The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-04
CONGRESSIONAL.
TUESDAY APRIL %, 1850.
DE sEnnED DEsArE,
REMOVALS AND APPOINTMENTS.

offered some time since by Mr. Bradbury calling en- the
Executive Tor information IA relation 10 removals from
Mr.. BELL. had intended, MIR President, 10 discuss
the general principles involved in The resolution offered
by The senator from Maine length; but, pres
ent, shall deiain The Senate only very short tune
do not wish % say anything upon the subject
at which time understand the vote is to be taken upon
AZ this late hour OF the day shall present very
briefly some OF my views upon the questions issue,
reply % some ot the positions assumed BY the senator
IRON Maine Understanding the other day that the sena
tor from Maine intended TO make extended reply 10
the remarks offered by the from Connecticut and
very general wish having been expressed that this reso
luton should be passed upon without further delay in
maied my intention pPon some future occasion--most
probably when the resolution oeJe by The senator from
Indiana Mr.. WHrrcomBl came up for consideration Ito
present TO the Senate my views al large upon the pre
pies mainly involyedn in that resolutions and In The one
now under consideration; and this is st my purpose
My design was chiefly to address myself to the question
for the Execuvea principle involved in the resolutions
offered by the senator from Maine and the senator from
Indiana, and principle that has been pracsed upon TO
some extent BY both political parties when in power, and
which has become avowed and cardinal principle
IN tue creed Of the democratic party
MY opinion with regard 10 the practice Of removal
from olce, without other than difference OF polt-
cal sentiment is sir that Congress ought speedily and
vigorously 70 regulate the whole subject by law, aud that
Al it's not thus regulated, ieli 10 do something
on this subject II will, IN the end undo The govern
ment u y in great part sir, the root and foundation OF
all those dissensions growing out of the subject OF sla
very that have Of late distracted the country, and which
have paralyxed the legislative powers Of Congress for the
last four or five months This doctrine oil absoiusn in
removals from office, regard the main not only
oil existing dculties and disturbances III the regular
operation OF this branch of the government but that il
will become the cause OF continued dissensions and still
more disastrous results to The whole country unless
adequate remedy shall be applied.
Sir shall not, IN speaking upon this subject consider
II as unworthy or unbecDming in me to give my serious
attention 70 the gross chargeso Of inconsistency Of broken
pledges made against the present administration in the
exercise OF the appointing power Though an humble
ndivdusl sir, take unto myself my full share OF the
responsibility Of bringing GENERAL Taylor into power.
do not claim having exetted any great nencc upon this
point but such as possessed | employed. am ready
now, and shall be at all times ready, 10 acknowledge my
agency and 10 my full share OF responsibility or
whatever injury TO the country to any socri principle,
may follows and il General Taylor has violated the
numerous pledges which il 10 said he has gven and
which have been referred 10 by the from Maine
the gross and aocious manner asserted By that oenaor
desire it to be shown, that also may Join in that
demnaon which he is now receiving But until ! see
something further disclosed than have yet seen,
thing better founded than the arguments and conclusions
OF the senator from Maine TO sustain the position taken
by that senator do not anticipate that in regard 10 that
su6lse' any other that has been brought under my
notice. shall repent my ipsrumenality, humble as L
may have been, the elevation of General Taylor to the
presidential chair. can readily concede a degree of
pausollty 10 The common apprehension In the argument
o The senatoe IRON Maine, and in the lens OF thousands
o newspaper parag aphs which have been circulated
throughout the country, in reference to these alleged vo
iaons oi pledges; but when gcc 10 analyze these
pledges and give TO them their just and fair import and
construction and sn to investigate the actual grounds
and principles upon which the President has proceeded in
lfe exercise OF the appointing power venture the
uon that there will be found to be inconsistency.
lhe senator from Mane sir, to-day, very unexpectedly
%e nas made very elaborate effort in reply to ,hs
are The charges which have been urged with so much per-
lnacy and repeated and over again, with reference
10 the pledges OF General Taylor
tits asserted that General Taylor, before his election.
declared bis decided opIostion numerous letters, TO
The practice OF prescriptions for opinions sakea practice
which, Imay add the might Justly have assentad
be sanctioned by the established doctrine Of the party
70 which be belongs for, sir, 1t is well known that the
doctrine OF the democratic party is that the President,
virtue OF the appointing power vested in him BY the
stuton, may thrust out every Subordinate officer OF the
government, except the Judicial functonares at his dis
celon, without any pretext OF official delinquency, mis-
BEHAVIOR or the want OF official qualification and need
not stop 10 show hathe practice of the democratic party
when power, during the last twenty years. has been in
conformity with this creed.
on one side The change against General Taylor is that
ne pledged himself 10 the country 10 sci his lace against
lhs practice that he solemny ayowed his opposition to
The poscfpve policy, and that he has grossly violated
these pledges and By his conduct since he came into
power has wholly disregarded his former professions
undertake to say that General Taylor avows the same
! doctrines now that he has always avowed upon this
point What is the proof that General Taylor has yio
laed his pledgess Why sir, Il is that he has made
greater number OF removals in the short period that has
elapsed since he came into power, than were made in the
Twelve years OF General Jacksons and Mr.. Van buIens
administrations. This fact is The main reliance OF the
senator IRON Maine IN proving that General tayo, has
anu enl himself 10 the policy Of prescription ior opn-
ons sake A few words, 10 the force OF this fact,
mat Genera Taylor has removed greater number OF
onices 10 his time than General Jackson and Mr. Van
puen removed IN the whole period OF their power That
eends upon the principles upon which the removals were
naue What are the principles upon which removals
nave been made BY General Taylorl Have they been
made ior mere opinions sakesimply in the exercise OF
an absolute arbitrary No, sir, understand they
mat ~ past history, have been admitted to be sound
a republican, and IN accordance with the practice OF
1enerson; and Jefferson strongly opposed to the
pocy oi removal for opinions sake as General Taylor
hlhsei Hut the senator inquiries what are the causes
o these removalsi Sir, cannot be expected that can
soucn Tor The fact that in every OF removal there
rave been different causes existing from that Of amere
neence Of political opinion but can speak Of my own
knowledge Of the subject, 80 far as Il goes
have learned. upon inquiry from the proper source,
nal the administration proceeds, in making removals,
enis ought be removed merely on the ground that
ey def from the administration in their political opn
Ons, but that some other objection must be shown
Ihe gentleman from Maine has referred 70 the State OF
iennessee and removals there, proof OF the charge
wh'cn ne makes against General Taylor. Sir, know
" no indlvdua case, in the State OF Tennessee, OF re-
moyal "a winch special cause other than difference OF
ouca sentment was not required be pointed out and
suihcenily proved before removal was made. II Is
iue that few Cce holders have been i,placed In that
State, and several other changes have been made upon
esgnaiions and the expiration Of the commissions uf
orner ncumbens; but in every case OF REMOVAL special
cause OF objection was shown. know Of NO case in
which the removal has not been based in nv Judgment
upon sound desnocratic republican principles such AZ
have always considered safe and proper and no man
has heretofore been more decidedly opposed TO the pro-
NN..se.l Aft -.