Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-09-26
RICHMOND WHIG.
MONDAY MORNING. SEPT. go.
POWER OF REMODEL.


The Petersburg Intelligcncer quotes the following
paragraph from the 9Th No Of the Federai.t, writ
ten 10y Alexander Hamilton, TO show lha, il wa, no,
contemplated by the trainers Of the Constitution to
vest the power Of removal from Office in the Presi
dent:
ut has been maintained ofthc advantages 10 be
ness Of appoinuens that would contribute 10 the si.
oiy OF the administration. The Of that hocy
change Chief Magistrate therefore would not ocea
son - Violent OF so gensr1 revolution ia the officers OF
e Us Vernnen IS might be expected II he were the sole
GispcseT OF othccS.n
This was the opinion OF ore of the warmest sup
portsrs Of the Constitution, and one who uniformly
commended for every enlargement, Of the E1 ecutiv.
power, warranted by that instrument. IT, by any fair
construction, the President could claim this power
it would have been in accordance with Hamilton.
predictions, and he would have been the las, man
10 deny it. Blu, the constitution no where, neither
directly nor by implication, giants the authority. II
gives the power of appointment, by and with the
advice and consent OF the Sena,e-bui il is silent
TO removals. The just Interpretation is, that the
power which appoints can alone remove; and in
both that pc yer is the Executive and the Sc
nate combined.
A different construction, however, was given in
the frs. Congress, by the casting vote OF the Vice
Presideni-the elder Adams This decision was in
great degree refernble TO the then President. Men
had no fsnrs that Washington would abuse any
power-and for the want Of this wholesome fear
the Executive allowed to usurp the rights of a
CO ordinate Department, by which the system OF
our Government has been seriously affected. But
the usurpation ntho' acquiesed in for the time has
been strenususy resisted, and repeated efforts have
been made TO restore the true residing and intention
Of the Constitution. Thio matter entered largely
into the debates in the Senate, during General jack
IONS administration, when Mr. CALHOUN and Mr.
WEBSTER and Mr. JoHE TYLER concurrod in deny.
Ing the power of the Executive to remove without
tho consent Of the Senate. And during the canvass
OF ls4O-.he two last named gentlemen took ire-
quen occasion to repeat the opinion-and to declare
that whilst tho power was thus exercised, the Con.
su!ion sustained violence, end the public liberty
was insecure. We have not heard that MIR Web.
sIer has changed hiI opinion, bu, Mr. TyIet's ACTS
prove that lac he's changed hi,-and il he had no,
changed, he would be inconsistent. with himself
as this would be tho only public pledge he has no,
violated.
At the time the ques ion frs, came before Con
grsss, Mr. Madison, who was Influenced by his
confidence in Gen. Washington, gave the opinion,
that the President possessed Tie power Of Removal.
10 The course OF his remarks on that occasion, he
observed:
"The danger, them consists in ibis the frosident can
dispisce ffomo flee, whore merits require that he
shoudbo continued IN H. What will be the motive. which
the President can feel fpr such abuse Of HE power and
Tie Te'rinis TO operate 90 prevent ~ IT, tie first place
he ~Rbs improbable hy s House before tic senats
N.Wm fuFN F..f.
tic RAMON rsrI0rai II msriforiops lcsr' would subject
hin 10 Impeachment and removal from bis Oh rust"
Mr. Madison was TOO pure a man TO form any
jus, conception Of what nigh, be, and probably
would lie done by the vicious What we have
witnessed IN our day is confirmation Of the truth
OF the remark. Removal Of mefilorious officers
has become an every day occurrence, sines the I'D.
vent Of Jackson To the removal Of Roberts. The
frequency Of the ofsnee ought no, however 70 mt
gate is enormity; and n j, were improbable fifty
years ago, j, -, or should not be less 80 now And
II James Madison - authority FOR tho power Of
removal, he is equally good authority to tie pen
atty for the abuse Of the power.
But Congress ought not 10 leave to tho contingent
ey Of good President tho on.hbusc u this groat
and dangerous power. Il was Congressional con
sifueion, by a very mesgro msjority-whch
eoreeded the powor-the same construction con
reiake u. Let Congress OF its roKi session
pass Ji denying the pas, construction ia re
gard to Removals, and providing for the ms-
piH'ion, by the President, in the recess Of the
Senate, Of incompetent or dishonest Officers
We were told some time ago, by a gentleman,
who was apology ng for Mr. Tyler, thst hat Func
iohary would readily and joyfully approve such q
bill. The gentleman spoke from his knowledge q
Mr. Tyler's opinions, as ho had declared them for
merry While We have no faith in any pledge Nh
Tyler has made or can make; Il he will old in IL,
passage Of m nc, Of this knd-wo shall be greatly
tempted to forgive him for the past Il would b
the most important and beneficial reform, which hs
been made since the organization Of the Govern
mcnt II would proclaim a lasting sa'rnaiia 10 tn
slaves in Office. IL would protect honesty and com
potency from tho assaults Of mercensIy, ambi
uous or vindictvo President II would Gu tail III
power and patronage Of the Executive, which nos
endangcrS thc pubic liberty. Il would restore &
, the Representatives Of the States their lost right
end fe-esiablish the Constitution.