The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-16
Rsstoratton or the Government o Its Orig
inal Purity, --No. 2.


OF the Senate, to remove an incumbent from
office, was settled during Washington's adj
ministration in the negative, and the practice
in the premises has been ever since IN ac-
cordance with that decision, although argn-
ments have, from time to time, been urged
by Senators in favor Of the affirmative side
OF the question. There are certainly strong
reasons in favor of asking and obtaining the
consent of the Senate for removals from Of
fee. The policy seems to flow naturally from
the power granted to the Senate to refuse
or grant their consent to the nominations Of
the executive. But it must be remembered,
that this power is an express grant, and that
constructive powers ought never to be assum-
cd and exercised, except in cases where
they are absolutely necessary to the execu-
ton Of the original power The statesmen
Of Washington's time, did not regard the
formal removal OF an incumbent from Office,
as necessary to enable the eyecutiveto nomi-
nate his successor, and hence they rejected
the idea that the President ought to ask the
consent Of the Senate to remove an incum-
bent from office, as an unnecessary act Of
power. The express grant Of power to the
executive to nominate, they considered as
covering the whole ground and giving the
President entire control over the question.
The very fact Of nominating man to an Of
fee already filled, was regarded as the ex-
preston Of the executive opinion, that, the
public interests demanded the removal OF
the incumbent, ofwhich fact the constitution,
in granting to the executive the entire nomi
mating power, made the President the ex-
elusive Judge, though the consent ofthe Sem
ate is necessary to complete the act Of APP
pointment.
But, while there will be no attempt, un-
der the new administration, to change the
established policy Of the government in this
respect, there will be marked difference in
the exercise Of the nominating power by
President Taylor when it shall come to be
compared with its exercise by his immediate
predecessors He viii restore the Washing
ton policy in this important matter,-a poll
cy, which will place the Senate once more
in possession Of its true power over the ques-
ton Of appointment That policy was, to
nominate the best men for public office. It
involved the necessity ofremoving incompe-
tent men, wherever and whenever found,
and the substitution Of competent men; and
President Washington never hestated to do
his duty in this respect, whether the axe
fell upon the neck of friend OF opponent.
Indeed, this consideration never influenced
his conduct in the least So il will be with
General Taylor. He will exercise the APP
pointing power as high trust, and in the
choice Of nominees, he will take care, that
it shall fall on men, who, whatever may be
their political opinions, there shall be no
question with him about their fitness, integri-
ty and Qualifications. In this way, and in
this way only, is il possible to do justice to
the public service and to enable the Senate
to share with the Executive its due proper
ton Of responsibility in the premises; Of one
thing, the country may be well assured -
the Senate will never be shocked by Presi-
dent Taylor's nominations, an exemption it
has not enjoyed for twenty years past
There can be no doubt, but that the
makers Of the constitution, in giving the
power to the Executive, TO FIJI up vacancies
happening during the recess Of the Senate,
intended to signify, by the word vacancies,
such vacations Of Offices as might happen
without the interposition Of the President;
but in the absence Of any provision in the
constitution for the removal, in the recess of
the Senate, Of officers whom, in the opinion
Of the President, the interests Of the public
service require to be removed forthwith, the
early administration Of the Government con-
struel the meaning Of the word vacancies to
extend to all vacations Of public Offices,
whether caused by the President in remov-
ing the incumbents or not. This construc-
ton has been acquieseed in ever since in
practice, though there are still statesmen
who refuse to give their assent to the con-
struction The great injury to the public
service has been IN the manner Of exercising
the power derived by this construction, il
having been used for twenty years past, as
an engine Of prescription for political opin-
ions sake. Its use, within the limits as
signed by Washington and the early Presi-
dents, would appear to be required by the
exigencies Of the public service. 1t may be,
N A n L.. r. - " FL
may become so much drunkard as to unfit
him for his public duties. In that event,
his removal and the appointment Of his sue
cessor, would not be an improper exercise
Of this constructive power. Again, il may
be, that previous administration may have
filled many Of the public Offices with incom-
petent men, in the opinion Of the succeeding
administration In that case the exercise Of
this constructive mower in removing them