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

degraded people the God OF Heaven ever permned 70
snjoy the blessings OF civil and religious liberty
10 present deny this 10 be deplorabe condi
Jon but do not make issue with the honorable sena
tor who has given ulterance to the surprising decaIaon
simply account OF the high personal respect enter
tain him. and my unwlingness TO deny positively the
existence OF state OF facts in belief Of which he has 90
formally avoucbed Let me besesch him. though, II be
knows where adequate and satisfactory information on
this very painful subject can be obtained, that be VIII
his best exerons 10 have Il forthcoming for the ben
eft Of all, and with view TO the eeelual yindica
ton OF those In power against OF the most serious
that has yet been preferred against them.
is indeed important to the honor OF the nation that this
charge, j unjusily preferred. should be met and put
down by irreiuabe testimony II is important TO the char
acier and popularity OF those in power that all the mys
terry which has heretofore enveloped this subject should
be dsspaed by the production OF the actual facts OF the
case Let US have them al once and let the public mind
be relieved from the gross in which il has become
involved in regard the conduct OF the President and
his official advisers touching removals from ofhce. a
very different opinion from that avowed by the honorable
from Tennessee, can assure him. prevails upon
this subject in the country generally believe that at
this time 99iooths oil our people, wings and democrats
il such state OF facts exist the senator from Tennes-
10 be the case in state of most unfortu.
nate delusion in regard TO them. The sound-thinkng
portion OF our citizens, at the present time, do generally
indulge the belief that the most sweeping expulsion from
Office for opinions sake has occurred under this admins
tration.
regret the broad declaration Of the honorable senator
this head Tor special reasons do not profess to have
looked into the whole subject with minute and scrutlni-
zing diligence; but have under my own
observation, in connexion with which undertake TO
say 10 the senator from Tennessee without designing
indulge in any special denuncaton of the President or
OF the cabinet at ally that il some Individuals with whose
merits am well acquainted, have not been expelled from
Office for opinions sake, the President and his cabi
net must have been more egregousy imposed on and de-
ceved than were ever any set OF before in all Chrls
endom because 1t is undenaby true that worthy oifi
have been turned out OF Office in the State which
part represent known TO the whole country to be as
hgh.mnded, capable, and patriotic as any men IN the re-
public. Yes, sir; men who have nobly shed their blood
~. 1aFap fha pnfru INF mo-
at New Orleans. and who fought with him in his Indian
battleshave been fated to suffer expulsion apparently
without fault and without even suspicion o. denquen
cy-one venerable parsonage in my own State know
WELL and who is doubtless well known TO the honorable
senator from Tennessee oso allude 10 Gen Rayburn,
late marshal OF The northern judicial dsrict OF the Stale
of Mississippi This gentleman served II mistake not,
most honoraby in the legislative councils OF the State oil
Tennessee for several years; he was for many years
member OF the Mississippi senate be slgnalzed ms
patriotic valor in dozen battles OF the late war with
Great Britain; his character is spoess; his Official
fidelity and competency were beyond doubt or deniai
and yet he is one OF the muhudlnons iisl OF pro-
scribed officers, none of whom the senator from Ten
nessee insists dismissed from public employment
except upon official grounds might go INTO pretty
extensive citation. OF instances OF me same KIND
were willing to weary the Senate, and seriously IN
clined to hot controversy with my friend from Ten
nessee But lorbea, and will 9nly remind HIM I'M OF
State and he is therefore bound TO know all the pacu
lars connected with it. Let ask him what he thinks
Of the displacement Of General w AnslIGng our late ex
some other cause besides his being democrat What
grievous crime had he committed What want OF quail
ihcation had he displayed who doubts hls love Of
in battle, enjoyed his confidence and friendship Tor
forty years of his glorious life, and praises OF whom
upon the lips OF the dying Hero OF the Hermitage during
his last moments General Armstrong displaced to
make way Tor young gentleman OF whom shall say
nothing in dspaagement but will mention that he is the
of distinguished parsonage, for whom we all enter
phad mar m
the election OF General Taylor to the presidency than any
ten men in the republic beside. Was this not case OF
prescription Was this not case OF displacement for
opinions sake and OF appointment IN e4ual oil political
support | should really be pleased TO hear how the
honorable from Tennessee explains this, and
thousand other cases equally striking which could be
Mr. President the honorable senator from Tennessee.
by yielding the authority Of Ms TO the assertion
often made by Others that no prescription Tor opinions
sake has taken place under this administration, has APP
prehend done serious injustice TO numerous and most
class OF his oounrymen, whose misfortune
i is to have been expelled from places OF public trust
without any known allegation OF Official demert OF any
kind. This denial to-day that any OF these men were
dismissed account oil their political opinions,
sary raises an implication OF official unworthness against
them all which cannot but operate most njurously Let
invoke him at least TO unite with US IN securing to
them each and all, opportunity OF defending them
selves against this most injurious implication. Let me
urge upon him the justice OF cooperating with in
bringing all the facts connected with these OF
official displacement at once to light by the adoption OF
the resolution time since introduced by the honora
BILE senator iron Maine, Mr.. BRADBURY,1 and which is
now awaiting action, and which respectfully calls
upon the President for full information upon this whole
subject
Mr.. BELL to reply, but yielded the floor to his
colleague,
Mr.. TURNEY, who said Mr. President, | had not
intended 10 take any part in this particular debate
feel TO be my duty, however, since this question has
arisen, defend the reputation OF Two persons
who have been prescribed in the State from which
come. was not present, some days ago. when my col
league MIR BELL made his speech upon the policy of
the present administration, should have replied al
the time TO his remarks, which | think were much
stronger in excupaton OF the Executive than fair ex
hibon OF the facts will warrant think, sir, that, in
relation TO some OF the men who have been removed
from office in my State, my colleague himself will
admit that they every way qualified TO Gil the Offices
which they occupied; that they honest, vigant,
pablo, and worthy men / would select, example
of such men, gentleman who resides, | think, in the
same town with my coleague-Gen. Jesse B. Clemens
who was removed at an early day from the Office OF
marshal OF the middle district Of Tennessee. intro
pariment for copies OF all papers upon file which
have not yet been acted upon II could have to
those papers, confident that he could not be affected
IN his reputation by any imputations which i'm
pedy cast upon him by the President himself his
cabinet This is an officer that never before pro-
scrbed II the first time in the history OF the Stale in
which the marshal OF middle Tennessee has been re.
into Office. the two judges of the federal court,
the district judge and the circuit judge united in strong
letter 10 the department to retain this gentleman in the
office. The district judge, as my colleague knows as
strong and decided wing there is 10 be found in the
State OF Tennessee, and gentleman in every OF
the word. There is not decided gentleman in his
political opinions than Judge Brown In addition his
had he nenda of fhroa sudu nft he