Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-14
DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
IN sFNATE-THuRsDAY, DECEMBER 10.
REMOVALS FROM OFFICE.

Resolved That the President be requested be
laid before the Senate all charges which have been preferred
been removed from Office since The 4h day OF March
last with specification Of the cases. any which the Off
ged have had opportunity be heard and state
the number OF removals made under each Department.
including subornates the and other branches
OF the public service. l
Mr.. BRADBURY. Mr.. President, a day fixed at
the last session Of Congress for taking vote upon this
luton but in consequence the unexpected and meancho
ly event. the decease of the Chief Magistrate, which was
announced that day. vote was taken One OF the in
quires embraced in the resolution becomes now inappro
pirate, if improper by of the entire change OF the
Cabinet that made the removals referred to- thereby leaving
no person respond the inquiry the for which
the removals had been made II is, however due to the
country tina. should know the extent which the work
OF prescription carried by the Administration
and there improperly in asking for the number of
movas that have been made. have prepared substitute
for the original resolution, which calls for ast Of the officers
removed who derived their appointment from nomination Of
the President, with the Of the Senate, and
of the number Of removals Of officers who do
derive their appointment in that Resolutions in this
form have repeatedly passed the other branch Of Con-
gess. resolution of this character passed the House of
Representatives in 1889, and another in ls4. The mod
cation obvaies the objections that urged against the
solution in the original form, and apprehend there be no
objection TO the passage Of presented. Believing
that this is matter Of legitimate inquiry, that ii will furnish
Information important to be known, and that will inform
the country OF the extent the unparalleled extent TO which
prescription has been carried by Administration that
into power pledged against prescription, trust that the
solution will be adopted As the resolution in
form sanctioned by usage, presume objection will be
made. #n
Mr.. BERRIEN. viii the Senator from Maine do me the
favor what is the portion Of the original resolution
which he proposes 10 exclude
The PRESIDENT. The motion is strike out all after
the word 8. Resoiped," and insert a substitute
Mr. BERRIEN. desire to understand the substance Of
the excluded portion of the original resolution
Mr. BRADBURY. The original resolution calls upon the
officers removed The resolution which now propose
substitute simply calls for list Of the officers who derived
their appointment by the nomination of the President and the
of the Senate and statement of the number of
other officers removed such pomasters and other subor
dinate officers
Mr. BERRlEN. From the manner in which the Senator
who moved the adoption of this resolution has introduced it,
is to be inferred that the object of obtaining this inorma
found upon the charge of improper conduct
the part of the late Administration, evidenced by the
removals which were made by it.
The Senator his why be has modified his
resolution, and exclude from it the quision furnish the
grounds upon which the removals made that there has
been change in the Cabinet which renders impractical
be So understand him. He will correct me- if | am
in 't..r
Mr.. BRADBURY. The Senator is correct.
Mr.. BERRIEN. Then understand the Senator to say
that he has excluded from his resolution call for the
which induced these removals because the change the Ca
bne renders impractcabe to furnish them Sir with great
respect that honorable Senator, it 10 that that
consideration goes the whole of the resolution. For what
sit If be designed TO furnish information merely for the
purpose Of censurng the late Administration the present Ad
mnsraon called upon to furnish list Of the removals
made by their predecessors and these predecessors
pved the privilege Of furnishing the upon which
these removals founded wish the Senate under
stand distinctly this idea, that the present Administration
not called upon for reasons even they are upon file. There
will therefore, be list of removals. apparently made capri
cousy and without Does become the Senate OF the
Uned States to lend itself procure Information which may
thus be Improperly used trust it will not be done.
Nh. BRADBURY. There nothing in the remarks
which made which would justify the inference Of the honor
able Seaao hat there could be other legitimate for
the Information sought by this resolution except furnish
charges the late Administration. 1t may be import
ant to aid Us in useful legislation; valuable legislation may
be founded upon that information and, as have already
stated, than occasion resolutions of similar
kind have been adopted Indeed Of tie resolutions called
for list of removals covering period Of twelve years and
another called for similar list of the class of officers referred
who had been removedrom the time of the organization the
Government the day of its PASSAGE No objection be
made this call which coudnot have been urged greater
force against the resolutions Of 1889 and ls4 We call
for the list Of the numbsr of removals and apprehend the
late Administration is not destitute of friends but that it
will be able 10 find those who will undertake the task Of CIV
ing the for the adoption Of that system Of prescription
for which it has become distinguished
Mr.. EWING. The honorable Senator introduced this
resolution, think, very early the last session. Why it
has been permitted to ngerl the present ime unable
say The resolution offered called only for the
Der OF removals, but the and certain that while
able respond only to the inquiry the number Of
removals. but the cause the Senator did fit press
the resolution II long session, very long There
time enough, and there strength enough bis side
of the chamber 10 bring it to VOTE There diff
Guilty all but just long that Cabinet remained there
the Senator failed to press his resolution voe He
dfes now rather he brings in resolution, and in
qures for the number of removal-wha he calls the unpre
cedened number of removals made by the last Administers
ton. He asks for reason because, he says,
be given What does this look like What would be
the natural impression the minds of persons who the
course of that honorable Senator Would they be apt
suppose that there great number of removals. and
for sufficient cause and that he does wish the removal
Now that these public officers have passed away the honor
able Senator amends his resolution and asks only for the
naked of the removal leaving the and
liable to be msrepresened to the injury Of the officers who
made the removals do not wish to pursue the subject
further than to call public attention to the fact
Mr.. BRADBURY. desire to reply very briefly to the
remarks Of the honorable Senator from Ohio The Senator
charges with declining press the resolution while the
Cabinet power under which the removals had been
made. bref explanation is necessary this point. II
will be ecoeced by the Senate chat after this resolution
introduced, and had made explanation of its oec the
Senator from Connecticut gave notice Of his intention
ply and the resolution laid several weeks for his
commodatoa for that purpose After his elaborate Speech
availed myself Of the earliest opportunity reply him, and
then the vote was proposed to be taken the resolution
There were several others, however, who then manifested
wish to speak, and vote could be obtained In the
time another subject debate, the compromise
before the Senate, and debate sprung up which SO
ry and exclusively occupied the public mind and the alen-
lion Of the Senate, that impossible get hearing or
vote upon the resolution The honorable Senator from
9Th. L.