Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-04-24

altme had the authority to expend the money
he Secretary OF State had no more power to
spend dollar of it than you or ], Mr. Speaker,
have to-day. Whatever expenditures was made
by the Secretary Of State, or through that de-
parimen', must have bccA made, and could be
made IN no other way, than by an order from the
President. lie is the responsible person, and il
there has been any corruption in the cxpend.
ture Of the money, which | do not in the slight.
es, degree suspect, Mr. Tyler is the responsible
person, and he il is who is to be called upon to
account for 1t. say, therefore, that If you send
the resolution to the President Of the United
States, it is extremely probable that he may an.
swer that he knows no more about il than you
do. u does not follow that because | comnuni.
Gated 10 my immediate Successors for what pur.
pose had ordered an pendture OF this money
not through the Department of State, but
through other channels-that other Presidents
may have done so Under the law which has
been read by the chairman of the Committee OF
Ways and Means, (Mr McKay.) this money is
TO be accounted for by personal certificate
from the President, having no more reference to
the Department Of State than to the Department
of the Treasury, and perhaps no, 50 much. lie
is authorized and required to certify to the ac
n 4.
pended, with his appreciation, for certain purpo.
sce, and tina, certificate is 10 answer for All Tho
more minute details required in all ,,ber amo,,uts
settled a, the Treasury Do,,r,mo,, Tba, cor
tfca,e he must give. and he is ros,o,s;ble FIR i,
az have always held myself rcsnonsible IN the
country for lime. So hno "a I live for the ex.
pendilure of that money
And here I take occasion IN saw ,ha, diff.r
with the gentleman from VIRGINIA. MIR R,vlvO
and. believe other gentlemen WIN have staieJ
,ba, tho d,v of imnpscbmon, h,s n,ssoJ hv tho
cons,i,u,ion from tho momcn, Tho nnhlc of;ca
exoires. hold no such dnc,rine. hold nv.
self go long as have the breath If life in nv
body. amen,be 10 mpeachmcn, by this House
for evcry thing did during The time held nv
publc Office.
Mr. Bayly. Is not the iudpment, in case of
impeachment. removal from office
Mr. Adams. And Decentralization to hold any
Office Of honor, trust, or profit under the United
States for ever afterwards a punishment ronch
greater in nv opinion than removal from office.
II clinys to a man as long as he lives; and il
any public officer ever nut himself in position
to be tried BY impeachment. he would have very
little of my good onlnion if he did no, think dis.
qualification from holding office for life a more
severe punishment than mere removal from Of
flee. hold, therefore, that every President of
the United States, every Secretary of State.
every officer i,npeachabe by the laws of the
country is as liable, twenty wears after his Office
has expired. as he is whilst he continues in of.
fee: and if sncb is no, the case. if An officer
could Tins ward off Tho mains If imneacbmen,
vh,, ,,onlJ h, tho y,luo of Tho ,ror;si,, o- xha,
Il, van sur,nse J;scnvor;os wo,J be m,do ,n,,
would rord.,r ;,rnoach,n.n, offsc,,.I, I s,oaL
w;,h reference ,n Tho nroyisions If ,hc cons,i,n.