The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-04
CONGRESSIONAL.
srEEoa 0s ma. sRloaT.

4
SrEEoH Or MA. BRI0AT. F E
OF INDIANA, 6
On the resoition of Mr. BaApBuRY relative 10 removal,
from otes delivered IN The Seaate, January 2, 1881.
! Mr. BRIGHT said. will not claim the attention of the
SENATE Longer than deem absolutely necessary enable
me to discharge what consider an imperative public duty
know the mpalience Of the Senate 10 dispose of the
resolution before them, and feel that under ordinary
further to extend this already protracte debate When
u was last before the Senate il will he recolected that
the dssls took direction and led 10 series OF remarks
in part represent My colleague has well said much
that intended to say in answer TO the senator from Ohio
and had known OF his parlcipancy in This debate,
ana he extent 70 which his published remarks furnish
answer to that senator do not know that should have
further troubled The Senate the subject But the floor
having been given 70 me. hope neither my colleague
nor the Senate will deem the work OF supererog in
10 enlarge somew hat upon the positions which he TOOK,
and also ~ reply to the new polas presented blythe hon
orahle senator from Norlb Carolina, (Nr MANeuM |
Since the introduction OF this resolution BY the hon.
orabie senator from Maine, MIR. BRADBURY an en-
tire different state OF things existed than existed
1t the date OF its introduction. The administration of this
government was then in the hands Of those chosen by the
certain pedges which but few short months after they
came into power it anliesty appeared were only made
to be violated Among them was the pledge that no off.
Ger should be removed for opinions sake no in
cumbent was To be displaced except charges preferred
and Sustained The history of the administration of Gen
Taylor from it's organization down the date Of the intr
ducton OF this reouon, disclosed state OF things as
expected az u was unjust toward all those who were hold
ing offices under the teders government al that time Re-
movas by the hundred and by the thousand had been and
were continued to be made under circumstances view
OF the rule which the chief officer had laid down for his
own government, which carried with them in each case
the suppositlon OF guilt How natural it to suppose
that each scer forming part Of this long train Of Off
Gals should as he passed to the block, inquire of
himself OF friends and Of bystanders, In what have
Offended! wherein have sinned who is my accuser
what the charge Or charges against mel and where is
the proof that susns them" How natural in this state
OF facts. that the honorable from Maine and all
who sympahize with him politically should invoke the
only power known TO the constitution to aid in bringing
light and to the public eye the charges upon which each
officer had been behea eaded And this step was not taken
until alter many OF anxious to know what the files of
the different departments in this city contained against
our respective constituents, were most copacenty told,
+" lhe Executive gives no reasons Tor his conduct Ii
you are permitted to see The data upon which we act, be
i known thai il is rather matter Of favor and OF grace
than OF right" aa ggs.a ..asfg.4 EF.E7 Il
The resolution offered by the senator from Maine un
der these circumstances eminently proper and the
frank, Open and fair dealing OF all parties are indebted
to him not only for this resolution, but still more for the
ject. te 1H
But, sir, there has been change of circumstances
series OF events have occurred in the history OF this
, ssfds eoaa
much OF its original importance Yet sir it ought to be
considered and acted upon Those answerable for this
national breach OF faith have passed from power. Not
one OF that high court Of impeachment, which sal 10
cre and acted upon pare testimony and testimony OF
the most interested character, in power re-
ceye either the voice Of approval condemnation al the
hands of their countrymen True the honorable sena-
tor from Ohio is spared TO us another sphere yet lit
Tie while and sorry, truly sorry. am that be willug
TO employ any part Of his acknowledged taenAs 10 the
justhcaon oil such policy was pursued by that III
fated administration, (which he dstng guished
member. No knows better than that senator that
removals and appointments were made throughout this
Union, and IN every State, the sole ground that the
incumbent was democrat and the appontee a whig
III the removals and appointments thus ade had been put
upon thus ground, do not believe there is decap,aied
officer, the friend OF such officer thai would have vi
tered the OF complaint We should have pointed 10
broken pledges and violated faith to conding people,
and warned our countrymen against repetition Of such
scenes, the ground Of their demorazing tendency
but we should not have complained OF the blow that
severed democrats from positions under admins
traton Of opposite politics But when officers have been
removed under circumstances that seem to require ex-
planaion al the hands OF those who actors in the
work. and when the monsous defence set up that
friends dishonest unfalthfu and incompetent
ply is demanded from and from every senator who has
had an honest constituent stricken down. az =
My friend from Iowa, [Mr. DoDGE,l in my absence,
in the course OF this debae-and ! thank him for his
manly defence OF General Lane and Colonel Weller
said that the OF these gentlemen OF pecu-
liar hardshp and he called the attention OF the Senate
and OF the country 10 the fact that man had ever
charged them with the omission commission of any
Official act bringing them within the pretended rule Of
the late administration, and that these Of
naked prescription. To this the senator from Ohio
Piled that the senator from Iowa mistaken But II
perhaps proper that should quote the senator's
language. In the course OF the debate upon this sub
lect, on the l2th uumo, the senator from Ohio said
"Tbe aso refers two ot rsmovalsGen,
Lane OF Oregon, and Col Weller, the bound.
sson-and speaks ot these cases of naked
prosor pton In this he is incorrect As 10 Governor
Lane. report made by him 10 the department for
very long time after hts appointment Great complaints
made against him from ihe Territory o Oregon, and
from authentic aud reliable sources, which ihe EK
Tor his removal well official as political" s.s.
Now, sir, as the senator from Ohio at the time
of General Lanes removal al the head oi that depart
ment OF the government which had supervision Of Gen
Lanes conduct as governor Of Oregon and o0ioto
superintendent Of Indian aare. and as il was the dnty
Of the honorable senator 10 guard and protect the pub
lie interests connected with Territories ask HIM
to specify any of General Lanes In either OF the
capacities have named voIative OF the law, any
omission his part 10 execute the laws and generally to
perform his duty, and bis whole dsty He had failed 10
make report, says the hoaorable senator. What OF
that, .iri Why that failure And again. say, show
me the law requiring report every three months In an
unorganized agency. There is no such law. Agents
appointed to Indian tribes where friendly relations have
been established required to report quarterly a. to
their expenditures but General Lane had nothing TO ex
pend and therefore he had nothing report Gene raj
Lane vested with enlarged discretionary powers.
By the instructions which be received In October 1sas
and they were the only instructions be received from the
date OF his appointment the day OF his dIsnissal-he
- 49, ~. 4 hYro