The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-05
APPOINTMENTS TO OFFICE.

paper, from day to day, Of long lists of officers,
undef The head appointments by the Presi-
dent, by and with the advice and consent of the
senate" has brought very forcibly to our recol-
iection certain transactions in Executive session
oi the Senate, during the memorable winter Of
ioSo-'S9. IL may be well, just at this this time,
10 revive scrap or two of the history of that
period and show how different was the course
'hen OF some who are now prominent supporters
OF President Van Buren, from the conduct they
now think proper TO pursue If the remins-
cence should not raise these politicians in the
estimation of people who preserve some regard
Tor consistency-if the contrast between their
course then and their course now should not in
crease the readers respect for their pariisanship,
the fault is not ours
| Some months before the close of President
Adams Administration, vacancy occurred on
The Bench of the Supreme Court of the United
| States, by the death of the Hon RoBERT TRIM
BILE. AZ the beginning of the session of 1928,
29--namely, on the 18th Of December, 1928,
Mr. ADAMS nominated TO the Senate, john J.
CRIrrENDEN (the present distinguished Senator
from Kentucky TO fill the vacancy The Com
mltee Of the Judiciary TO whom the nomination
was referred, made report on the Goth Of Jan
uary following, declaring il inexpedent 10 act
upon the nomination during that session This
report had been agreed upon in a caucus in
which some of the leading friends of the pre-
sent President took an active part and by whom
il was determined that all the more important
nominations of President Adams should be
postponed Till after the 4th of March These
extraordinary and Unprecedented resolutions of
the Judiciary Committee gave rise to debate
which was continued from the 29th of January
TO the 18th Of February; and, in the course of
which, Mr. WEBSTER (who had just entered on
his first term Of service as Senator from Massa
chusetts) particularly distinguished himself BY
his zeal, ability and eoquence in defending The
true doctrine of the Constitution, the lust rights
of the President, and insisting on the proper
obligations Of the Senate. On the 18th Of Fe-
bruary, the question was taken; and it was for
mally resolved that the nomination of Mr.. CRIr-
TENDEN should not be acted upon. 1t was post
poned to the special session of the Senate, called
citizen of Ohio, well known to have been an in
huentialsupportero of General Jackson, was nomi-
mated to the office and confirmed forthwith The
failure to act upon the nomination of Mr.. CRrr-
TENDEN left vacancy on the bench Of the Su-
| preme Court, during the whole Of the term be
ed in the act of postponing, on this occasion,
were Mr.. JOHNSON, of Kentucky, Mr.: BENTON,
of Missouri, Mr.. Secretary Woodbury. Mr.
MAHLoN DIcKERsoN, late Secretary of the Navy,
and Mr.. Mckinley now himself Judge of the
Supreme Court of the United States Mr. CAL
uoUN, if we are not mistaken, presided III the
Chair and countenanced the whole proceedings
| In this instance, which we select, because
it is peculiarly notable, and because the arbitra
ry course of the majority was singularly dis
played therein, as no man could be found to
urge the slightest objection to Mr.. Crttenden,
on the score Of fitness, the friends of President
Van Buren, anticipated their power by three
months, and iactously refused TO discharge the
duty imposed on them by the Constitution to
fill an Office deemed necessary for the ends Of
justice, and the general interest of the country.
AS they then anticipated the exercise of their
power, they are now, we understand, contrvng
by different devices and tricks to protong their
patronage, and continue 10 their tavortes and
creatures, for more or less of the period Of the
next four years, the emoluments, and party add
vanages which official place can bestow. One
plan TO accomplish this object is by REsIoNA-
ToNs. Certain oflice-holders, whose terms are
to expire soon after Gen. Harrison's Inaugural
ton, will resign in order to allow some other
friends of the Administration to be appointed
for fur years, who would hold on until re-
mored. 1t is hoped by the Administration that
some of these new appointces may be allowed
to remain land, if not, the spoilsmen fiatter
themselves with an idea that they will at least
throw on the Harrison Administration some
odium for dismssing them.
Another plan is that which, if rumor speaks
! truly, has already been resorted TO by President
Van Buren-to make appointments to take effect
from and after the fourth Of March nert!--as
is alluded to in the following paragraph, which
we cut from one Of our exchange papers;
at is stated in the Boston Atlas that the President
has nominated Jonas l.. Sbley for disappointment to
the office Of IT, S. Marshal for that district from and
after he fourth Of March nert when the commission
which he now holds will expire. We imagine that
General Harrison will consider himself entitled to the
privilege of appointing to all offices from and after
the 18th of March next"
Do Mr.. Calhoun, and Mr.. Benton, and Col.
Johnson, and their friends in the Senate, think
it "erpedienr now TO act upon nominations
which fall under either of these classes2
We shall see.
In the meantime let the public scan every no
minaiinn with an ohseryanI and yinllani eve: