Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-18

regret quite as sincerely as the honorable Senator but
remind him that declared here by those whose
ons with the President of such confidential character
authorize the belief that they spoke from authority that
such response would have been made This position
has the appearance of On after thought
The general impuatons against the character Of whole
classes Cf menthe nsinuaon that might be given
for the removals which are decately witbhelddo great
justice to many honorable They destitute Of just
foundation they unfair The fmsy pretext cannot
the inconsistency between the professions and the
practice of the late Administration II is contrary to every
law Of honorable political warfare rob of their charac
ter after depvng them Of Office. would be more polite
as well honest to out frankly and acknowledge the
fact that the true for the removal of Democrats
that the offices wanted for the Wings. Do this and
we will not complain You welcome to the Offices;
do not object 10 their loss All ask is that you this
unjust warfare upon the character Of all those you have pro-
scrbe which has been waged the violated pledges
| upon which you rode into power
| Mr.. DOWNS Mr. President, did not think that any
thing could be said on this pbect that would induce
into its discussion Nave had no taste for at all and
have been sorry that has continued long, have been
anxious to get clear of the whole debate the first that
opportunity was offered But there positions
sumed by the honorable Senator from Ohio, in his speech
day. that seem TO extraordinary that be permit
ted to give them passing remark have had nothing do
and do not now propose to interfere with the controversy
brought before the Senate 50 eaboraey as
the conduct and character of the distinguished ndvdu
ais removed That will be left others better acquainted
with the facts than am but wish notice OF the
eences and the conclusions which the Senator from Ohio
comes and which have bearing ia other quarters and
against those individuals who have been removed in my
Stale well elsewhere.
He that those this side of the House who have
attempted show that there sucen,
mova in these two cases. having failed establish their posi-
ton, he contends and with much confidence seems
that he expects acquesce that in all other there
good cause for the removal. II is against conclusion
that kind that object and object most strenuousy That
the only point have considered in this resolution.
have contested the right Of all parties those
who hold Office under the Government and denied
it is the practice of all parties do but do contest and
object to the right Of any Administration to turn out officers,
and to signaise them and blacken their characters.
To show Mr. President how utterly unfounded this posi-
ton s taken applied to Of the principal officers
of my State will mention that this very question
raised in political contest which occurred in Louisiana The
allegation distinctly made and published that the Princ-
pal officers in Louisiana, the collector of the customs the
district attorney, and postmaster and others New Orleans
were removed without other than political. II
made political point and speeches delivered and pub
shed and contradcted there because it
could be contradcted that they removed for political
and for them alone think that prove the
honorable Senator himself that there is something his
political course which admits that they removed without
cause, of them least. II recolect rightly the
district attorneys that time under the immediate
pervson OF his department. There power vested in that
department. in the bureaus connected with it. of employing
additional counsel and paying them extra great suits in
which the United States may be interested am informed
indeed know it to be fact, that the very mail after
the that carried out the removal Of the late district
ney, carried direction that he should be employed special
counsel in important in that State. He
employed and rendered important services He has pre-
sented his and they have lain the Departments
up this tme waiting for adjudication. And yet the gem
eman would have us believe he was removed for ncompe
tency, some other personal objection. M.
Mr. EWING. did not state that that gentleman was
removed for incompeency. s
Mr.. DOWNS. drew that general inference from the
genteman's remarks. ...t.E.
The PRESIDENT Gentlemen must not interrupt the
speaker without permission. m .....
Mr.. DOWNS. Again, will state another fact to show
these nernces ought not to be drawn and applied the
officers in my State. The these particular offices
well known to the State All Of them believe have received
high stations from the public voice. One Of them, very
recently postmaster Of that cy at the very last election
returned seat in the other House of Congress- and against
opponent that against his amented predecessor by
majority nearly double what usually obtained in the dis
trics. And am informed, and it be doubted, thai
not only all the Democrats but great many Wings voted fol
him, and voted for him chiefly because he turned out
Office; but not much that account because of the
general mpuaon that turned out except there
good for 1.-THE ground which the honora
BILE Senator places all the removals Of the late Administration
Another fact. The gentleman would have us believe that
no removal had taken unless for sufficient found
after investigation. there sufficient there must
have been investigation. Now will tell you my expe-
rence of an investigation in case. There was in my
State very little oice-one of the smallest that be-
fore the Senate-a land Office appointment the commissions
of which will amount to but few hundred dollars 1t
expected that the incumbent would be removed and il
would not have been objected to if done in the ordinary
But he had to believe, and had believe that
charges would be made against him, because preparations
had been made before the Administration into power
And had believe that charges had been actually
and somewhere in Washington Not to the
Office but to the reputation Of the man, left record
in the proper department of the Government request that
any particular charge should be made against this officer that
he somebody else should have notice Of it, that he
might be vndcated Yet notice taken Of it, but he
was renewed. .>M
The honorable Senator has been minute in parts of
history in giving Of removals that have taken
place heretofore but must be permitted to say that
thought his history very imperfect to PERIOD and
that period when he formed part of the Admnstra-
ton He very careful to tell us how many removals
made in 1929, but he did tell how many
made in March, ls4l. wish he had gone into that histo
ry for he had he would have found that in his
position at least great change has taken place this
subject of removals since that time. For il fact well
known the me- recollec because the documents
and eersthat it publicly and distinctly avowed that
removals made for political alone. contrary
position is now assumed.
If recolect rightly has been suggested perhaps by the
honorable Senator from North Carolina, if not by him. by
some other engaged in this debate that Gen. Taylor
made removal unless he thought there sufficient
That may be- have great regard and veneraton for
the memory Of that good old man. would be glad to believe
that the But if it so be must have been
much deceived by those who surrounded him than
most Presidents have been In my State, of the ndv-
duas who in the conspicuous Offices and who
have been personally known him. had assailed
him. and had uttered word but of the utmost respect
good old that there serious charges against such
as wby thew should out-then the