The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-17
THE REPU UBLIC.
SPEECH

Mr.. TRUMAN SMITH, OF CONNECTICUT,
On Removals. and appointments to Office;
deliDered in the Senate of the United
States, March 21 and %, 1850.
The following resolution, introduced by Mr..
BRADBURY, having been made the special order for
this day, viz: e
Rssoivsd, That the President be requested to
cause to be laid before the Senate all charges which
have been preferred or filed in any of the Depart
ments against individuals who have been removed
from Office since the 4th day OF March last, with
specification OF the cases, if any, in which the Off
Gers charged have had opportunity to be heard,
and statement of the number of removals made
under each Department, including subordinates in
the custom houses and other branches of the public
service
Mr.. SMITH of Connecticut, who was entitled to
the floor, addressed the Senate as follows:
Mr.. President: did not vote for the postpone
ment of the BILL for the reason that desired
to leave the subject to the judgment of the Senate,
without any interposition on my.part II the body
had seen fit to proceed with the consideration Of
that bill, it would not have given occasion to any
complaint by me, although have believed, and
still believe, that the tendency of this resolution
has been attended with considerable inconvenience
to the public service II swell known that most Of
the nominations of the President still remain
disposed Of in many cases the Offices to be filled
vacant; by reason of expiration Of the terms of
the late incumbents; and more than suspect that
this resolution and considerations connected there
with have caused the delay.
have been rather surprised that Senators have
not manifested more earnestness, not to say anx-
iety, to have a disposition of the question now
before the body. l do not know but that there may
be some stern necessity TO me, however, incom-
prehensible) impelling us to an incessant discus
sion of the slavery question. We have been en-
gagged for more than three long months in consider
ing nothing but preiminaries. We have not been
permitted to vote even on question of reference
We have much of the time had but two speeches
week-one for Monday and Tuesday, another for
Wednesday and Thursday; and, when the latter
day has arrived, we have adjourned over to the
succeeding Monday, to resume the same topic, and
to end the week in the same way. In the mean
time, it has been utterly impossible to bring the at
tention of the Senate to the ordinary business Of
the session. We have not recurred to any of the
important suggestions and recommendations con-
tained in the annual message of the President and
vast number of bills, public and private, have ac-
cumulated on our calendar, and are likely to fall
with the session regard these discussions which
have long embarrassed US, of very little prac
tcal utility. Under these circumstances, think,
Mr.. President, that it will not be without
to have slight interruption of this disputaton on
the subject of slavery, when every member of the
30 far as the judgment of the Senate is concerned.
Perhaps shall not be able to interest the body, but
can, at any rate, do one thingI can create sort
of hiatusSin dispute which should have been
brought to close long ago. Laughter.
presume, Mr.. President, that there is not a sin
gle member of this Senate that could feel stronger
repugnance than do to embarking in discus
sion which must partake, more or less, of party
character. During the considerable period that !
was a member Of the House of Representatives,
(associatod with you, sir, for half of that peri
od,) have recollection of having, in any in
stance, availed myself of the privileges of the door,
except to attend to some matter of business, To
consider some question Of broad national interest
desire that it may be understood that such will
ordinarily be my course as member OF the Sen
ate. And, sir, If depart from that rule of conduct
;o1 dor
remarks of my friend from Maine, (Mr. BRApBu-
Ry,) in their scope and purport, tending to cast
dishonor upon the President of the United States.
] am amopg the number of those who repose high
confidence in the integrity of our Chief Magistrate.
believe that he has been actuated in his course by
LIBERAL patriotic, just and elevated views and sem
timents. believe him to be entirely worthy of the
affections and the confidence of the American peo-
pie. Under such circumstances, Notwithstanding
the repugnance feel to this sort Of discussion,
enter with aacrty upon the task of vindicating his
conduct, and of showing that he has not departed
one hair from the position which he assumed be-
fore the American people when a candidate for the
highest Office in their gift.
We know that his name character, and conduct
have been the theme ofincessant calumny and abuse
from the hour of his Inauguration to the present day
But, SIR it has been wholly confined TO the columns
of a licentious press, until now; and my friend
from Maine, for whom trust that entertain pro
per respect, has the unenvable notoriety of bring
ing such topics into this chamber, and of submit
infinite regret that noticed that the ma aority here
determined on the motion of my honorable friend
from N. Carolina, Mr. MANeuM to lay this resolu-
tion the table, as test vote TO countenance the
proposition. Every member of the majority, with
the exception of the honorable Senator from Alaba-
ma, (Mr. CLEMENs,) voted in the negative. The
majority, therefore, have adopted this resolution
and made IL their own. Whether they intend tc
make themselves parties not to the expositons
of the honorable Senator from Maine and whether
they concur with him in all the imputations which
contained in his speech, the future must re.
veal
But let us consider for a moment what are the
alleged reasons for bringing to our notice reso-
luton of this singular and unprecedented chafac-
ter They arc, in substance, that the President o
the United States, both before he became the can
didatc ofthe Whig party, and also during the can
vass, and even in his inaugural address, held ou
expectations TO the American people, in the nature
of pledges, which he has now departed from and
violated in the most atrocious manner. The hon
orable Senator (Mr. b. represents that while the
assurances Of the inaugural yet fingered on the
lips of him who uttered them, the President com
menced breaking faith with the people, or entered
on a violation of what he is pleased TO denominats
pledges, and has continued such violation from tha
time this. The charge OF the Senator is, that b,
gave to the country assurances and pledges, posi-
tive and peremptory, for the purpose of reaching
the highest Office in the gift of the American peo
pie; and that, Immediately upon entering on his du
ties the Chief Magistrate OF the country, he com
menced systematic violation Of all those pledges
The whole sum and substance of this charge is, tina
he has s,cinded himself into the Presidency; that h'
has obtained that high Office by 'faise preences."
regard the inaugural address partaking in some
degree of the solemnity and obligations of the Pres
identia oath; il is conemporaneous herewith, ano
is decaratory of the purposes and views OF the party
on taking the OATH II he commenced violating th'
pledges which the Senator pretends are to be foun'
in the inaugural, while "the accents thereof eye
fingered ON his lips," then he must have taken on
his soul the guilt Of perjury If there is any foun
dation for this allegation OF the honorable Senator
then the President OF the United States is utterl,
unworthy Of the confidence of the country. What
ever others may think Of it, should consider hin
as a dishonorcd man--one who ought to be cas-
from the respect and association Of all honorabl
and all upright men,
will, without further preliminary remarks, ad
dress myself TO the examination Of this subject Il
all it's bearings. And, in the first place, desire
call the particular attention Of the Senate to IN
character Of this most extraordinary resolution
Before entering that topic, however, would OF
serve that am entitled to consider the remarks {
my honorable friend part Of the resolution itscl
or, rather, they fix its true intent and meaning
Upon this point have satisfactory authority TO pre-
duce-an authority TO which | shall have occasio
IN refer,several times In the course of my remark