Democratic banner., 1850-01-14
REMOVALS FROM OFFICE.

nj All LluUCS ICl VIZ "AA~A SS
was under the management Of the democratic
party, a removal from Office, without assigning
the reasons, and those of the strongest character,
was always attended with the complaints Of the
wing party from one end Of the country to the
other. When Gen. Jackson exercised the pow
Ter, he was denounced by such men as Clayton,
Webster, and Clay. They then saw approach
ling tyrary in the abuse Of executive power, and
proclaimed in the language Of apparently unai-
fected patriotism. the fears they entertained for
the cause of liberty and the constitution, when
the chief magistrate assumed the unprecedented
power TO make removals without carse and with
out the p~rivious consent Of the Senate.
During The first year Of Gen. Jackson's admin
tra,ion, the sum total Of all removals from Office
was six hundred, and these constituted the mate
rial for the brilliant harangues of Legislators, and
the fears of those who sew the signs Of u>urpa-
ton in the acts ofthe Executive. The eloquence
Iof Clay has been blo'ted from the memory of his
friends the voice of the Godlike Daniel is nn-
heard, though he finds ten thousand removals by
the present administration in the short period Of
ten months.
No cause has ever been given, and never will
be given, for making these removals. 1t is not
for the want of ''honesty and capacity, that fair
test which the country had assurances 10 believe
would be adopted in case Of the success Of Gen.
Taylor, but the motive can only be found in the
desire of self-aggrandiscment and the advance
ment of party interests.
None can deny that Gen. Taylor secured his
election by processing to repudiaie party cOnnex-
ions, to live and act above the influences Of fac
ton. and to loathe and despise the doctrine Of
prescription. These professions have not been
carried out. No pledge in this respect has been
regarded. The administration is strictly parti-
san, deeply prOscriptive in spirit. The Presi-
dent was either i~nsincere in his declarations
made before his election, or else is deceived and
wronged by his Cabinet, who act to the injury Of
his reputation and 70 the subversion Of public
morals.
Assurances were given that the honest and
faithful public officer, of whatever political per-
wouldbe retained in his place that there
would be no ''proscription for opinions sake"
and nothing but incompetency or dishonesty would
be rebuked in the coming reign of peace. Con-
|sequently, a stigma is inflicted upon the charac-
ter of every man removed from office by the act
of the Executive. Under this state of things,
we are glad to see a proposition submitted in the
Senate, requesting the President to lay before that
body the charges or complaints which have been
preferred against individuals removed from Office
under the present administration; and also 10 in
form them in what cases, if any, the persons
charged have had an opportunity to be heard in
their own defence. If it should appear that good
causes for removal existed in any case, it would
surely be the duty Of the Senate to confirm the
act of the President without hesitation but if
on the other hand it shall appear that all this pro-
scription has been for opinions sake alone, and
for the qualification Of a malicious partisan feel
ing, or the advancement Of political gamblers, it
would at least be proper for Senators at this time
to make an application of the d~octrince advanced
BY Mr.. Clayton when he was a Senator and the
administration was democratic, but ten times less
proscriptive than the present. Circumstances
have now altered, and the c~ensured power is
now perhaps placed in his wi hands. His SEN
timents were once delivered as follows:
"Impeachmenf seemed 10 be the only restraint on
Executive posrer contemplated by the constitution.
And where that power was exercised by the
President for self-aegrandizement and political
purposes, all would agree that he ought TO be i'm
penchsd. Mr. C. said the only control the Senate
hnd ouer the po,Uer of ~renropol was the right ofrs-
lection. find il ameriforious officer, who had dis
charged his duty with fidelity and good faith,
shouH6 be removed, the only remedy cas- to
-ejecfM the partisan ,0ho msght be nominated
By the President to fill has place. AND
THIS HE WOULD DO; rejecting the first,
second, third, and so on, at infnitum.-
Such was the maxim he had set down as
the rule of his conduct, and wiMout snfor-
nation he should not knowhow to acE"
If the principle were then correct, no circum-
stances can alter its force, and Mr.. Clayton should
rejoice in the success of his formerly cherished
views.
"THE REST OF MANKIND"
Gen. TAYLOR in his message saws I'VE are at