The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-05
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
TUESDAY, June 4, 1850.
SENATE.
THE TARIFE.

MI sTURG EoN presented several petitions from
the State of Pennsylvania, praying MODIFICATION
of the tariff OF 1910
Also petitions from the same, praying the estab-
1nent of AN agricultural bureau.
Private petitions were presented by Messrs.
CLARKf, SEBASTIAN, and Downs
Mr. DAVIS, OF Mississippi, from the Committee
on Military Affairs, reported bill to authorize the
Secretary of War to settle the claims of the State
of Georgia for horses and equipments lost by the
volunteers and militia engaged in the suppression
Of bostties of the Creek, Seminole, and Cherokee
Indians in the years 1886 and 1887.
Also, Joint resolution supplementary 10 the
resolution 50 to refund money 10 the States which
have supplied volunteers and furnished them trans
portation during the present war, before being
mustered and received into the servceoi the onliea
States"
Also, a bill for the relief of paymasters' clerks.
MIR. DICKINSON, from the Committee on FL
age of a cent piece composed OF silver and copper,
the coinage OF three cent piece and to secure the
re coinage of the small Spanish and other foreign
coins" with amendment
Mr. MASON from the Committee on the District
of Columbia reported back the bill giving the as
sent of the United States to an act of the General
Assembly of Maryland passed at the December
session. lsI4c chapter ISL
Also the bill TO incorporate the Mutual Insurance
Company of Georgetown.
Mr. DAWSON from the Committee on Military
Affairs reported bill for the relief OF George Tai
colt brevet brigadcr general of the United States
army, and colonel OF ordnance
Mr.. BENTON submitted the following rcsolu-
ton, which lies over:
Resolrsd, That the Committee on Finance be in
structed to inquire into the expediency Of refund
ing California the amount collected for duties in
the ports of California by authority OF the United
States officers, from the conquest OF the country in
1876 47 To the time of the arrival of the Unit d
States collector at San Francisco in the month
OF November, lSi7.
SAMUEL COLT AND b. MORSE.
Mr.. DICKINSON, from the Committee on FL
nance reported back the joint resolution TO refund
the duties paid by Samuel Colt and b F. Morse
upon certain valuable presents made TO them, in
consideration OF their merits as inventors, by the
Sultan of Turkey. The joint resolution was then
taken up for consideration, and was advocated by
Messrs. DICKINSON, RUSK, HALE, DOUGLAS,
BRADBURY. SHIELDS, and HOUSTON; and was
opposed by Messrs. KING, DAVIS of Mississippi,
PRATT and MASON. The resolution was then
ordered to third reading.
REMOVALS FROM OFFICE.
Mr.. BRADBURY moved, and the Senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration OF the resolution SUBJ
mitted by him in December last, calling upon the
President for information relating to the charges
filed against persons removed from office since
March 4, 1919.
Mr. WEBSTER said that he had not supposed
that the mover of this resolution would ever press
il to vote, nor had he supposed the majority
would pass resolution so unprecedented He,
however, believed otherwise; and a vote
was pressed he desired to state the why he
would vote against it. There no precedent for
the resolution now before the Senate, and there
was little constitutional principle in its object as
there example for II in the past history of the
Legislation of the Senate. He gave history Of the
action of the Senate and of the House upon the pro-
position that the President, having the power TO
appoint, had also the power to remove Ii was then
settled that the President had the power. Since
then the practice Of the Government, of every adj
ministration, had been in conformity with this de-
cision. He reason in the conduct of the
present Administration for departure from that
hliaha he had
right authority TO pass this resolution, than had
the House of Representatives the right TO call upon
the Executive branch of the Government for the
particular reasons which governed IL in the dis
charge Of its duties.
He believed that the decision of the Senate in
1896, erroneous he considered that this subject
of removals was not beyond the jurisdiction of the
legislature. But the established practice of all the
several administrations had been SUCH that il would
be rather invasion upon this Administration TO
pass this resolution He then alluded to the reno
walls made by the present Administration, and said
that, lar az his Information extended, but little
complaint had been made in Massachusetts, on the
subject Of removals.
Mr.. BRADBURY replied, and read from the bill
which passed the Senate in 1885, making it the duty
Of the Executive TO communicate TO the Senate the
reasons for making removals in certain cases, and
from a speech by Mr. Webster in favor of that BILL
He then commented upon the great number of re-
Inovals by the present Administration, and the re-
peated assertions that no removals had been made
except for cause and said the passage of the
luton demanded for the vindica tion of the par
ties removed.
Mr.. WEBSTER replied in,explanation Of the act
Of 1895, and TO show that there was analogy be-
tween il and the present resolution.
MIR. BRADBURY rejoined.
Mr.. BELL then addressed the Senate in expla-
nation VI his remark a former occasion that, 10
his knowledge, no person had been removed except
for cause. He explained that cause for removal
consisted not only in a want OF capacity, fidelity,
and integrity but also in interference at elections
arfiV anahin al and fIrf faaap
money TO be used at the polls, drumming up OF
voters, &c.
lie now said that in no case, TO his knowledge,
had any person been removed except for cause
which actually did or was supposed TO exist. lie
then took up the particular of removals cited
in Tennessee by his colleague, (Mr. TURNEy,) and
proceeded 10 show that they open 10 the
charge Of meddling in elections in some mode
or another. The Of the removal Of jesse b.
Clements from the post Of marshal in one OF the
districts VI Tennessee was then examined, and the
fact pointed out, that, while Dir. Clements was
perhaps unexceptionable, one Of bis deputies was
AN active partisan who used money 10 have effect
at elections, and that this deputy could only be
reached by the removal Of the marshal.
Mr.. DOUGLAS supported the resolution. He
said that no Democrat would complain of the re.
moyal Of ofhce-holders because Of their political
opinions, II the removal was placed on that ground.
But the President came into power pledged TO re-
move man because Of HE political sentiments,
and the Senator from Tennessee said no one had
been removed except for cause, and there rested
upon all persons remoy ed an implied charged Of hav.
ing been guilty Of some act deserving Of expulsion
from office. This he denied TO be true. To his
knowledge, many men, competent, faithful, and
honest. had been removed, and no charge save that
Of being Democrats could be brought against them
This stain, thrown upon them by removal, was
libel, and was untrue lie said that he believed the
for removal was opinions sake, and such he
believed 10 be the opinion ofevery candid man.
Mr.. BELL replied, repeating what consid-
cred by Mr.. Jefferson sufficient cause for re-
nOyal, and urging that, far his knowledge
extended, that doctrine Of Mr. jefferson had been
strictly adhered TO by this Administration. lie
repelled the insinuation thrown out by the Senator
from Illinois that he not sincere In his opinion
that there had been no prescription, 10 his know.
ledge, for opinions sake merely.
Mr. HALE said that be desired O. repeat 10 the
Senate what he had said before in Executive ses-
sion.
Mr.. KING called the attention Of the Chair 10 the
point that such remarks were out Of order
Mr.. HALE said that he understood that a sena.
had the right TO state what be had said himself
though not what others had said. Such was laid
down a. the rule by the Senator from Massachu.
setts.
Nj WEBSTER said he thought the senator was
mistaken.
Mr.. HALE said. il his memory wa correct.
a in m speecb made by the Scuafor In, o.. !,