The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-16

10 report to s House the names Of all the postastess
throuahout the Union who have been rsmopsd from
Office since the Sd day Of MARCH, 1929 with the names
Of the persons appointed in their places underscoring
the names of all those removed for official denquen-
cy or msdemeanor and specifying the nature tnereoi
the complaint upon which the removal was naue, .ne
evidence in support Of such complaint and wnetner
the officer removed was made acquainted with the
complaint, confronted with his accuser or allowed 70
be heard in his defence.
To which Mr. HOPKINS offered the following
amendment
l. Rssolped, That the power Of removing Executive
officers is vested in the President the United STATES
q RssolDsd, That this power was conferred to
enable the Executive ito take care that the laws are
faithfully executed and cannot be exercised arbitra-
rily or capriciousIy without abuse of power, yran
nical in its operation corruptng in its tendency, and
converting remedy for unworthiness and miscon-
duct into a terrible engine of Executive power.
g. Resolred That the patronage Of the Executive
department has increased to an alarming extent and
ought to be restricted and diminished far as COM
natble with safe and faithful execution of the laws
Resolped, That it is the right of the Representa-
lives Of the people to examine into all abuses and usur
nations which may be apprehendcd 10 exist in any Of
the Executive Departments in order that they maybe
corrected and prevented, If possible, by legislation,
and in fragrant and wanton cases, exposed and pu-
nished
s. ResoIped, That the power of appointment and
~ removal fiom Office vested in the Executive may be
greatly abused and its exercise ought therefore TO be
watched and strictly guarded, so as, If possible, to
pleyent the power and patronage of the Executive
from being brought into conflict with the freedom and
purity Of elections"
G. Resoiped That the Representatives of the peo-
pie have right to inquire into the causes for which
any Executive officer has been removed or dismissed
from Office by the Executive.
y l. fba
House of Representatives has right to call for and
have furnished to it all official documents papers, and
letters relating to the removal Of such officer which
may be on file among the records Of any OF the Execu
tive Departments
s. Resolped, That select committee be appointed
whose duty shall be to report bill imposing such
restrictions upon Executive patronage may be con-
sistent with the foregoing resolution, and compatible
with the Constitution of the United States so as more
efectlay to guard against abuse and corruption In
the exercise Of the power ofremova from and appoint
ment to office.
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON said that there would be
no opportunity to consider them at this session He
moved to lay the resolution on the table.
MrSADAMS raised question of order, on the
ground that the amendment of Mr.. Hopkins was ire
eyant to the subiect-matter of his resolution.
The SPEAKER decided in favor of the relevancy
of the amendment.
Mr.. ADAMS appealed.
After some remarks from Mr.. ADAMS and Mr..
HOPKINS
Mr. BANKS moved to lay the appeal upon the
table,
And the question was put, by yeas and nays, and
decided in the affirmative. Yeas 95, nays &c.
The appeal being thus laid on the table, the ques-
ton required on the motion OF Mr. Cave Johnson that
the resolution and amendment be laid the table.
Mr.. ADAMS inquired of the Chair what was the
state of the subject under the decision of the Speaker
The appeal had been laid the table, consequently
the Speakers decision was not affirmed that the appeal
was therefore still existing, and the amendment could
not be considered as received
The SPEAKER stated that the appeal being an
Independent question: and laid the table, the Speak
ers decision must stand in all further action on the
subject until reversed.
Mr. ADAMS said he supposed he had no remedy.
Tie question was then taken, by yeas and nays, on
the motion to lay the resolution and amendment on the
table, and decided in the negative, as follows:
Yeas 3d. nays92. So the House refused to lay on
the table.
Mr. HOPKINS made some few remarks He was
willing the House should act the subject at once.
He had desire to embarrass the proposition OF the
gentleman from Massachusetts, in the slightest degree.
If their propositions could be incorporated together
he would consent readily and vote for Mr.. AS as
we'll as his own. This proposition had not been in
roduced for the first time by himhad before been in
troduced by his predecessor-and he then considered
it as important as now He waited some expression
of the sense ofthe House.
Mr.. ADAMS would, with great pleasure, modify
his and incorporate the resolutions but he considered
them as differing substantially.
The morning hour having elapsed, the House pro-
ceeded to other business.
Mr.. G.. DAVIS in behalf of his colleague, (Sher-
rod Wiams,) offered the following resolution
Resolped, That the Secretary of the Treasury Of
the United States inform this House what six land
districts have been discontinued under the of June
IL, 1870 and when they were respectively discontlnu-
cd. Also, what salaries or other emoluments were
paid the officers Of such districts between the 18th Of
June aforesaid and the dscontinuance Of such dis
tsicts, specifying the sums paid to each individual
And that the Secretary also report the amount of reve
that paid to each receiver Of such district be-
tween the time of their discontinuance and the said
18th of June, 1910.
Mr. TURNEY presented the petition Of William
Smith-presented heretofore-April 20, l840-which
was referred to the Committee fthe Judiciary.
PRIVATE BILLS.
The bill for the relief Of Mary Tucker received its
third readingwas passed and sent to the Senate for
concurrence.
The bill for the relief Of Benz Adams e. Co. was
brought up After heightened debate by Messrs.
Cave johnson, Dawson, Winthrop, Holmes, Evans,
Habersham, Vanderpoel, and Waddy Thompson,
MI CAVE JOHNSON moved to lay it on the Ia
Bile but withdrew at the request Of Mr.. Winthrop
After few remarks from Mr. W., the motion was
renewed; on which the yeas and nays were taken,
and resulted-yeas SO, nays 70. Son was laid on the
table
The House then, on motion Of Mr. CAVE JOHN
SON, resolved itself into Committee of the Whole,
Mr.. Briggs in the chair.
The bill for the relief of Nathaniel Goddard and
Others which under consideration Yesterday
up in order and was debated length by Messrs.
Russell, Saltonstal Sergeant, Waddy Thompson,
and Turney.
Without disposing Of the bill, the Committee rose,
and motion, the House adjourned at halfpast three
o'clock.
IN SENATE,
MONDAY jan H. lS4l