The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-07
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italics is the only part read to the House by Mr..
Linn. Let the world Judge whether the Presi-
dent wished to withhold the report, and let those
who, standing on the floor Of Congress, and who
unmindful of the character due to their position,
have thus wantonly slandered the Executive,
hide their diminished heads, if they can, from
the scornful gaze OF the People. Mr.. Poindex-
ter's letter shows that the President was urging
the Commission to report the result OF their IN
vestgation. The President uses almost the
| language Of entreaty to have the report sent In
He, as Mr.. Poindexter testi6es, is anxious to
take the report to his chamber and to devote his
midnight hours TO its perusal, being occupied
all day In important matters Of state. g Con-
gress is moving" says the President, and he ex-
presses wish 10 comply with the resolution
calling for the report. 8 Ca
The charge that the President wished to smo-
ther up the report is so absurd that we can
scarcely reconcile it to ourselves to say word
more in refutation. Who instituted this Com
mission? The President. For what was it
formed? To expose corruptions and malprac-
ices in custom-house officers, if any existed.
and to examine whether oppression and tyranny
was exercised in the execution Of the laws
gulating the collection of the revenue? Who
Landed the President for instiluting the Com
mission, and praised his determination to inves-
tgate this subect? "he universal Wing press
all over the Union. And now, that the Presi-
dent has discharged duty which he believed
incumbent upon him-afterhe has urged an ear
ly report -aficr he has again and again express
ed wish to give to Congress the informa'
ton ELECTED by the investigation, and to act
as became the Chief Magistrate with regard TO
the removal of incompetent or faithless officers
he is, for party purposes, recklessly charged by
the tools OF Presidential aspirant with sinis-
ter motives and derelction Of duty. But in
their anxiety TO accuse these potters forget that
there was the liberty and the ability to defend
and that there were blows to receive as well as
to give in any personal or political contest which
they enter into with the Executive or his friends.
For the manner in which the lntriguers have
been met, we refer to the speeches of Mr.. Wise,
Mr.. Profit, and Mr. Cushing A more signal
discontinue never overlook the plotters.
We should not think it necessary to add an
other word, had not respectable member Of
Congress mr. Adams) made some comments
on the garbed extract from the Presidents let
ter. We doubt not but that, after reading Mr..
Pondexler's letter and the whole of the Presi-
dents reply, Mr.. Adams will be one Of the
very first to do the President justice in this
matter. Mr.. Adams has mistaken the import
of the Presidents letter, which was written no
doubt in haste, and as a private communication.
The President says 81 do not doubt thatit (the
report) will contain many suggestions with re-
gard to the ustom-houses, and the mode of
transactng business most worthy to be recon-
mendea by me to Congress" Does this look
like withholding information ? Again, he says,
'sshould it bring to my knowledge any facts inn
plicating those noav in o6fceto an extent OF upon
grounds equirlng the Executive action in re-
gard to them, shall without any promptings by
Congress, who have rightfully, nothing to do
with it, discharge my duty to the country, with
out fear"
With what had Congress nothing to do2
The Erecutive dctton in the removal of UNI
faithful officers. That is power solely be-
longing to the Executive. What were the
promptings of Congress, for which the Presi-
dent would not wait? He meant Recommended
tons in the shape of resolutions, or impeach-
ment; the tardy operations of which he should
not wait for, but act promptly and efficiently, as
his duty required. The President never intend
ed, as Mr.. Adams seems to suppose, that Con
gress had not the right to impeach, &C.; but he
SAYS that removals from office are properly with
in the Executive power. The President speaks
of the probability Of his recommending many
of the suggestions of the report to Congress-
How could he say in advance OF receiving the
report what he would do2
He could not, as Mr.. Stanly and his brother
committee men did, adopta report without read
ing it, Or scarcely seeing it. He would recon-
mend such portions of it as met his approba-
ton and comporled with his views of duty
On MANY parts he might differ in opinion with
the report, and on many, which, to HIM, might
appear doubtful or unimportant, he might remain
silent. But if it were necessary to add another
word in justification Of the President and IN
refutaton Of the calumnies uttered against him,
we would call upon the country to witness that
the day after the House had called upon the
President for the report, &C., he sent 1t, and all
the papers connected with it, to the House, with
message. He would have been glad to have
had time to examine it. He would have been
happy if he could have received copy for his
own consideration. But he has now thrown
upon the House of Representatives the respon-
.iblty of their own action, and the country will
hold the House accountable for its conduct in
this matter.
We understand that the ''Cay caucus" have
hsen nnrinp over some other letters which have