The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-04


do remember that great fault has been found "a that State
by many members OF the party with which have been
associated long, that removals have not taken
place and when the explanation has been made that Gen.
Taylof will not remove without some special cause
other than difference in political sentpen and that the
democa!s in Office will not be displaced long they
quate skill absaining from all active or offensive inter-
ference in politics, the reply is promptly ade that there
is equality or fairness in the contests Of party, when
one party claim to have perfect right TO all the eces
and actually enjoy them when in power while the other
will only let IN their friends when specific cause OF
removal can be shown against ncnmbents OF the adverse
party And sir, ii Is difficult to give satisfactory ans
wer to this proposition The question Is serious one
How can the whg party be sustained upon the principle
General Taylor praelses upon in relation to removals
from ONCE while the opposite party assert and practise
upon the policy OF distributing among their friends and
pertsans some twenty or thirty thousand public Offices
The advantages and influences Of such policy like
" to become overwhelming and irresistible in sustaining
the party which acts upon such principles And this sir
becoming The prevalent sentiment oil the country that
no party can be sustained the opposite policy Sir.
thus question Of party prescription threatens TO control all
others lhe democratic party goes into elections advo
eating and sustaining this policy, and offering to their
followers all the offices OF the country the fruits Of
victory; while the whig party can only give the assu-
resignation. and such others may be made SO by re-
meva for special causes, shall be distributed among their
friends While THIS is 50, j may be asy feared. N this
age OF progress, "a progrees BY the-by which have
little faith I'M and regard rather ratrograde move-
mert that the wings will have 10 succumb TO their ad-
vcrsaries whatever superiority they may lay claim to IN
the soundness and wisdom OF their general policy and
principles; and the question is being forced upon our
consideration, whether administration stand which
does not carry out this SYSTEM Of party prescription II
is for lhese reasons, sir that think the time has
when we should regulate this removing and appointing
power BY INV. lrepeat, if do not regulate it by
laws, will regulate US. Il will control the operations
OF this government, and IN the end, fear, lead to its
Mr. BRADBURY. | would inquire Of the honorable
senator, whether understood point OF his remarks
Tho fhaf itrus
can stand unless il adopt the system Of prescription for
opinions sakei, Fs n
Mr. BELL. meant to express my fear that no party
can long maintain It's ground unless II adopts that prac
tcc DO not undertake 10 say how long the admnisra-
ton ol General Taylor can stand but begin to have my
double whether any party Oh administration hst pcses
any great length Of lime against another party that open
y avews as one OF its principles OF action, the exclusive
app.opfp,ap,,onn p 81 nSi,ne q The sp9IIs Of Office
Mr.. BRADBURY. This is the point which wish 10
come at Am to understand the senator from Tennes-
wishing to convey the idea that this administration
have mol removed individuals from Office because Of their
political opinions but Tor other causes; that this ad
have adopted the practice OF removing from
office because OF political opinions. for the purpose OF OBJ.
tanning iriends9
MIR BRLE. made no such insinua,ion as that pre-
sened In the latter inquiry OF the senator said the lime
had come when this question of the power OF the President
TO practise this system OF party prescription should be
settled; and that both parties should be restrained or
both practise upon the same principles And il the sena-
tor were only authorized 10 cay that his party will not
act upon that system hereafter should consider OF
HE greatest reforms OF the age-one OF greater and
more benecent consequences 10 the country than any
adjustment which likely to make oil the pending diff
cutes connected with another great question before the
Senate. AS 10 the principles upon which the admins.
tralion proceeds IN making removals ON office, stated
that so far as had any knowledge, and from nloma-
ton received from the President and heads OF depart
ments no removals had been made merely for opinions
sake; and upon inquiry into particular cases OF remova
TO which my attention had been directed by Others,
could lind only two where considered tie grounds
OF removal questionable There may be a hundred such
cases, for aught know; but know OF none. There
may have been removals made because OF mistaken or
unjust allegations charges. Only or two such
ses Of questionable proprety have Come to my know
ledge; every other removal OF which have heard the
cause has been Just and proper hold, sir, oficious in
ermeddling with elections before staed-the drum
ming up at the polls, ohcatng at public meetings, be-
coming noisy parisans the making OF post Offices places
Tor the assembage OF political and all other
acts oil excessive partisan zeasulcent causes for the
expulsion OF the offending parties hold all these things
TO be ant-repnblIcan princple and just cause of
mosa There may be other causes Of removal besides
those have specied-such want oil competent skill
and neglect OF official duties. do not undertake 10
enumerate them ALL And when speak OF the grounds
upon which the administration act in making removals,
ailude 10 removals from Office within the exclusive and
proper control OF the President This is what meant to
say.
Now sir, word more with regard to these pledges of
General Taylor so often alluded 10. wouhl here
mark that did not intend, when first rose, TO 60 into the
discussion Of this points and have only advefed to II
speak upon this question, desire 10 conhne myself as
much possible TO examination oil this doctrine OF
the unlimited power Of removal, claimed to be vested in
the Executive, what il leads TO- and how il can be con-
troed and regulated The senator from Maine, besides
referring the letters in which General Taylor dsayows
that poscrpve feeling and policy which be now ascroes
to him. alluded to the sentiments contained IN his inaugu-
raj address, and chartably ntmacs his belief that Cen
ea Taylor meant when he delivered that address, to be
faithful his pledges and TO honestly carry out the prn-
cipes he then laid down but that since that time he has
been moved from his purpose What said General Taylor
the exercise OF the appointing Power ne would make
honesty capacity and fidelity the test Of official qnali-
cation and the want OF these qualifications he would
gard as Just cause OF removal from Office Now, the SEN
aor interprets that declaration 10 mean thai for no other
cause than the want OF these qualifications would ne DIS
senator has allowed his feelings to misead hin
greatly 10 his infercnces from the language OF the
inaugural address OF General Taylor, when ne as
sumes il as u pledge that he would not remove
for any cause but the absence Of these specific and essen
tal qualifications in an Office holder The senator seems
these specific qualifications, in its true interpretation has
reference to evil which, in the past history OF the COY
ernent has been the OF great injury TO the pup-
lie service II Is, tha, the President for the time peng,
has often failed TO remove ofce-holder VIGOROUSLY
deficient in the proper qualifications at one period IRON
power bat much frequently, at later period because
the incumbent his friend and PARTISAN Does tne
senator know or has he forgotten, that the act OF ls20
which limited the OF all the most important civil Of
cers OF the government 10 four years. was intended 70
remedy an abuse which had i origin in the extreme eau,
ton and fobeaance Of the Executive IN the exercise Q,
his Just powers That act have heard, was suggested
by Mr. Crawford but. though the motives which led 70
II were good and proper yet has proved to DC most laal
in il consequences. The senator from Alabama Mr.