The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-02-03

/ Speaker OF the House oil Representatives,,
for The lime being, be placed at the head oil
this Department, anu be charged with a
general supervisory or yIsitatorial, power
over the Treasury of the United States,
which would require nothing more at their
hands than one or two periodical inspec.
tons OF the condition of the Treasury 10
the course Of the year, and an annual re
port OF its operation 10 be made TO Congress
within the first month of each session.
This board being thus constituted the head
of the new Department, under the clause OF
the Constitution which authorizes "Con.
gress by law to YES, the appointment Of
such inferior officers as they think proper
10 the heads of Departments, &c. proyis.
100 might be made for vesling the appoint.
men, OF Treasurer, of the members Of the
proposed EychequeT, and Of al other Off
GERS concerned IN the active duties Of the
Department, IN the Board Of COMMISSION
ers, who should alone, too, have the power
OF removing any of these iunctionaries from
office ~ case OF malversatlon or lncompe.
tency. | throw out these suggestions for
the consideration of the Senate, not as hav
ing very thoroughly pondered them myself,
though they have often passed through my
mind IN the deep anxiety | feel for the &C
compIlshment of the object at which they
aim-au entire withdrawal of the Treasu.
~ from any connexion with, or dependence
on, the Executive. If there should be no
constitutional impediment to their sdop
non, and confess am 20; inclined TO be
astute IN searching for one in such cause,
they would be tts means OF ellectrng great
political reform and OF afiording a security
for the public liberty, the importance Of
which, IN the general sentiment Of the
country, cannot, am sure, be overraied.
1t, however, upon consideration, il should
be thought that the actual provisions Of the
Constitution, Notwithstanding the practical
construction II received 10 the case of the
Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, op
pose an Insurmountable obstacle to the
arrangement here suggested, there is yet
aaoiheE mode of rendering the members OF
the proposed A.schequer Board virtually
independent Of the power of the President ;
IN regard TO the cons,tu,ioualiiy of which,
| presume, there can be no doubt 10 the
mnds OF majority of this body. mean
by providing that they shall not be removed
from office IN any case without the concur
renee OF the Senate; rescrvlng, however,
to The President the payer Of suspension 10
casa+s4 snisconduc, or lniideli,y, and Of ap.
pointing a temporary substitute during the
recess Of the Senate, which, as soon as il
meets, shall determine whether the officer
shall be restored, or be finally removed
from Office. 4 provision Of this kind, BY
throwing over the officer The shield of Sen
atorlal justice, would render him independ
ent OF the mere will Of the Executive, and
give him the requisite firmness in the cor
scieniious discharge of his dn,y. As TO
the constitutional power Of Congress thus
10 regulate The tenure of Offices cGsated BY
1t, think there IS no reasonab Die ground Of
doubt The decision Of Congress, in 1850. !
90 The general question of the power of re.
decision IN which, under the lu
ninous reasoning OF Mr.. Madison, my
judgment has always acquiesced-went no
further, according TO my apprehension of it,
than TO affirm that, 10 the absence of legs.
Iation TO the contrary, the poWe of reno
val resulted to the President. have never
understood It as precludlng the power Of
congress, whenever It thought proper to
do SO by express provisions TO regulate
differently the tenure of Offices created BY
II, aud 10 declare 10 what manner as well
as Tor What causs, the incumbent shall be
removed.
The honorable Senator from kentucky,
hf. Clay 4 mistake not, brought for
ward proposition 10 1885, providing that
no officer appointed By the President, BY
and with the advice snd consent of the
Senate, should be removed from Office with
out the concurrence Of the Senate, subject,
however, 10 temporary suspension by the
President, when necessary, during the re.
cess d tie Senate. The application Of tbs
principle is especially called for in regard 10
oil officers entrusted with the custody and
management Of the pubic moneys. Ii has
been so felt and acknowledged in the lnsli
lutions Of our sturdy British ancestors from
.ime immemoral; for, while the mass of
Dut-ic lunclIonarIes there hold their Offices
turing the pleasure of the Crown, the off
,ers Of The ExcbeqUer, " tho great censor
iaior, as II is called, " Of the revenues Of
he nation, are entrenched behind tenure
u good behaviour, aud hold their situations
Wien once appointed, independently Of the
deasure oft6e Grown. Surely our national
reasury, maintaining precisely the same
citation 10 the public revenues, should be
endered, at least, as independent Of the
over Of the Executive here. | am ready, /
hen, fer one, TO ION the honorable Senator
rom kentucky, heart aud hand, ia carry
~ out tie principle of has proposition, in I
egard TO The members Of the proposed
jo~rd Of Eychequer, aud all other officers
with the public Treasury. The
honorable Senator has past laid upon our .
able proposition for an amendment of the
TO vest 10 Congress the ap
Of The principal officers Of tho {
10. -. Z