The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-12-28
CITY OF WASHINGTON.


FRIDAY MORNING, DEC. 20, ls4s.
the Union New York. Philadelphia, and Boston, and receipt fo
payment for the ~
shall not Executive CaIumny be Repensd
On referring to the proceedings Of the Senate Mon
day last our readers will find the following resolution,
introduced in that body by Mr. Bradbury. senator from
Maine:
Resolusd That the President be requested be
erred filed in any against individuals
who have been removed from Office since the 4h day OF
which the officers charged have had opportunity be
heard and statement OF the number OF removals made
under each department.
The resolution lies over, under rule of the Senate,
and will come up for debate on future day.
We regard this movement on the part Of Senator
Bradbury important one, fully justified by the dec
araons made by General Taylor, before and since his
election with regard to removals from Office, and neces-
say for the vndicaton OF every honest and upright
who has been removed from Office under the present ad
ministratoH.
Long before General Taylor was formally brought for
ward candidate for the presidency he, in
letters written in his various individuals avowed
himself not to be party man-that if he were elected
he would be the President OF the people, and not Of
paryand that he would remove no man for opinions
sake In his first Allison letter he repeated these no.
party pledges and subsequently, to his nomination by
the federal party at Philadelphia, lie wrote letters
democrats containing the pledges. and accepted the
nomination OF democratic meetings and conventions. In
consequence Of these pledges he received the votes Of
both federalists and democrats-the latter OF whom
enormously believed that he Of high and ee.
waited sentiments of honor and integrity, whose written
word could be relied upon, and who would to do
act in opposition to his solemn pledges
In his inaugural address, he in substance repeated
those pledges In the presence Of the assembled people,
with the oath of office warm upon his lips, he uttered the
declaration, that $50 far as is possible to be informed,
shall make honesty. capacity, and fidelity Indispensable
prerequisites to Office and the absence Of either Of these
qualities shall be deemed sufficient cause Of removal"
This contained, in TERMS to the American
people that who did possess honesty, capacity,
and fidelity" would be appointed, and who did
possess those qualifications should be removed
Therefore, every removal involved an implied charge
that the person removed did not possess either honesty
capacity, fdetyin other words that he was either
moral or criminal delinquent that he was incompetent
to the discharge of his official duty Under the declara
ton OF Gen. Taylor, the other of these charges
was implicitly ade against every democrat removed
from office by him or the cabinet
And thus the press in the support OF the cabinet regard
ed the matter When complaints were made OF the vio
aon on the part of Gen. Taylor of the pledges which
he made previous to the election the federal press re-
Piled that nobody was removed from Office. ercspl for
That the universal and common understand
ing among the rank and file OF the federal party And
therefore, when it was desired TO procure the removal of
an Official incumbent in this city, postmaster or Gus.
om.hou,e officer in any Of the States. they were inform
ed that 1t could only be done for cause that il they had
charges against the incumbent. they would be heard,
and that removal would be made, if the charges were
sufficient justification for IT, Such the understand
ing Of the federal press and the supporters Of the admin
straton. And thus epery democrat ,cas inpledly re-
moued, not because I've democrat but because he scas
either moral or criminal delinquent, incapable of er
eeuttng NE duties Of the particular office iuhie he held
Under these pledges Of Gen. Taylor with the interpre
taton given to them by the press in the support Of the
cabinet and by the federal party generally epery removal
inuoiued base libel upon the person removed
Now, II not just and proper that the Senate the con-
current appointing power, majority Of which are demo-
Gratis, should take which will relieve that Dor.
ton OF the American people whose political sentiments
they reflect from the foul aspersion cast upon their char
acter by the person temporarily clothed with the execu
tive power OF the nations Shall man who, by the
favor OF portions OF all classes and parties Of his coun
tymen, has been elevated to the exalted Office OF Pres
dent, be permitted in silence and without rebuke to use
the power and influence OF that Office TO Islander and libel
that portion Of his fellow citizens who differ with him in
political opinions
We think but one response be given to this in.
quiry by all candid and honest men, And therefore we
rejoice, and we think all rightminded men will re.
oce at the movement OF Mr. Bradbury in reference to
this matter Iwoud be proper II Gen. Taylor had been
elected strictly party man. without pledges before his
election. any declaration to the nature OF the rea-
that would govern him in making appointments and
removals in his inaugural address, If he permitted it TO
be given out through his organs that no removals were
made for political opinions. except for cause but under
the circumstances under which Gen. Taylor went into
the presidency tbecomes imperatvey in order
that innocence and integrity may be vindicated, and
ecutve calumny repelled and rebuked.
Of course il the removals had been avowedly made for
political inquiry would be necessary II would
be known, and would be thereby reflected upon
injured in his character But this attempt on the part
ofbe President Of the United States to Islander and libel
thousands OF the members OF the great party opposed to
him, should be Indignantly and pointedly repeed He
should be required exhibit, the charges upon which he
pretends the removals have been made or he should
stand convicted before his country and the world OF