The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-07
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE,
TUESDAY, JUNE A, 1850.



REMOVALS FROM OFFICE
The Senate having under consideration the resolution
submitted by Mr. BRADBURY early in the session. calling
iof copies oil any and all charges which may have beer
preferred against individuals removed from Office since
ihe 4ih OF March, 1915
Mr.. BELL said MIR President, The honorable senator
from Maine has read an extract from some remarks
thai made the other day upon this resolution; and Il
calls for notice from me- although did NOT intent
TO review the grounds assumed in the remarks that
made heretofore upon this subject But he has noticed
merely portion OF those remarks, in connexion with III,
point brought 10 the notice OF the Senate it will be neces
sary that shall repeat some portion OF what sait
upon that occasion, In connexion with the allegation
made by me, that these removals were made for some
cause, and not merely Tor opinions sake The resolution
urged upon the ground that great injustice will be done
TO The private character OF the renewed Office holders
unless me reasons Tor their removal shall be disclosed
Although did not then the pfelence out Of re-
ec Tor The honorable senator and those who favored the
proposition, my argument went to show that it was bu
ameTe prelence TO urge such resolution this npor
me Senate ON that ground said that so lar as was
iniormed upon inquiry, and far had any persona
knowiedge oi cases OF removal any section OF the
country. no removal had been made by the President
upon the principle OF difference OF opnion-upo
ground that could be fairly consider red proscripve-a
mere turning ont OF office for difference OF polit-
zeal opinlon contended that those removals had been
made upon some other grounds than mere difference OF
political opinion, and that there were other grounds upon
which removals might we'll be made. which did not i'm
ply any defect OF personal honor character Wherever
aIemovai was made Tor any cause duplicating the per-
sona honor or character OF the removed officer il would
always be the interest of the administration TO make il
known to the public IN its own yindcaon and il could
no oe supposed that any case OF the kind would occur
where any official delinquency existed such as the de-
ialcaton OF collector o port OF receiver of public
moneys q any description, that it would moi be made
pubic MY argument went to show that there no
real petext, therefore, for this CALL upon the grounds
taken BY the honorable senator IRON Maine Ii the
issdenl OF ne removing power did mol think proper to
there would still be hardly any Of official delnquen
ey that would not De known in the vicinity Of the de-
nquent ONCE and we should never in such hear
o any plant about the injury done 10 private character
here or elsewhere. II would be for the interest of the
party removed TO lei pass in silence then and forever
But, s IN iufther vndicaton OF the statement that
made to show that no such real injury TO private charac
Ter could occuraltho0gh the honorable senator from
Indiana MIR. BRIGHT said the other day that such an
injury dhl occur in his Stale, and which promised to
and him in redTessing-l went TO show that the Pes
dent exercised The removing power upon the grounds Of
Mr. Jeeson-tbai active, inlenneddlng partlsans
proper subjects OF removal They might be in other
specs good and proper officers; but this interfering in
elections drumming up voters, and otherwise actively
gagng IN the business OF elecloneerng, instead oil
lending to their duties he considered proper ground of
removal; and have no doubt that there thousands
who have been removed, or might properly be oved
in the legitimate exercise OF the appointing power who
have exeed their utmost energies elections TO main
tain what they consider the great and paramount inter-
es o the democratic party. Does this reflect upon the
private character OF the gentlemen who have been re-
noyedi They have made boast and continue to boast,
OF this conduct as duty they TO the country and TO
their party They glory in having thus performed their
ay and they expect, when their party gets into power
be TeInsated Ia their former situations zpon that very
ground. As far as this principle OF making appointments
Tor the last eighteen or twenty years is concerned, is
geneay considered by oce-hoders in the country that
an ofcer does not do his duty TO the administration
Which maintains him IN Office unless he show his devo-
ton to il in this way. noticed in my former remarks
case that occurred fifteen years ago, OF
Jackson postmaster in Ohio. who actually turned
Of ohce for other reason than that he had become
lakewarm in the cause, and was not as active and eff
cent in elections As be should be; and another put
10 his place upon the ground that be could bring
voters 10 the polls That other became deianlter
Aowever, and ran away. [Laughierl
attempted TO show, in my former remarks that there
we're many other grounds upon which removals may be
enplion for opinions sake or OF private character
undertook 10 show that such removals might be made
nlon the grounds assumed BY Mr. jefferson entirely
proper, without violating the freedom of political opn-
ION; and he was not proscriptive man. His whole
character and course will show that he opposed pro-
sepion, notwithstanding he into power after
ci The most violent and heated party s,ries known
IN The history oil this country. He held that removals
night be made upon the principle OF equalizng the public
oees as between the TWO parties into which the country
was divided This he thought was due 70 the principles
upon which he came into power, II they deserved support
all he found all the important Offices OF the country
the hands OF the opposite party II in connexIon
with this subject that Mr. Jefferson employed the famous
saying IN relation 10 Office holders, that slew die and
none resigB !. and he that unless he made
noyals, the whole Official force and influence oi the
country would be opposed TO the principles OF his admin
suaton.
alluded TO this ground OF removal assumed and acted
upon BY Mr. jefferson, the other day. which hope was
not dIscoureous disespectful 10 gentlemen Of the
aemocrahc party New, l would like 10 know how
hany wings Office when The present admin
staton came into power. | assumed that there were
not hive hundred wings who held Offices of any APP
Fecable value IN The United States, and nat not
10 The hands OF democrats when this administration
came INTO power. They hold majority OF the Offices
bow, as understand. do not know where the honor
abe senator Mr. BRADBuRYl gets his information OF ten
thousand removals. have not, inquired although
earn, sitting in my place in the Senate. that probably
here have not been removals 10 one-ihrd that amount
Possibly, when yoH take the clerks OF the coec
@fs offices 10 the large cities, and the clerks in the
aelaflments, the number may be considerably sUeled
never heard before OF 80 large number OF removals
hat stated By the honorable senator from Maine The
changes, so lar as am lnfsrmed do not exceed some
hree tbousanda small proportion OF the twenty thirty
thousand office holders and agents OF the government,
besides the officers OF the army and navy There are,
believe seventeen eighteen thousand deputy post
masters alone
have reviewed some OF the grounds taken by me on
ormer day, this subject only conseq uence OF the
course Of the senator from Name pressing what he
Considered the strongest argument favor Of the esolu-
ton, on he eve OF vote otherwise did not intend TO
have offered any general remarks upon the question.
As to the principle assumed by the honorable senator
from Massachusetts, | mentioned heretofore that con-
deed that the decision OF the first Congress upon the
subject OF the powers OF the Executive in making
removals was erroneous, though the practice OF the
government up TO this day, had recognised the principle
Of that decision; but mentioned then, | do now,
that Congress should impose restraints upon the
unlimited power Of the Executive, heretofore conceded
to it. To restrain this power by law would urge
as one Of the greatest reforms Of the age, 80 lar
this government Ii concerned Such reform would
h n