Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-05-18
Removals from Office.


Removals from Office.
An interesting Debate incidentally in the Senate
Thursday the bill making alterations in the Pay De-
parment OF the Army-in which the whole policy OF re-
movas from office. by the President, under review,
and its coruptng and penicous effects ably expos
ed Messrs. Morehead, Webster, Msngum, Calhoun and
others took ground against it, broadly conoveriug the
principle which unfortunately asserted in 1859, by
the casting vote OF the vice-Pesident John Adams)
thai the power Of removal inherent the Executive de-
partment and srenuouSy contendng that it and ought
be regulated and controlled b. Legislation. Mr.. Msdi
son. well known IN favor Of coniernng the power
the Presidents and his ingenious and able argument
in its favor Is doubtless be ascTbed the decision OF Con-
gress 1889. But, il that illas'rous Statesman could
have foreseen the misches which have resulted from the
cspricious and tyanniesl Of this power
would have consented cothe the President with its
exercise. Indeed when othoTs. more aPprehensye than
himself OF abuse predicted that would, future
day. become a mighty engine OF oppresson-tbat itwoud
be perverted from its legitimate ends and made nstru
ment OF rewards and punshments"-ihat competent Off
GERS would be removed, for 4 difference OF opinion
with the appointing power and put their places
having no other recommendation than devotion to the
Presiden-Ar Madison secuted the apprehension
for belief ana declared that any President
who should far lose sight Of the purposes winch he
moving faithful ueumbents without cause, ought and
would subiec, himself to impeachment.
Mr. Calhoun, having taken strong ground in this debate
against "Spos" SYSTEM Mr.. Sewer took occasion 10
remind him that the Administration OF Mr. Tyler. of which
that gentleman a member, acted upon very prnc
pie which he suongly condemned. To this tauni, Mr.
Calhoun replied, that "when he tho Department,
OF State under Mr. Tyler he was in entire ignorance Of
practice spoken 81 lie knew nothiOg abOuf, and had al
A. -.
Ter in regard removals. He condemned much in
him as in any other man. In subsequent part OF the de-
bate, Mr.. Calhoun remarked
ITO 20 back to the beginning there was originally
controversy whether the removing power belonged the
President Of the United States and after long dis
cushion decided be incidental the executive
in my opinion, most erroneous opinion and frsugh with
great mischief. During Thai dscussion-n my memory
serves ght-Mr Madison expressed the opinion that
removal OF a mertonous officer guilty OF neglect
of duty, by the Executive, would be impeacheabe Of
fence. Substantially that was acted upon I'LL very late
period and the overthrow Of that principle, the
preston Of the Senator North Carolina has laid the
foundation VI the "spois SYSTEM" for II much
easy thing nsr the expiration Of four drop Of
hcer and send another his place, than him out
From that principle has extended and extended I'LL lit
orally our government has become government Of spos
Your presidential elections governed by it, and has
conducted this in the downward road to
The evil tendency Of that principle has been often descrb.
ed the HOOr OF Congress IL has come 10 this tina
every four years there is revolution ct Parties in
the United States. You mako expenditure annually
say Of twenty-five millions Of dollars, and in the four
years Of one hundred millions. This Is sum
in the hands Of the Executive, and the spOs principle
becomes great pnzs be obtained every pres DENTAL
election. Now the ofceholders have the greatest
maintain their poson and those who desire Otce
on the other hand have strongest motives 10 struggle
hard in getting President. Thus the presidential cleo
ton becomes a conflict between these two psres-those
Of office being the numerous, prove the strongest
the office eIpecIsn,s defeat the office holders. sys-
TEN Of conflict is thus produced utterly destructive Of every
sound political principle, and Of all political integrity.
We could do a thing than pu; end 10 u -
The first step 10 the evil 20 assume the power nbsn
doned improperly The power Of removal u cOngTession
power be regulated by law. Not that Congress have
the power but hs hey have the right regulate it by law
Thsi not new idea Of mine. la 1885 or 1886, moved
committee take into confederation the subject OF
tive patronage. One Of my recommendations put
end this four years law II be desirable
every four years say II II be desirable that the
should be closed every four years, and the officer
should be turned out, soy and you will get the CON-
nenoement OF the putting down OF system which, n you
do not put II down. II will put you down"
Messrs. Sewer aud Allen defe nded the pfoscnpiye
policy. and spoke Of "a popular doctrine" To this
Mr. Calhoun Iepod in the following eloquent aud
elusive remarks
"MT. CALHOUN referred to report made in 1896 to
show that twas the democratic doctrine he con-
tending for. Acting ths principle (snid Mr. } large
mass Of society enter into politics mode Of obtain.
ing livelihood. When affirm that already many per.
live upon the expenditures Of this government the
half Of the great population engaged ia Che cultivation Of
the cotton lands, the extent Of the evil may be imagined
The income Of the government s almost equal half Of all
| the income derived from cotton property Now we know
what large mass Of our population j. engaged In the cu
ovation Of cotton, aud yet through the Of this 20.
vernmeni many persons living upon the public
But that ALL Put then the half Of the income
Of the cotton properly into lottery be drawn every four
years. 90 many men will into that lottery in hopes q
drawing prize, that when the victory achieved,
IN forty be rewarded. What the result The 80
disappointed and who fought only for the "spOils"
HI. II l.
tskes place, wiio the Jher side and seek the
turn Of the wheel when another lottery IL drawn. Thus
hey 20 on. Can any wise mnn--csn sny patriotic
man-can any genuine friend Of human liberty,
look al such spectacle without the most poignant
regret Tie must bo little informed indeed in poll.
ucs VINO does not know oil this, and knowing
az this' ne viii be asserting Of the aud
monsous propositions the face Of Gods earth, who
says that this - popular doctrine" What - pOpu
Ter docuinei" Thi'u popular docuinoi" Il s the very
reverse IL h tho dOctrns cresie king aud 10 ann
hlale liberty A. for myself hsye msinsinsd on tbi.
Subjects uniform position When the act Of $50 was pss
sed, " passed through Congress without my knowledge
The memen heard Of lie passage, ! pronounced 10 !
friend that thst law Of the mus dangerous eSer
passed, ard that would work greet revolution
have always stood upon that ground and yet
know that this position not popular position. But
speak the truth when the truth ought 70 be spoken Tn,
presidential election BE- no longer struggle for grea, prin
eplss. bot only great struggle TO who 'hsl hsve lh
spells u office. Look 81 the machinery eonventoi
that nominses the President sod In which unequenl
many Of the Representatives Of the Spiesjo IN gene
rel undermining divide the Office. smonesl thsmSslve
and their friends. And thus they make President VIII
has voice Al al In the selection OF officers Thea
thinRs arc known and say IL s surprising that bein
Known gentlemen who advocate the opposite doctrine
sumo u 70 be democrsue. No The democratic doctrine
precisely the Of whst they s,ct tesch. Il goe
against patronage end influence, and gives patron
than what tho strict necessity Of the admits Pat
ronage wisely snd Iodiciouy dispensed the part Of h
Executive may have ssutsry effect in giving
ton and strength 10 the government but this wholesal
rse 10 public oes for parry purposes wholly peioiou