Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-01-23
Mr.. GwIN. Twill not press my suggestion.


enable &c discharge what consider imperative
public duty. know the Impotence of the Senate 10
dispose of the resolution before them and feel that
under ordinary circumstances should owe apology
for proposing further 10 extend this already protraced
debate When il was last before the Senate il will be
recoected that the debate took direction and led to
series o. remarks which deseryedly call for reply
fom the State which in part represent. Ny colleague
has well said much that intended say to
the Senator from Ohio, and if had known of his par
tcpancy this debate and the extent TO which his pub
lshcd remarks furnish that Senator, do
not know that should have further troubled the Senate
the subject. But the floor having been given
hope neither my colleague nor the Senate will deem IT
the work Of supererogaton in me to amply somewhat
beyond the ground he took and reply the points
presented by the honorable Senator from North Carolina
CHR. Mangum)- Since the introduction OF this resolu-
ton by the honorable Senator from Maine, Mr. Brad
bury) entire different of things exists than
listed the date of its introduction The administration
of this Government then in hands of those chosen
by the people the ballobox and chosen with REFER
ence TO certain pledges which but few short months
after they into power IL manestly appeared were
only made to be siolated Among them the pledges
that officer should be removed for opinions
sake incumbent to be displaced except char
ges preferred and sustained. The history OF the adj
mnistration of General Taylor from its organization
down the date of the introduction OF this resolution
disclosed of things unexpected as il unjust
towards all those who holding Offices under the
Federal Government at that time. Removals by the
hundred and by the Thousand had been and nn
ued to be made under circumstances view OF the rule
which the chief officer had laid down for his own gov
eminent which carried with them in each the sup
position of guilt How natural il TO suppose that
each officer forming part of this long train OF officials.
should he passed the block inquire Of himself
of friends and OF bystanders SIN what have otfendedf
wherein have snnedl who is my accuser! what is the
proof that sustained them How natural, in this state
of facts that the honorable Senator from Maine and all
who sympathze with him politically. should invoke the
only power known the Constitution to aid in bringing
light and the public eye the charges upon which
each officer had been beheaded. And this step
! mt IA EN- o rs o
the files Of tho different Departments in this city contain
ed against respective constituents, eomplacent-
" told "The Executive gives for his conduct
II you permitted the data upon which act
be il known that IL is rather matter OF favor and Of
grace than OF right"
The resolution offered by the Senator from Maine
under these circumstances eminenty proper, and
the frank, open, and lair dealing OF all parties are IN
debted him not only for this resolution but still
for the zeal and ability with which he has prosecuted his
object.
! But, sir, there has been change of circumstances
series of have occurred in the history of the
Government that human agency could CONTROL since
the introduction of this resolution which strips it of
much of its original Importance. Yet sir ought
be considered and acted upon. Those answerabe for
this national breach Of faith have passed from power
Not of that high court of impeachment, which
in and acted upon parte testimony, and test
mony OF the most interested character remains in power
receive either the voice of approval condemnation
at the hand Of their countymen True, the honorable
Senator from Ohio is spared to in another sphere vet
4 Il
willing employ any part Of his acknowledged talents
TO the justification of such policy pursued by
that Inflated Administration, of which he distin
4 guished a member. No one knows better than that
Senator that removals aud appointments made
throughout this Unon and in every State, the sole
ground that the incumbent was Democrat, and the
appointee Wing. II the removals and appointments
thus made had been put upon this ground, do not be-
eve there is decapitated officer, friend that he may
possess that would have uttered the voice of complaint
We should point to broken pledges and violated faith
a confding people, and warn countrymen against
repetition OF such scenes the ground of their demon
alizng tendency; but should not hive complained
of the blow that severed the Democrats from positions
under an administration Of opposite politics. But when
officers have been removed under circumstances that
require explanation the hands Of those who
were actors in the work and when the monstrous de-
fence is SET up that friends dishonest unlaith
full and incompetent, a reply is demanded from and
from every Senator who has had honest constituent
stricken down.
My friend from Iowa. (Mr- Dodge) in my absence, in
the of this debate, (and thank him for his manly
defence of Gen. Lane and COL Weller) said that the
cases of these gentlemen of peculiar hard
ships and he called the of the Senate and of
country to the fact that man had ever charged them
with the omission commission Of official bring
them within the pretended rule OF the admnisr
and that these were eases Of naked prescription. To
this the Senator from Ohio replied that the Senator from
Iowa mistaken. But it is perhaps proper that
should quote the Senator's language In the
Of the debate upon this subject, the 18th ult the Sc
nator from Ohio said:
Gen. Lane, Governor Of Oregon and Col. Weller, of
the boundary commission and speaks of these
of naked prescription. In this he is Incorrect As
Governor Lane no report made by him TO the De.
partment for very long timo after his appointment.
Great complaints were made against him from the Ter.
rtOry oil Oregon and from authentic and reliable
which the Executive ought respect There
were therefore, for his removal well official
as political"
New sir as the Senator from Ohio was at the time
of Gen. Lanes removal at the head of that department
Of the Government which had supervision OF Gen Lanes
conduct Gov. of Oregon and o6fco Superintend-
of Indian Affairs and the duty of the hon.
honorable Senator to guard and protect the public inter-
connected with Territories, ask him to spe-
city of Gen. Lanes in either Of the
ties have named yioatye Of the law, or any omission
on his part execute the laws and generally perform
his duty, and his whole duty He had failed to make
report says the honorable Senator What OF that sir
Why that falurel And again. | saw show me the law
requiring report every three months ganized
agency There is such law. Agents appointed to
Indian tribes, where friendly relations have been estab
shed required report quarterly to their
penditures, but Gen Lane had nothing 10 expend, and
therefore he had nothing to report. Gen. Lane was
vested with enlarged discretionary powers. By the in
which he received in October IS4sand they
were the only instructions he received from the date Of
his appointment to the day OF his dismssa-he d.
comprehensive order. As applicable to such area of
wild country Oregon with such diversity Of interests
it a broad and indefinite authority; and doubt if
the Senator from Ohio, with all his astuteness and pow
ers OF interpretation couldset legal limits to it. This
thority, my colleague has well said required Gener
al Lane enumeration Of all the white inhab
tants there and he he'd to do this without any funds of
the Government in hand t. aid him. For that purpose
he used his MEANS and snch money he could bor
row from the citizens, as | am informed.
were to be organized Pending Governor Lanes
less efforts bring order OF chaos seventy out OF