The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-06

one alone remains monument of Executive for
Executive that commended itself TO
the people for their sufrages on the ground that he
loathed prescription" Besides these, there are
a hundred or more (whose names do not come here
for confirmation) other mementoes OF the manner
in which pledges made before an election are alter
wards redeemed.
Mr.. BELL Do you mean this generally!
Mr. BRIoHT. am now speaking OF the conduct
of the Executive as applicable to my own State,
SEVERAL SENATORS. 1t Is alike applicable to
ours. - =,
Mr. BaIoHT ! understood the honorable Sena-
tor from Tennessee to say that the files of the
raj departments would show that for all cases Of
movals there had been cause ii 80, 1t becomes
matter of serious interest to those who appreciate
the value of unsullied reputation, and who prize
fair fame far above Office or its emolumens, las
many do, and as trust every man does,) to know
what the causes that have been alleged against
them and upon which the Executive grounded it's
action. II belongs to every man to have the Of
fences with which he stands charged read out, that
disnterested public may decide for itself on the
guilt or innocence of fellow citizen, and not that
a corps Of interested officials should pronounce
star chamber sentence. In the absence of the
charges upon which Executive action was found
ed the Executive itself stands forth as the pub
lie. accuser, and the removed as the criminals.
Is il not then due to this Administration that it
should clear itself of the fearful responsibility of
this wholesale denunciation of thousands of our fell
low -citizens9 Does the honorable Senator (who
seems to speak with full knowledge Of the acts
instances in which false charges have been filed
against incumbents by persons who sought their
removal that they might themselves occupy their
places, and who have actually succeeded in their
efforts?
MIR. BELL. | do not; and If any man has done
SO, and obtained office by such means, would in
stantly seek his removal. venture, however, that
there is of that sort in existence. lift is
shown that such thing has been done knowingly,
should myself be disposed to denounce the Exec
utive as false to his pledges and the country.
Mr.. BRIaHT. With this avowal from the hon
orable Senator, come now to the point in contro-
versy, and the important point involved in the
resolutions offered by the Senator from Maine.
say there are cases (and speak knowingly where
honest, upright just men, faithful officers, of un-
spotted integrity, have been removed on false
charges-whether preferred directly by the sue
cessful applicant, or by some faithful friend, cor
by some dsinterested patriot" can only be known
to us (who are out of the pale of Executive conf
dence) by the passage of these resolutions Do the
friends OF the Administration fear the revelation of
charges upon which removals have been made? If
its victims were guilty. it is they who should fear
and not the judges, who have acted on high con-
stitutional obligations
Mr. President, should not advocate this mea-
sure were it not coupled with the circumstances
under which these removals have been made;
am of those who contend for the right OF an
administration to choose its own officers. Had
there been no pledges in advance, committing
the Executive to a fixed policy on this subject;
had there been no pretence OF prescribing pro-
scription;" had the friends Of the Admnistra
ton, after the violation of its sacred pledges,
abstained from setting up the monstrous defence
that "no removals had taken place but for cause"
should not advocate these resolutions The
broken faith, the attainment OF power at the
expense of truth, the general beheadment Of Demo-
cratic incumbents the Union over, not only taking
their offices, but aiming an indirect if not to say
direct, blow at their reputatons-these are the con-
sderations which impel and prompt me to the sup
port of these resolutions, and ought as conceive,
hiring 10 their suDDOrt gentleman frleQdlv
to the late administration.
Let but the Administration avow that their
precedented proscrptive policy, which has no par
allel in our history, is based upon political grounds,
and would relieve the friends Of the late admins
tration from indicating the implied condemnation
now resting upon them. Unless this be done, of
which have no hope, organized as the present
Administration is, feel that II is my duty, and the
duty of every Senator this side Of the chamber,
to press these resolutions to their adoption. The
sequel, in my humble judgment, will show that the
only offence truly chargeable against nine tenths
of the removals, ia devotion to the principles OF the
Democratic party.
No doubt, in many instances, it will be found
that charges have been preferred, but in few or
none can they be proved when tested. AS one Of
the friends OF the late administration, and as the
friend Of all who its friends, court investga
ton. ldy faith in the general purity Of the party
which has built up the institutions of our country
is firm, and believe, when put to the test, its Off
GERS will come out of any ordeal that may be in
my mind at this moment, case furnishing
answerable argument in favor of the adoption of
these resolutions. IL is that OF a most worthy and
meritorious man, whose appointment 10 a very
sponsihle Office was advised and consented to by
this body some three years ago, and who has been
removed by the present Administration on set Of
parte charges, preferred and acted upon without
the knowledge Of the accused, and which charges,
If true, would subject him TO severe punishment.
should not have referred 10 this particular case,
were il not IN my power, from my own personal
knowledge Of the facts, TO enter an unqualified de-
NAL TO their truth, and publicly court and defy
investigation. Take the offices, but in doing 30
travel some other track than the reputation OF
the faithful and stricken-down Democratic incum-
bents This and like cases (of which no doubt there
are many) demand the scrutiny OF this body. IL IL
due alike 10 ourselves and felow-citizeDs that
the door be thrown wide open, and their accusers
be invited 10 enter.
Mr.: BELL, Will the honorable Senator tell me
whether he has applied in any quarter for informa-
ton in the 10 which he has alluded
MIR. BRI0HT. am gratifed that the honorable
Senator has asked me the question. answer, that
the chairman OF committee Of this body, whose
duties connect him with that Department of the
Government having charge Of the papersI refer 10,
made a written request in behalf Of the committee,
and the reply was "He regarded the papers APP
piled for as ereiu'ireiy within the direction and
control OF the President" Thus making il very
evident that, unless some action 10 had here, re-
curing official surrender Of all the information
sought by these resolutions, many Of will be left
70 act IN the dark, and our fr1ends be condemned
false charges, without even the forms Of trial.
Mr.. BELL. What denied was, thatit was true that
Gen. Taylor had made false pretences. The Senator
from Indiana and the Senator from Maine say he
has have been arguing that, from the facts and
statements relied by the Senator from Maine, this
charge has not been made out. WhatI said was that
Gen. Taylor did not mean TO say, nor could he be
fairly construed 10 say, that he would not make any
removals forintemeddling elections or other such
cause, beside the want Of honesty and capacity.
You see, that makes issue between us, as 10
whether II IL 90 or not that General Taylor has
made false pretences-professing one thing and
doing another. Now, the Senator from Indiana
thinks he has, and thinks the Senator from
Maine. But when they come to bring forward the
proofs and the arguments, IL appears that these
charges Of false pretences and broken pledges are
inferred from the general declaration that he was
opposed 10 the proscriptve policy, and that he
would not remove except for cause. But for what
| cause, Cause, that would subject the party re-
moved 10 the penalties Of law' Incompctencyi
Are these the only that should be understood
| ne governing General Taylor in these removals ac-
cording 70 bis declarstons' BY no means. There
may be many causes beside, such the neglect Of
the duties Of Office and ntermeddling with cleo
tons. Private habits, too, sometimes n good
cause of removal. such n free indugence AZ