The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-10

lMr bkADHukr,l mat 90 not admit that he has cor
i7s9 The question then made was. whether the Pres
dent had the absolute right uncontrolled BY Congress-
remove al civil ofhcerss whose Appointment should os
vested IN him BY law, and the decision was hat ne mao
such right under the constitution The particular cues
ton whether the Senate should be consulted making
removals IRON office was not rased' ouI !ne ueeison
OF Congress then made was, IN principle, ae-
NAL d the right Of the Senate % be consulted
The question now presented Is not whethef tne Pres
idsnt NAV not remove all civil officers appointed oy
him. but whether this power Of removal is alb
solute as to admit OF no legal restraint or limitation
by law The proposition ~ this case y to control
ana limit the discretion OF the President in the exercise OF
the power OF removal The propriey OF imposing some
restriction upon the discretionary power OF the President
regard to The ss . 1s established x As
take deeper interest in the present question, the
ground Of the proposed assertion OF the power OF Con-
sIsss e regulate &c, from Sce Sy law though
heretofore held upon this subject yet regard any ad
whatever 10 sounder view OF the power OF the
Executive OF the greatest Importance and though what
we may now do will be in opposition 70 the decision OF
early period Of the government yet this is Of the
things that, in my opinion should have particular
sanctity attached 10 il account OF It's antiquity.
think the early decision was founded in error and that
has been felt to be at every OF ad
mnisation in the last thirty years; and believe may
say. the greatest minds that have adorned this Senate
with few exceptions have held that opinion, but they
never have been able to control majority In either
branch Of Congress- and have therefore failed OF success
in all their efforts to impose any checks through the legis
latiye department Of the government upon the absolute
arbitrary will of the President in relation this subject
Now sir this will be control 10 this particular case
Ii will be most happy initiative proceeding upon the
part of Congress- and desire to express the hope that
shall carry this policy Of restriction out 10 future
The honorable senator from Maine MIR. BRADBURYl has
expressed some fears lest by proceeding ncautously
upon this subject, should unsettle some welesab-
lshed principle Of government Whatever provision we
may insert in this bill will leave the OF public Of
fcers unaffected BY it. if that is what the honorable sena
tor is disturbed about
Mr.. BRADBURY, lin his seat.) Not at all.
MIR. BELL. do not know, then, why the senator
feels great solcude in regard TO the principle es
tabshed in 1882 Sir, is proposed to control the
President in no case except IN regard 70 the removal OF
fees at the absolute and discretionary disposal OF the
incoming President after the next presidential election
trust however. that by that time the honorable senator
will be found uniting with his brother senators in pre-
scribng bounds to this arbitrary discretion in any in
coming President in future. only regard the PROPOSE
ton now made important as establishing principle and
think proper to interfere in the same manner in regard
any particular grade portion of the officers OF the
sd not VIII nave the s. 2
MI FOOTE | simply rise, Mr.. President in aid Of
RYl and to unite with him protesting against the rash
and hasy decision of grave and important question in
the mode proposed BY The honorable senator from Ten.
Of such importance 50 sghtngy and 10 award Al once an
authoritative decision upon it, wsrmy urged by the
gentleman from Tennessee. understood him to say dis
men and il should receive the appreciation Of the House
of Representatives he shonld look upon authorta
tive declaration Of principle by the two houses of Con-
gress in opposition to former precedens This is great
undertakings serious matter indeed thus settle
question which divided public sentiment seriously in
1883, and which has much divided public sentiment ever
since repeat that am unwilling, connection with
bill like this, in any very hasiy MANNER to bring on
the settlement OF this question shall be willing, at
proper time, to 90 into examination of the subject in
men calmly and deliberately to be considered and acted
upon. and with something Of composed dignity
! Mr. BELL Upon what more important bill would
Mr. FpOTE. would say bill for the purpose OF ef-
fecting general settlement Of the whole question: APP
picaion e all officers Throughout, the country in con-
without transcension of our constitutional powers
This is special BILL and not willing. for one. thus
hastily, and without due examination and thorough ar
gument 60 settlement OF the question alluded
to. am unwilling to render decision now and upon
the bill before US. Il i is to have the permanent effect de-
scrbed by the honorable senator from Tennessee beg
leave suggest that the honorable seems have
fallen into great in other respects Il is that
these officers are to have certain Judicial functions but
strictly speaking, they are not judicial officers They
accounting ofcers-audtors and their decision is ia but
few cases, II any, TO be final Now, how they can be
considered judicial officers, in the in which the
senator from Tennessee appears TO understand it,
Permit me to observe that am not surprised at the
zeal which the honorable senator has manifested the
present occasion think that the exhibition which he
has given us this morning OF his desire eectuate
great scheme OF reform such he has deneated is not
only natural and becoming but decidedly praiseworthy
He seems to me. in urging this plan Of reform upon u.s.
to rise far above all party considerations 7 give
him credit for great elevation OF purpose and purity OF
motives. know il must have cost him severe strug-
gle 70 meet this very delicate question boldly as he has
met it, because his speech seems clearly imply that he
has very recently discovered that the power OF the Ex
ecutve, in connexion with official displacement NAV be
most awfully abused-that the most serious mschiefs
may arise, and have already arsen from the practice OF
prescription on the part OF the Executive
The senator from Tennessee, although he is distn-
guished for many things highly honorable to him, not
having been distinguished far have learned, on
any former occasion, by such zeal he has manifested
least in this body solemn declaration oil his opinion
that any such alteration in the action Of the government
should be effected as he recommends, feel author
ized TO take II for granted that he, in common with many
other patriotic individuals, has experienced disgust at the
manner IN which this branch Of executive power has
been put IN exercise OF late say again, that award
him great credit for this implied admission II required
much moral courage thus to make known his views 10
the country. II is manly confession OF delinquency
which hope will have It's effect elsewhere; and trust
this rebuke will be efficient the work Of reform in the
right quarter
Gentlemen in high places, inirusted with authority by
the people, will now understand that they pursue
such has been pursued in this country Tor the
last twelve months however distinguished they may be
exalted their intellectual powers, without incuTng
from all good men OF all parties They will
dersland that they pursue this without call
ing forth the language OF indignation and rebuke, not
only from their political opponents. but even from their
high minded supporters The speech OF the senator from
Tennessee. this morning, hold to be most sauary
and sasonabe warning: hope il will be listened to-