The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-20
WASHINGTON: MONDAY MORNING, MAY 20, 1850


livia Guatemala, and Ecuador, seventy six thou
sand five hundred dollars; and for outfits OF said
charges des afaires seventy six thousand five hun
dred dollars, or much thereof as may be neces-
sary."
the House about equally divided, and the Senate
largely Democratic) provided outfits for nine iuli
ministers and sixteen charges, amounting in all 70
no less than s 1853 900, thus intimating that it would
be proper for the President to recall the whole dpo
matte corps. Nothing like this amount has ever
been appropriated before for the same purpose
The 2Sth Congress allowed Mr.. Polk only $50 5OO,
being balance of liberality in favor of President.
Taylor of $72, 500. Having myself, as Chairman
Of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, moved these
provisions as amendments 10 the civil and diplo-
matte bill then pending in the House, my particular
attention was turned to the subject and can say
that the amendments proposed received he sup
port Of large number Of the Democratic members;
but it is certain the bill would not have passed this
body without the votes of some portion OF the De-
mocracy here. This was truly generous; but what
are TO think of the consistency Of those who,
after suggesting if not inviting the course 30 plainly
indicated, turn round and denounce it to the coun
try treacherous and viles How can the honor
able Senator draw distinction between the diplo-
matte corps and other branches of the public SER
vice?
will merely add that the President acted, in
point of time, in exact conformity with the views
and opinions of Congress on the subject. The ap
preparations made for the current fiscal year,
and this we know commenced on the hrst OF July
last and, out of difference TO Congress, he wholly
refused to make any appointments until after that
date.
Mr.. BRADBURY. Mr.. President, understand the
honorable Senator to claim, matter Of merit,
| that General Taylor refrained from making any
removals of the diplomatic corps until the COM
| mencement of the fiscal year. would like to ask
| of the honorable Senator whether he did not make
the changes soon as he was authorized TO use the
appropriations.
Mr.. MANGum. He could undoubtedly have acted
on the appropriations in advance, and could have
used the money when due 1t has always been
| done by other administrations
MIR. BRADBURY have supposed that there was
no authority for it.
| Mr.. MANGUM. Besides, there is always fund
in the hands of the Secretary of State for the of
the service, and this could have been used if neces
| Mr.. SMITH. Yes; and the honorable Senator
| (Mr. MASGUM) might say great deal more than
that. Ii is not uncommon send minister abroad
| when there is no appropriation; and a member
of the Committee Foreign Affairs OF the House OF
| Representatives, during both the 29th and Both
| Congresses, was repeatedly called upon for ap-
preparations for the outfits and salaries OF ministers
sent out in that hold that the President
| has the power to send minister abroad, whether
there is any appropriation or not, though Congress
| can refuse payment. But this is wholly unknown
in the history of the country. The President, then,
waited until the very hour arrived indicated by
| Congress. He allowed the appointees Of the late
administration to hold their places for onethird OF
u
| ed to make changes gradually. How far he has
carried the work, and whether his course has or
| has not been moderate, will appear hereafter.
| Having thus shown fully under what circum-
stances President Taylor became candidate, the
relations in which he stood to the Wing party and
recognition of that relation both by the late hon
orable Secretary Of State and the two Houses OF
Congress, and he having been triumphantly
elected, it may well be asked what, on coming into
power, should he dor He finds nearly all the places
under the Government filled by one class-men
who had been engaged in hunting down and pro-
scribing others-and that his political friends bad
been treated If they enemies TO the republic
and utterly excluded from all participation in the
l bonors and emoiuments of office. Was be bound
to lend himself TO this vile system, by continuing
| the proscribers in place and power, Or might he,
by adopting the principle Of equalization, do JUS
tice to every class, and uphold the rights and just
pretensions Of all II was alike his duty and his
Inclination 10 observe the rule OF moderation; and
this he explains in his second letter TO Captain Al
lison, dated at East Pascagoula, September 4, ls4s
| follows:
81 have said am not a party candidate; nor am
/, in that frightened and sectarian sense which
would prevent my being the President Of the peo-
/ pie, in case of my election" al am
not engaged TO lay violent hands, unfortunately,
| upon public officers, good and bad who may differ
/ in opinion with me-" "That is what
! mean by not being party candidate"
Precisely go. He has not laid "vioent hands in
discriminatory public officers, good and bad )"
who belonged to the opposite party, but, neyerthe-
1
which he gave in face Of the Philadelphia convcn-
ton and the whole country, TO make such ga
change Of men and measures" required by
the high interests Of the republic. But now hear
one universal cry, set up all over the country, OF
| prescription breach Of faithl promise -breakng
The Democracy carry ON prescription ad iib-
itnu. They spare no man, no matter what may be
his age, his integrity, experience, or ability TO ad
vance the public interests. But the moment the
people, in their good pleasure, hand over the Gov
ernment TO their political opponents, the world II
filed with denuncfations II single hair Of the De
| mocracy is touched. Indeed, the Senator and his
friends are 10 have all the Offices any how. II we
have n Democratic Executive, then they take them
because they are for the proscriptve policy; and II
a whig Executive, then they are 10 hold on be
cause we dcprecate that policy. The Senator says,
alt is not the policy Of removals that assail call
in question; Il is the Inconsistency between the
professions and practices Of the party in power"
| Even so. There Is always clamor about Whig
inconsistency, and Wing violation Of pledges. In.
deed, il is apparent that the Democracy intend 10
make good their bold on the treasury lid, (which
| they have had possession Of for so long period,)
| by a torrent Of abuse alike impudcnt and false.
| They fssten themselves on the "spoils" with the
grasp Of DEATH But IL will be in vain. The people
too intelligent not 70 see through these shallow
pretenccs. They know that Zachary Taylor has
Pledges arc not 10 be extracted or inferred even
| from his early correspondence. Hence the Presi-
| dent il at liberty 10 pursue such course will
best subserve the public interests. He has right
| 10 do Justice TO his own political friends.
SATURDAY, March %, 1850.