The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-14
CONGRESSIONAL.


sPEkCA or AR EwiNo,
#.gr.s.sf ilFss.s, or OHIO. ~
In dsfsnes 9 rsmoua from office BY the late admnes.ra
ton, and tn reply 10 Senator Bright and Others de-
tsvsrsd N tAs Senate Tuesday. January7. 1851.
The Senate having resumed the consideration Of the
resolution iG re relation TO removals from oihcea
Mr.. EWING said lexpressed my entire Willingness on
Thursday last after listening to the remarks OF the sen
ator from Indiana. lMr BRoHr TO join the issue ten
possible q adducs ali the cases Of removal and to give
I'll the in all the willing to take the
two prominent cases selected by those gentlemen, and
them stand as the test caser On my part, in behalf Of
the late administration, willing, and still will
ling 70 admit that il these removals. if either OF
them was wrong, all were wrong; and expect
like candid admission on their sde that if those which
they have selected the test cases were right. all
were right, and that they will give up the contest il the
position which they have lake a. 10 these their selected
cases cannot be sustained Gentlemen made their selec
ton after the lapse OF much Time, and evidently upon
much consultation lner the fact from their obvious
accord in thrustng General Lane and Colonel Weller
prominently forward as a specially wroaged and per
secuted victims from the prompt and general rally a, the
Of many voices in denouncing these especially
Of mere naked prescription; and. finally from the gen
eral concurrence OF senators in alleging, by way Of az
gravatlon, that the gentlemen thus removed were at
the time on the Pacific coast do not know that this
was the result OF caucus, but there was wondrous
agreement in the assumption OF fac, and its presentation
By mutual agreemsnt. then, will take these cases,
chosen by gentlemen on the other side. We will take
them with all their circumstances Of aggravaon and ii
cannot prove that their removals were tight and proper
nay necessary duty OH the part OF the late Presi-
dent-then will agree that he acted upon wrong pn-
cipe, and that his renewals generally wrong. II
prove that these right then claim from the other
side the admission That his removals were generally
These selections are well and judiciously and fairly
made They belong each 10 his own separate class of
Office. ce.holders-Col. Weller to those who wholly
unfit for the Office to which he appointed incapable
If Its he
funds necessary Tor lis execution. Gen. Lane belonged
different classthat OF electioneering office holders
whose violence, and abuse and calumny during the
presidential had been such that General Taylor
when be became President, could not, without sacrificing
all selfrespect, without sacrificing all respect for his
political friends. suffer Them to remain in ofhce; ;
nay. it such that. had they had proper sense
Of what was due TO official proPrley, they would OF
themselves have instantly resigned their Offices upon
the election OF General Taylor and refused TO hold office
under whom they had SO depreciat and calumni
aed There is then peculiar fitness IN the selection
Der Of cases from these two Of which they may be con-
sidered the representatives
had something TO say with respect to Col. Weller a
few days ago. and it is necessary that should
repeat what then said refer 10 the documents
which then referred will merely add two particulars,
which did not then deem necessary TO REFER but
which. a. gentlemen are hard tosasfy the occasion
now calls for.
But, before proceeding TO the question, will remark
that ] have not sought this controversy, but have
Stunned il not, however, IN fear oil the result, for
knew at the commencement how II must end. butfrom
uniegned reluctance 10 engage in discussion nvov-
ing personal character and personal conduct Hence IT
10 that have said little as could possibly say with
out doing injustice 10 Gen. Taylors administration that
would inure the character wound the feelings Of
either III touch them with less gentle hand, they
must thank their friends who persisted in thrustng them
in our faces But IN order 10 lake up the rst branch OF
my subject properly must refer to the debate Of the l2h
of December in which the senator from Michigan took
part That senator made inquiry OF me during that
debate in these words But will The honorable senator
tel me that Col, Weller would have been removed if
he had been whg"
replied in answer to the question OF the honorable
senator from Michigan, as follows
and can say the honorable senator from Mchi
M CAs' in reply to hi, ina%y that had ooons
him been what and from the reliable
Iwoud have unhesitatnsy advised his removal"
Ihad hoped that my reply would have been perfectly
satisfactory 10 the senator and especially after the
marks made BY me the other day. ~
Mr. CASS. II the senator from Ohio will allow me, |
will state that my inquiry was in auson to the ground
respect 10 the accounts OF Col Weller He had not then
referred TO the character OF Col Weller and my remark
Mr. EWING. hoped tia, the senator would have been
satisfied with my reply, knowing, as was well con-
vinced he did that there were other charges OF grave I'M
port against Col Weller and knowing also, as sup
POSED Be did, thai Withheld them from an unwiIlingness
unless absolutely compelled by the force OF circumstances
speak here Of the defects and vices OF men But when
nex the spoke he h TO consider having
stated specifically all knew OF Col Weller, and all the
facts which Influenced the President TO remove him and
giving credit for good Intentions, be expressed him
self ncredulous Of my assertion that would have ad
vised the removal of Col Weller had he been whig
And in these remarks the senator from Michigan took
particular pains to conhne the issue 70 wba, never made
an issue which was whether Col. Weller removed
under and by the operaons OF particular act OF Con-
gress Well, | agree that he was not | never said
that he was nor intimated any such thing But the
aior said when he addressed the Senate The sub
ec, that he would be driven from his point That
IL, the determined TO confne the OF
mova to the operation OF that particular law which did
name and which had nothing TO do with it. have
issue with the honorable senator he took his ground
most unreasonable for to go quite out of my way 10
drive him from position which he had perfect right to
occupy and which interfered not at all with mine.
As the senator not satisfied with the evidence already
adduced will now offer other item, and hope il will
be sufficient II il certified copy of the report of a
master in chancey, who appointed by The conr, OF
pleas of Butler county 10 impure into the deaca
ton OF Col Weller and two other individuals who
ntrnsted with public fund belonging TO that county.
however, that ali the commissioners good demo-
Gratis, and Mr.. Mcbride the master in chancery, demo-
crat also, and personal friend OF Col Weller The
money nrusted 10 these persons the part of the
plus fund belonging 10 that county. large amount Of
which Col Weller had converted to his own use, and
failed 10 account for This fact well knew when Col
Weller was removed and the senator from Michigan must
the other day that from the facts within my knowledge
] would have advised the removal OF Col Weller had
he been whig The extract is as follows;
The amounts due said funds by other debtors Than said
whose notes. bonds, and mortgages have bee
my possession, be ond In tabular statement
herewith fed (nsrked b. amounting IN ai to the sum OF
e3e71 49, the hands Of the defendsn's and 70
be ,ad fov rhp The sum Df