Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-05-04

long tbat more removals have not taken place and when
the explanation has been made that General Taylor VIII no'
remove without special cause, other than IN
political sentiment and that the Democrats In oce wiz NOT
be displaced as long they perform the duties Of their oces
faithfully and with adequate s abstaining from all active
offensive interference In politics. the reply 10 promptly
made that there no equality or harness IN nc contess o
psry when party claims to have perfect tight 10 all the
Offices, and actually enjoy them when in power, while he
other will only LEI in their friends when specific cause
of removal be shown against ncumbents OF the adverse
party And, sir il Is difficult TO give satisfactory answer
this proposition. The question Is serious one how
the Wing party be sustained upon the principle Getrl
Taylor practices upon u relation 10 removals from o 3
while the opposite party assert and practise upon the poy OF
distributing among their friends and parisans soro twenty OF
thirty thousand public Offices The advantages and influences
Of such policy are likely become overwhelming and ire
sisbe in sustaining party which ac upon such principles
And this sir, becoming the prevalent sentiment Oh tne
country that party be sustained on the
Sir this question Of party prescription threatens cono
all Others The Democratic party goes into elections I'd
vocang and sustaining this poy, and offering to their fol-
lowers oil the Offices Of the country as the uls Of victory
while the Wing party only give the assurance that such
Offices may become by death resignation, and
such others may be made by removal for special causes
shall be distributed among their friends. While this is
so, may be justly feared, in this age OF progress,
"a progress, blythe by which have little faith in, and
regard rather rerogade movement,) that the Wings
will have to succumb to their adversaes, whatever supe
riorty they may lay claim 10 in the soundness and Wis
dom Of their general policy and principles and the
being forced upon consideration, whether an Admins
raon stand which does carry out this system OF
party prescription II for these reasons sir that think
the time has when should regulate this removing
and appointing power by law repeat if we do not regu-
late by laws, it will regulate It will control the
operations Of this Government and in the end fear lead to
its overthrow.
Mr.. BRADBunr. would inquire of the honorable Sen
aor, whether understood point of his remarks Alright
Does the Senator assert that no can stand
unless adopt the system Of prescription for opinions sake
Mr.. BELL. meant to express my fear that no party
long maintain ground unless it adopts that practice
do undertake say how long the administration Of Cen
ea Taylor sand but begin have doubts whether
any party administration that practices this limited Of
public patronage, sustain itself for any great length OF
time aganst another party that openly avows as one OF its
PRINCIPLES of action, the exclusive appropriation Of the pos
of Office.
Mr. BRADBuRF. This is the point which wish to come
at Am | understand the Senator from Tennessee,
wishing convey the idea that this Administration have
removed individuals from Office because of their Political
opinions, but for other that this Administration
have adopted the practice of removing from office because OF
political opinions, for the purpose Of obtaining friends
Mr.. BELL made such insnuation that presented
the latter inquiry OF the Senator said the time had
when this question Of the power Of the Pr sdn practice
this system of party prescription should be settled al that
both parties should be restrained both practice upon the
principles And if the Senator only authorized to
say that his party will upon that system hereafter
should consider one greatest reforms Of the ageone
of and benecent consequences to the country
any adjustment which likely to make OF the pend
ing difficulties connected with another great question before
the Senate As to the principles upon which the Admlnstra
ton proceeds in making removals from Office stated that SO
far had any knowledge, and from information received
from the President and Heads of Departments removals
had been made merely for opinions sake and upon inquiry
into particular of removal which my attention had
been directed by others, could find only two where
considered the grounds Of removal questionable There may
be hundred such cases. for aught know but know Of
There may have been removals made because OF mis-
taken unjust allegations charges. Only or two such
of questionable propey have to my knowledge
every other removal OF which have heard the has been
just and proper Ihod sir oicious inermeddng with eec
ions before staedhe drumming up at the polls, oiciat
ing public meetings. becoming noisy parsans the making
Of post Offices places for the assembage of political eau
cuse and all other of excessive partisan ZEAL suh
cent for the expulsion Of the offending parties hold
all these things be antrepubcan in principle, and just
Of removal There be other of removal be-
sides those have specfed-such want of competent skill
and neglect Of official duties / do not undertake to enume
them all And when speak of the grounds upon which
the Administration act in making removals. alude to reno
walls from Office within the exclusive and proper control of the
President. This is what meant to say.
Now, sir, wod with regard to these pledges of Gen
Taylor often sluded to. would here remark that did
not intend, when fist rose, into the discussion of this
point and have only adverted because when,
upon future OCCASION speak upon this ques
tion desire confne myself much possible to
animation of this doctrine of the unlimited power Of removal
claimed TO be vested in the Executive, what leads to and
how it can be controlled and regulated The Senator from
Maine, besides referring to the letters in which Gen. Taylor
ascrbes to him. alluded to the sentiments contained in his In
augura Address, and charaby ntmaes his belief that Gen
Taylor meant, when he delivered that address, to be faithful
his Pledges and 10 honestly out the principles he then
laid down but that since that time he has been moved from,
his purpose. What said Gen Tayor in that address Why
that far lay in his power in the exercise Of the appoint
ing power, he would make honesty capacity and fidelity the
test of official qualifications and the want of these qualca-
tions he would regard just Of removal from cfce
Now, the Senator nteprets that declaration to that
for other cause than the want of these would
he dismiss public officer cannot but think, sir, that the
Senator has allowed his feelings msead him greatly in his
neences from the language Of the inaugural address Of Gen.
Taylor when he it pledge that he would not
for but the absence of these specific and essen
al qualifications in ocehoder The Senator not
know that the pledge for the Of these spe
c qualifications in its true interpretation, has reference to
evil which, in the past history Of the Government has been
the Of great injury to che public service is that
the President for the time being has often failed
notorousy deficient in the proper qualifications
at period from overscupulous decacy the exercise
Of the rcmoring power but much fequenty at later
period because the incumbent his friend and partisan
Does the Senator know, has he forgotten that the act Of
1920, which limited the term Of all the most important civil
officers of the Government four years. intended to
nedy abuse which had its origin in the caution
and oearance Of the Executive ia the of his just
powers That have heard suggested by Mr. Craw
ford but though the motives which led good and
proper yet has proved to be most fatal in its consequences
The Senator from Alabama (Mr Kise) appears have been
the only member Of this body the time who had the agaciy
foresee its results and he voted agains it, For long pc
od anterior the passage Of that act the practice of removal
from office except in tha most agan OF pecuation
corruption had become obsoee and such the Difference
Of the Executive public sentiment, wbich then watched the
exercise of the Executive perogaves with the utmost eal