The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-05-17

90 Oar particularly rsquea make frequent
10 this ses and especially in regard to subscribers and dseon
| tinnaness
The senate "a constitutional check upon EXeeu-
tive In matters OF disp!aeennent.
The views of Mr.. Clayton. formerly of the United
States Senate Secretary of State, expressed in
the following powerful paragraph of his speech on
Foors resolution opposite to the present crisis,
that will crafty readers 10 be permit
ted 10 examine them, in columns These are
his words
81 consider the Senate possessing certain executive
powers be exercised in cooperation with the President,
when they approve of the ADMINISTRATION OF his coordinate
powers, in opposition to, and salu,ary check upon
him, when he has abused such powers and that ofi-
oil certain grade cannot be appointed without their
advice and consent If those officers be removed 10
ward partsans for any other fable purpose, the
Senate reject nominations supply the vacancies thus
occasoned, and thus either compel the President rein
those removed leave vacancies which he cannot
supply after the expiration of their session If this view be
sound the Senate, 10y its legitimate though indirect action
upon every removal has check upon tho abuse of power
which, if exercised when the public interest really de-
mands II, will destroy the motives for that abuse and
hereafter the republic in her hour of greatest peril
The objects be attained by ambitious and designing
President through the fundamentally of these removals,
will be dspace the real friends of the people, and to fill
the vacancies with his subservient his
WILL and independent OF all other control and If the SEN
have the virtue reject his propositions effect these
ends he may be compelled his removals,
leave the places vacant. This right of rejecting appoint
en with the express design OF acting upon the removals,
should be exercised whenever the removing power has
abused because every such abuse OF tyan-
ny, and the fist approaches of usurpaon oppressive
and arbitrary power, should be repulsed by those who
stand tho vglant and intrepid among the
sentinels of liberty. Ordinarily, he who accepts APP
poinnent fill vacancy occasioned by such abuse of
power, is cognzant of the facts, and consenting the
abuse Moreover, this check should b, nerPosed when
the public interest demands the restoration of meri
torous officer, whether removed through nadveen error
or intentional Injustice. The Senate thought porta mt to
this right in the of the military nominations
ia 1872 but the privilege becomes inestimabY valuable
whenever the removing oil President is exered for
the purposes of personal ambition, and in utter contempt
of the public interest 1t is infinitely better go without
an officer than submit IAN of tyranny in any
shape"
What will the President think next winter if the
Senate should determine to act upon the advice of Mr.
Clayton, when the nominations shall be submitted
TO them Does he with Mr. Clayton that il is the
duty OF the Senate to investigate all the circumstances
connected with the removal OF public officers? Does he
subscribe to the opinion, so gravely announced by Mr.
Clayton, that if upon such investigation, it should turn
that Me Presidents authority has been perverted
tirey to party and personal purposes" the Senate is
''bound to correct the evlp Do the President and his
Secretary again agree in the opinion, strongly stated
by the latter that "Me President properly
moue officer before The expiration Of has term but for
cause connected only ciM The PUBLIC INTEREST, WhHsi
The Senate Investigate The cause and ascert1 by tie
facts, hoc far the constitution has been complied ,c,h
and If this authority has been abused. or extended
beyond ITS constitutional limts the House may impeacl
the author of such abuses before the Senate and the Senate
may ren,Oue him and oil his minions? Again: we ask
does the President approve of what Mr. Clayton says
in this excellent speech of his to the power and duty
of the Senate if they should come 10 the conclusion in
any given case that certain "ocs haze been removed
to reDard parsans, for any other unjuslfaue pur
pose to reject nominations to supply the vacances, and
thus either compel the President 10 reinstde those removed
or ieaus uacancies acaeh he cannot supply after the
praon of their session 2" Indeed, our curiosity is in
tense in reference the judgment which may be award
ed by President Taylor and his cabinet upon these time
honoed doctrines of his distinguished Secretary of State
Does Mr. Clayton repudate his fine speech of 1890,
or does he still, cling to the principles then avowed by
him. Or had he entirely forgotten this speech when he
yielded his assent however reluctantly. to the abomn-
able prescription for opinions sake which has been al
ready perpetrated by this administration, and yet go
on, we hear. until the people and their constitutional
organs will be forced to the ultima ratio Of
political system? II this speech has been actually for
gotten up the present hour by lis accomplished author.
may we not hope that he at least may hereafter show
decent respect for its eachngs' few days will answer
this question, deeply involving personal character. and
decide whether Mr. Clayton like the President, when
in possession of power, grows profoundly oblvious Of
promises ma and principles announced when only look
ing forward to future advancement.
"The Earlier Presidents."
One of the most captivating declarations made by Gen
Taylor IN the progress of the late presidential
wns that one in which he announced his determination