The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-05
CONGRESSIONAL.
sPEEoH OF MR. SMITH,
OF CONNECTICUT,


Senate, Thursday, March n, 1850.
The following resolution introduced BY Mr. BRADBURY
having been made the special order for this day, Wis
"sopsd That the President be requested TO be
laid before the Senae all charges which have been pre-
ferred filed In any OF the departments agons individuals
who have been removed from office since the 4ih day o
March last with specification OF the cases, Il any, IN
which tho officers charged have had opportunity 10 be
heard and uf the number OF removals made
under each department. including subordnates IN the Gus
tom-houses and other branches Of the public servce'-
and being about to be superseded by the further consd
Grafton OF the bill for taking the census N charge OF MT
DAVIS, OF Massachusetts, when Mr.. FooTE moved to
postpone the census bill TO subsequent day; which mo-
Mr.. SMITH, Of Connecticut, who entitled to the
floor addressed the Senate as follows:
Mr. PRESIDENT did not vote for the postponement OF
the bill for the reason that desired to leave the
subject to the judgment o the Senate without any inter-
position on my part II the body had seen fit proceed
with the consideration Of that bill twoud not havegive
occasion to any complaint on my part, although have
believed and still believe that the pendency OF this
luton has been attended with considerable nconveni.
ence to the public service u is well known that most
Of the nominations OF the President still remain undis-
posed OF in many the offices to be filled
can't By reason OF expiration of the of the late
cumbents; and more than suspect that this resolu-
ton and considerations connected herewith have
caused the delay. have been rather surprised that
senators have not manifested earnesiness not to
anxiety have disposition OF the question before
the body. do not know bnt that there may be some
stern necessity 10 me, however, ncomprehensble) I'M
lion We have been engaged for more than three long
msnths in considering nothing but preminaries. 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 Thursdays and when the latter day
has arrived, have adjourned over to the succeeding
Monday, to resume the topic, and to end the week
in the way. In the mean time, II has been utterly
impossible to bring the attention Of the Senate to the od
nary business OF the session. We have not recurred TO
any one Of the important suggestions and Recommended
tons contained in the annual message OF the President
and vast number OF bills, public and private have
mulated on calendar and are likely to fall with the
session. regard these discussions, which have so long
embarrassed US, OF very te practical utility Under
these circumstances, think, Mr. President, that it will
not be without 10 have slight interruption OF
this dispuation on the subject Of slavery when every
member Of the Senate knows that the questions
tied already far the Judgment OF the Senate is
cerned Perhaps shall not be able to perest the body
but cah at any rate do one hng-I create sort
Of hiatus in dispute which should have been brought to
close long ago lLaughter.l 49,
presume, Mr.. President. that there is not single
member of this Senate that could feel stronger repug
nance than do to embarking in a discussion which
must parake, or less OF party character During
the considerable period that member of the House
OF Representatives, associated with you sir for one hall
of that period have recollection OF having in any
instance avaed myself OF the privileges OF the oo
cept to attend matter of business to consider
some question OF broad national interest desire that
il NAV be understood that such will ordinarily be my
course as member Of the Senate And sir, if depart
from that rule OF conduct is because consider
this resolution and the remarks OF my friend from Name
mr. BRADBURy.1 in their sense and purpo as tending
10 cast dshonor upon the President OF the United States
am among the number OF those who repose high conf
dence in The integrity ofour Chief Magistrate. believe
that he has been acuated in his by liberal pa
trotic Just and elevated views and sentiments believe
him to be entirely worthy OF the affections and the conf
dence Of the American people Under such circumstances
the lfee 10 this sort OF discus
son enter with aacrty upon the task of vindicatng
his conduct, and Of showing that he has not departed
one hair from the position which he assumed before the
American people when candidate Tor the highest Office
in their gift.
We know that his name, character and conduct have
been the theme OF ncessant calumny and abuse from
the hour OF his inauguration to the present day But
sir it has been wholly confined 10 the columns OF a
lcentous press, until now and my friend from Maine
for whom trust that entertain proper respect has the
unenyiable notorey OF bringing such topics into this
chamber and OF submitting them TO the consderaie at
tention OF this body. II Is with infinite regret that
noticed that the majority here determined the motion
my honorable friend from North Carolina, Mr. MAN.
GUM to lay this resolution on the table, as test vote o
counenance the proposition. Every member of the ma.
jory with the exception of the honorable senator from
Alabama, IMr CLEMEEs,l voted in the negative The
majority. therefore, have adopted this resolution and
made il their own Whether they intend to make them
selves parties not TO the exposions Of the honorable
senator from Maine, and whether they with him
in all the mputaions which are contained in his speech
the future must reveal.
But let consider for a moment what the alleged
for bringing notice resolution OF this
gular and unprecedented character. They are in sub
sance tnat ne fesueht OF the Uneu otes DOM Oe1Oe
he became the candidate of the whg party, and also d
ring the canvass, and in his inaugural address, held
expectations to the American people, in the nature o
pledges which he has departed from and violated IN
the most atrocious The honorable senator MIR
represents that while the OF the inaugural
yet fingered the lips OF him who uttered them the Pres
ideni commenced breaking faith with the people, or en-
tered violation OF what he is pleased TO denomEate
pledges and has continued such violation from that time 10
this The charge OF the senator that he gave 10 the
country assurances and pledges positive ard peremptory
for tie purpose Of reaching the highest Office in the gift
OF the American people and that Immediately upon
entering on his duties as the Chief Magistrate OF the
country, he commenced systematic violation of all those
pledges The whole sum and substance OF this charge is
that he has sendied hise into the presidency that be
has obtained that high Office by "faise preienecs"
regard the inaugural address parakng seine degree
oa,h il Is contemporaneous herewith, and is decaato
nv OF the purposes and views OF the party on the
oath II he commenced violating the pledges which The
senator pretends be found in the inaugural whlr
",he accents thereof yet fingered on his lips then he
have taken his soul the guilt OF perjury II there
any foundation for this allegation OF the honorable
ator then the President o. The United States is utterly
unworthy of the confidence OF the country. Whatever
others may think OF it, should consider him a dis
honored man--one who ought to be cast from the
respect and association OF all honorable and all ugh
men.
will, without further preliminary remarks, address
myself 10 the examination oil this subject IN all its bear
ngs And, the first place, desire 10 call the particular
attention OF the Senate TO the character OF this most extra
ordinary resolution Before entering that toplc how
ever, would observe that entitled 10 consider The
remarks OF my honorable friend part Of the resolution
Itse or rather they fix IFS true intent and meaning
Upon this point have satisfactory authority to produce
authority TO which shall have occasion to refer
eral times in the OF my remarks At the second
session OF the oath Congress- Committee was raised by
pi0 0a.rc oafu r.