The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-20

unds he constitution, in 1852 and was much debated in
that body L arose upon = resolution offered by Mr
Ae. q the head Of which there shall be an oicer. to
b called the Secretary Of the Department OF Foreign
who shall p APPOINTED y ss ad x
nouabs bv the Prsdsafs After proraced debate, il was
6saty sssd. the sense Of the majority. BY the adop
Ton 81 the resolution, that the President possessed the
power Of removal under the constitution This decision
was made in opposition to very determined minority,
who inssied that the constitution conferred such
power the President. but the contrary, withheld IT.
Inlo26. select committee raised in the Senate,
Of which the distinguished senator from Missouri near
me [Mr. BExToEl was chairman, to whom was referred
proposition to inquire into the expediency of reducing
u patronage Of the execuvs department Of the United
States. The committee having given the subject con-
sdeation made report q subsequent day In the SEES
gsas regulate by law and control the patronage Of the
Execntive assumed indisputable proposition
Amonsst the bills reported BY that COMMITTEES was one
which contained the provision that in all nominations
ma1o BY the President 10 the Senate, to fill vacancies
caoioned by exercise Of the Presidents power TO
rPvs from Office the fact Of the removal shall be stated
10 NJ Senate II the time that the nomination is
made. with statement OF the reasons for which such
o6loer may have been removed"
Il. not Pa s ss' s ~ S ].
expsesion Of the opinion Of the distinguished senators
we constituted that committee in favor Of the power Of
Gsss e Ssads q the President not only inioa
The committee consisted Of Messrs. Benton, Macon,
Van Buren, Dickeron. Johnson, and White The bill
Macon, who oS moved R he raising q the commes
n $780, the subject discussed in the celebrated de-
bets upon Foote's resolutions. During the session
" resolutions expressive Of his views respecting the
snbject Of removals One Of the resolutions called upon
the President 10 communicate to the Senate the num-
beI uames, and Offices OF the officers removed by him
nce The last session Of the Senate with the for
sech removal" The resolution was postponed indef,
malaysia 70 a. Some Of the other resolutions contained
en1ecnts that must have been offensive the majority,
and for which they could not vote hence inference
h drawn from the vote to postpone that those voting
would be opposed on aproper occasion to call for nfor
MI DAWSON. Which Of the resolutions was often
Mr BRADBURY. That which undertook to pass
judgment upon the President and to condemn his
Nj MANGUM. viii the senator be SO obliging as to
MI BRA l5 They are not given in the book
which have in my hand, or would comply with the
request q ne senator with pleasure ,:,, q
allow The Secretary to read them
Lhsy we're then read BY the Secretary
TINT any friend Of the administration OF President jack
son (such, for instance. the distinguished senator from
Miasoun) would vote for series Of resolutions assault
NJ BADGER I beg leave to say that the motion was
- postpone indefinitely gentleman who was desirous
Of passing any Of the resolutions. stripping them Of their
onsvs matter would Of course vote against their post
Mr. BRADBURY. presume that those who voted
- favor of the postponement were opposed to the
vWs in favor Of them. And am happy to find that
tbee several distinguished gentlemen who occupied
ssas ON the other side Of the chamber-some of them
now IL the cabinet members of this bodywho then
Seoognsed the right to call upon the President for
iSss : another circumstance which distinguishes the
present call from that Of $780, During the debate al that
6ne, the position maintained that change in the
ehsi executive officer OF the Union by the people, would
= appropriately followed BY changes in the subordnates
upoa the 0fRceF removed
In 1885, the attention OF Congress was again called to
Carolina, IMr. caIaousl who moved The appointment
81 COMMITTEES inquire into the extent OF the executive
paoiage the circumstances which have contributed to
80 and 4. y seS
The committee was raised and their chairman Mr. CAL
noUn1 accompanied their luminous report with two bills
one Of which, entitled "A bill TO repeal the first and
sseoud sections OF an act to limit the term OF Office Of
eertain Officers therein named and for other purposes"
contained section similar in its provisions TO that which
that the President should send TO the Senate with the
nomination 10 fill vacancy occasoned by removal from
o1es, statement Of the reasons for such removal
This bill passed the Senate at that session; and on the
Quaslioa Of its passage TO third reading, the vote
ood % 10 IS On lis fnal passage. the 2st OF Feb
hs yeas were 81 nays TO- Amongst the yea. are
now members Of the Senate; and Messrs Clayton and
Rwing, members Of the cabinet OF President Taylor
Mr. CLAY, Tin his seat | would vote for il again
Mr BRADBURY. understand the honorable senator
to say that he would vote for the bill again That bill
gQee the full extent to justify the call now make
and am happy 10 have this high authority appeal to-
trust il will be conclusive the other side of the
chamber. We have, then, right to demand not only
i3yMafion, but reasons
Mr. CLAY Not 80, Will the honorable gentleman
bill 70 make i the law Of the land and would vote for
cam % make i the law Of The land, covering the
Uooonf standardization and all future administrations
1nt mat 10 very different from resolution which
81 law, calling for information instead OF its being
donanded BY valid enactment OF the Legislature
Mr.. BRADBURY. II il is an infringement upon the
constitutional rights OF the President to call for infoma
don q touching his exercise OF the power Of re-
mcvul, bill passed by Congress cannot remove the i'm
pedment II both houses can pass the BILL the Senate
can make the call therefore ask the honorable sena.
"a, there H. in his judgment, any constitutional i'm.
pedment ~ the way OF calling for the information sought
~ ne resolution understand the distinguished senator
cent to the position that we have such right II the
President pcssessed the power Of removal conferred BY
re constitution BY specific grant in such manner that
QsD could not give the right against the provisions OF
d constitution am now considering the question of
authority, and not that OF expedency have, then, in
N declnrauQn OF the senator in favor OF such law
fuiI recognition OF the right Of the Senate TO pass The
resolution think, then, in view OF this high AUTHORITY
nay assume that the Senate possesses the right
IL may Be proper here 10 remark, that find amones
those who voted against the bill TO which referred
lew moments since, the names OF several distinguished
mont one OF them now member OF this body the sena
sos from Alabama They may have voted against the