessary briefly reply
At the last election they had challenged their oppo
nents tn show II their extrav ,gance Mr. PREs
TON. You expended seven millions annually more
than your ncome) He was prepared, al the proper
time To EXHIBIT particular eases of extravaganza on
the part of the present Administration They had
passed law for loan of twelve millions and they had
been able to show reed Tor mre han six miIliuns
What else They proposed unprecedented tariff
and that when they To the tariff in or
ten months In addition TO all this economy" and
"retrenchment," they had passed lawbut there was
now ray of sunshine shining throug
the investment ot sixteen and a half millions in Bank
stock Now this was hopeiu commencement for
"retrenchnent" and reform" and If they went on