The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-09-05

but no systema versatile and trafckng politician who
had belonged to all parties. without receiving or merit
ing the respect of either At the time when the charter
for the Bank OF the United States about expiring, and
when il was known that that insolyent institution was
striving to polong its duration by procuring latent VI
taty through the nstrumenality OF State charter
formidable struggle had taken place In Pennsylvania
The whig party Of that State apd the bank made an alb
ance, and a scene OF bribery and corruption, never
equaled in any State, took place Penrose, living IN
a democratic district, was eloquent in his warnings
and indignant in his denunciatons OF this monstrous
and the venality OF It's supporters. Al
ter heated and excited election the democrats were
successful Mr. Penrose was among the democrats re-
turned TO the senate TO oppose In mat as ne had ID
the political campaign. the wings and the bank Although
defeated the bank renewed us enot before lhs
confusion and establishment OF the people who had by
their votes expressed themselves against IT, a charter
was obained-Charles B. Penrose voting in its fayo,
still more infamous effort made after to defeat
the popular voice in the election OF governor when
Penrose whose senatorial term had not expired played
if possible, still more dsgraceiul and degraded part
Rendered odious to the people, whose confidence he had
betrayed he sought an endorsement at Washington, alter
the debauch Of 1910 and ls4l, and was Solicitor under
Mr. Tyler. In seeking place under this "no-paty" al,
there eliminating consciousness that
forbade his appointment to an office that must be
submitted to the ordeal OF an upright Senate, and
he was therefore made Assistant Secretary OF the
Treasury Another OF these singular appointments was
that of Ftz Henry Warren, who was selected for
the Office of Second Assistant Postmaster General
on the day that Jacob Colamer entered upon his du.
ties This is the appointing officer OF the department
which has the largest patronage In appointments IN the
government Of the seventeen thousand postmasters,
about fifteen thousand were virtually decided upon by
this officer The post one, therefore, OF high respon
sibty and trust and the large number OF citizens dis
persed over every State and Territory of the Unonmen
OF standing and character in their respective commpn-
ties-were entitled to superior OF exemplary standing
and high and honorable bearing-one who possessed
public reputation, and enjoyed and deserved the coni-
dence OF those to whom he was known Both his I'm:
had aan me harc nf
one OF them Speaker OF the Legislature OF Ohio. the
other Secretary of the State Of Indiana FiE Henry
Warren had never been honoed with any public trust by
the people who knew him. He had been, however, the
financial partner in shoe shop in small town in Mas
sachuses some years previously which failed Tor about
sixty thousand dollars; and such had been the financial
management Of the concern that the assignee paid dly-
dend TO The creditors OF four and sixth cents on the
dollar On applying for certificate of insolvency, it
was resisted before the master in chaneeIy Warren
fled, and reappeared some time after on the western
frontiers, where he betook himself to partisan poll
tics and where he obtained notorety for his opera
tons in Iowa and with the Mormons as desper-
ate fellow, who did not scrupe at means. Having been
tool of the whg national central committee IN these
dscredtabe transactions on the Upper Mississippi and
with the Mormons, he rewarded BY MI, Coamer
with OF the most honorable and responsible stua-
tons in the gift OF the government Neither Warren
nor Penrose would have obtained senatorial conhma-
ton for the places to which they were respectively APP
pointed and hence their allotment TO positions to which
Of all others they had no pretensons Ii eyneed the
description and quality Of agents that the cabinet would
have employed, they unchecked by legal and con-
The cabinet officers originally and under the early
Presidents confined to their legitimate duties and as
advisers only consulted on measures OF Importance
and dicuty but they had, by Entertainments and the
incapaciiy OF the President assumed power never con.
fered, and dischagng duties bestowed on the Chief
Magistrate only Nothing was heard in those early days
of sessions OF the Executive board 10 remove or appoint
by States and sections, collectors and marshas navy
agents and attorneys surveyors and registers throughout
the country Soon after the induction OF the new cabinet
and duly heraded through the press that desg
mated days and at certain the appointments OF
particular locality were to be passed upon by the cabinet
and following the day specified, the metropolitan organs
would verify the statements, by announcing the removal
of all democrats holding Offices at the will of the Presi-
dent, or for term OF years. at the points indicated The
law and the constitution coDided these appointments TO
the President alone; but, IN the words OF the Allison
letter, the government had undergone great change
from its true theory" by cabinet usurpation. Although
the acts were committed in the OF the President
and he was esponsble-although the forms oil law
preserved, the whole done by irresponsible board
in derogaton Of and against the spirit and intent OF both
the law and the constitution, and by an utter disregard oil
pledges and promises made by the President himself.
This formidable executive council had been slow and
gradual but steady and certain in its encroachments and
in the increase OF its numbers. which were almost
doubled, and by usurpatons under General Taylor,
possessed OF ten.fold the power originally designed
War and other difficulties at former periods had led
them TO be frequently summoned, in part the whole
for consultation on measures Of imperoas necessity
and, mperceptiby, step followed another until al
ignorant and incompetent Chief Magistrate had given into
their hands almost the whole control and management
the government Jefferson the abes soundest, and mos
commanding intellect al the head Of the govern.
menta statesman legislator and republican, in the high
est accepation oil the wors-the strongest mbued
with the spirit and true theory OF institutions writing
this subject after his retirement from public life, says
The ordinary business oil every day done by consuta
ton between the President and the head OF the department
alone 10 which il belongs For measures OF importance
or difficulty, consultation Is held with the heads OF de
partments either assembled by taking their opinions
separately or in writing The latter is most strictly ir
the spirit OF the constitution because the President
weighing the advice OF all, is LETT free to make up
together, and IL is not necessarily known TO any wha
opinions the others have" Meeting together and dis
GUESSING matters does he says transform the Executive
into directory and hold the other method twnter
separate opinionsl to be more constitutional"
Although General Taylor had part in preparing thu
Allison letter. and did more than copy il, in which h'
committed an error which would have been nexcusa
ter and been elected the strength OF the pledges there
in made, he Justly held responsible therefor In this
celebrated letter. prepared in Washington aud submitted
to il not corrected by Secretary Clayton, apprehension
were expressed that the government was undergoing
great change from its true theory but the whole pro
ceedings of the executive council under General Taylo
were against the "true theory" OF the government, and
in the words OF the most enlightened statesman the
try had produced, the practice transformed tn,
Executive into directory"
Never under the early Presidents had the cabinet beer
called together Of been permitted 10 assemble to decide
in regard to presidential appointments Such proceed
ing in the pure and weadministered days OF the gov
eminent would have been deemed outrage upon III,
country degradation the part OF the President wei
as usurpation by the cabinet Stated meetings
tain days in the week OF the heads of
drawing them all from their legitimate duties at eas
half fho,rf he