The daily union., 1856-04-09

appointed officers communicated
for confirmation TO the Senate In this body discuss
every week sometimes for days together questions of this
character Do we keep records Of those discussions OF
the evidence which decide Do give the parties
tral2 Sir have known hundreds perhaps might say
thousands whose characters have been discussed eonsd
cred without their having had the most remote idea that
such subject before the body Who heard that
bound TO keep record of the accusations made
against persons nominated to us for confirmation
Take another 10 illustrate what said at the time Of
the passage Of the law, and what say The officers
the head of the executive departments constantly
consulted by the President with regard the appointment
and removal OF officers. Who pretends that a
cabinet OF President is bound to give notice party
about 10 be removed Of the Of bis remoyali Who
heard that they bound to give him trial
keep record Of everything that said for and against
him a..#@
1t eloqueny urged in the celebrated debate Mr..
Foots resolution in 1890 that removals of civil officers
without good and without trial. repugnant TO
the principles OF civil liberty and TO common justice But
the party then n power established the principle that
redress for the abuse existed and, therefore,
prised that many attached to the party
should seek 10 oyerurn their party decision and
ablish In the of those naval officers who have been
dropped retired by the advice of their brother officers
privileged class Of office holders hereafter to be exempt
from control by the removal by the President while all
other except judicial officers subject to il.
grant that, TO who has not been acquainted at
all with the principles which this government has been
actually administered since its Origin, it may that
there is something monstrous something grossly tyrnn
cal in removing from Office without notifying him.
without giving him opportunity to witnesses in
his defence without Keeping any record whatever hut
strangely II may sound in the of novice who is
acquainted practically with the administration of
government say it is not strange 10 any who has
had any considerable experience in public fe but that
who have had any such experience should proclaim
this floor the doctrine against which conending is
TO not less surprising
Now sir let me 90 a little further to illustrate this mat
ter by reference TO history think it about the year
1893 when the deposes removed from the Bank of
the United States and William Duane the Secretary of the
Treasury turned out Of his office by President Jack
without triawithout previous notice-whout rec
ordwhout sumnoning any witnesses IL has been uni
this: The President had commanded him TO remove the
public deposites from the Bank of the United States he
refused do it, The President turned him out Of Office
and put another his place who would them
On that occasion the Senate of the United States adopted
resolutions which will be remembered by all who have
read the history Of the country denouncng the exercise of
this power in deregaton Of the law and Of the consu
ton These resolutions leyeed not merely a the re-
moya Of the deposes but at all the proceedings connected
with it, and particularly at the removal of Mr.. Duane
from office The legislature Of Virginia responded in sup
port the President fully sustaining him. and urging the
from the journals of the Senate and drawing
black lines around the resolutions of the Senate this
subject refer this fact because the legislature OF pi
gna to have taken exactly the opposite ground
Now, when removed from the navy, the legsa-
Of Virginia tell that the principles OF civil liberty
vioatedthat the guarantees Of judicial fairness and
upartiaiity are disresardedi Isp0ra msanar n "a
the chamber and this side also the character of Thomas
Jefferson apostle Of liberty, and sound exposition
Of constitutional law stands high Let see how he un-
derstood this subject In the report of the Committee
Naval Affairs find reference to law passed the 3D.
Of March, 1901 having like this for Il. object the dis
charge Of officers from the navy. will read Whist the
committee say the subject because they have condensed
what wish to say in very few words .
"Prevcus to 1901 no legislation limited the number Of
Of hat ysa the Prsdsn. was directed retail.
In the naval service nine captains thirty ak eutenan and
to discharge all the other officers in navy and it pro-
sided for four months extra pay to oil who might thus bs
aThe grade Of captain then consisted Of and
the delicate duty OF serutnring the corp and dsehs
rsop some dscrrpsncy between The and
action OF the Executive teens TO have existed for We can
eighteen as contemplated by But these sixteen,
embracing most worthy and gallant me.-siephen De
the elder and Sas Talbot among hem-were dis-
charged eitLoa hearing fr'oi,' or a 'd.eHos
Here then was a case in which President Jefferson
tired large portion Of the navy Of that day. and no man
point out substantial distinction between that case
and this whatever ingenuity he may posscss Here was
in which this great expositor OF the constitution 90
acceptable 10 gentlemen both sides OF the house-n
many particulars cerainy-deoided that trial, de-
fence, and bearing not due TO naval officer be
fore be removed from the service. bope the legsa-
Of Virginia wltak this precedent into considera-
tion and explain 10 how their modern prncPes a-
cord with those Of the author Of the doctrines and rso
Nh, President said that voted for this law that
nv Judgment approved Il at III. tme and docs In
tend to stand by IL If there were TO be ten thousand
times much popular clsmor . interested parties have
eudeavored to excite against II in this country would
not move the thoussndth part OF inch 70 satisfy or
silence the authors OF the danor feel and know tsat
the ground which stand In sustaining The law rs
righteous one and win not be driven from by excite
ment whether felt feigned, In any quarter Conyinoe
my Judgment and you shall get my vote but not u then
There are honorable gentlemen bere who voted for the
law as did and who since that vote was given have de-
nouncod Il In the extraordinary language asa wick
ed nstrous and tyranniea act which ought never TO
have been passed Indeed sir, the whole vocabulary OF
abuse appars to been exhausted by them this Law.
They tell Us they voted for the law but did not Wndand
a. Some OF these gentlemen have assaulted the members Of
The naval board with pnerampled violence attacking their
private characters and asssng their motives as well aa
their decisions They have also attacked the Secretary Of
the Navy for obcyiug their will They have even attack
ed the President OF the United States for carrying out the
law enacted by themselves. Sir whenever vote for
law and afterwards find that Il s wrong, and that sup
ported Il without understanding H. Will acknowledge
my own error but viii condsmn hose who have
Obeyed my order aud the order of other men who have
voted did merely the plea that did not under
stand IL Il the duty q senator 10 understand bis
votes and II he does not he s the last man who has
right stand up and abuse other for oeeying the
law for which he voted.
put il TO the people of the country, who have heard
such denuncaOns this floor from many quarters oi me
Senate chamber will they sustain this outrage on All just
ice that elevated the high position OF senators th
be privileged assa the private characters OF memesFs
Of the naval board and abuse the executive Officers os
obeying their own express will contained IN The law when
thew ,hsmseyes have enacted II that have d
fren sentiments Of justice Our political ethics vary very
much have charity tor other mcu, but confess would
rather lose this good right than be found oonoemnng
and assang the character OF another man tor obeyng m
DEGREES or acting faithfully the instrument OF my own
Mr. President two weeks ago announced my deterIui
nation to the Senate reply to the honorable senator from