Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-05-16

luSOt Tue power W remove, Nuy uOt ucCidfS
so and have the needful and proper legislation
upon the subject And l have been told that
we could not pass such law. Why not ? let
me ask. 1t must be, suppose, because ma
jority of this body, or of both Houses. do not
believe in the principle. If that be so, is it
exactly open and honest dealing to undertake
to bolster up this amendment by affecting to
believe the President transcends his power by
making such removals and new appointments
| must say that it is mode OF accomplishing
a purpose that does not commend itself to me.
But notwithstanding the argument in support
of the amendment has been mainly that such
political changes were beyond the legal and
constitutional power of the President, the
amendment upon its face concedes it, and pro
vdes that those appointed TO fill vacancies
caused by removals for misconduct IN office
shall be excepted from 'he prohibition of pay
ment. II cannot be said that he has the pow
of removal for one cause and has not for
another. II by the Constitution he has the
power of removal at all OF necessity, he must
be the sole and exclusive Judge of the cause
and necessity of removal. The validity or
legality of the appointment of the tthcer ap
pointed to fill such vacancy could not be in
9uired into by going back To Inquiry for what
Ca use his prede -essor Was removed. In tn
exhsu ustive discussions which this subject re-
ceived from the eminent statesmen of the early
days of the government, It was never suggest
ed but that the President he ony Judge
OF the cause of remoyaif he possessed the
power in any cause. Ibis ans ndment virtual
ly breaches a wholly d0ctrine. IL con-
ceties the power of removal by the President,
but assumes that We may 20 back behind that,
and inquire into the reasons, for the purpose
of determining whether the new appOlntee
shall have pay. L. is certainly anomaly that
L., 8 I,,.T..
of an officer, bu! his right to compensation
shall depend upon the reasons tha; Influenced
the appointing power il making the appoint
ment. The last contest on this subecJ OF the
Presidents power of removal wss during Pros
idept Jackson's administration, and the great
Wing leaders OF that day made fearful effort
TO bring the Government back to what they
claimed WAS the true construction of the Con-
sttution, and denied the President the power
of removal. But they did not succeed, and
all parties have acted without question since,
upon the other theory lut II seems not to
have occurred to these eminent statesmen, who
thought the President could legally remove Of
fcers and II their places with other persons,
that they could make i; barren honor by de-
driving the holders thereof Of all compensa-
tion. Ii has been reserved for this financial
generation to discover this new mode of curing
either defect in the Constitution or wrong
ful Interpretation Of it. 10 me the idea Is
strange and monstrous tha. man who legally
holds office, and properly performs its du-
lies, should not be paid because the reasons for
MS appointment were politically unsatisfactory.
believe such position TO De wholly indetensl-
bic, wrong in principle, upon which party
can stand. In Offering the motion to reconsid-
er the vote passing the bill, happened to lay
that such doctrine seemed 10 me to be al
most Revolutionary. | have sincs learned Jhit
radical Unlonlst has no right to use that
word-that il belongs wholly 20 persons OF OPP
posite political piOcliv.iles. | therefore take
leave 10 withdraw the word. W nat is the real
purpose and object of this amendment L
suppose We may as well speak of things a.
they exist, and as se all know them 10 be, as
to pretend TO think and talk OF sonnet 1.ng
else. difference has arisen between the
President anu Congress IN relation 10 the
proper policy TO be pursued regarding the
State. lately in rebellion, who separated from
US and formed themselves into separate gov
ernmen,, aud between whom and Us a fierce
war ragged for four years before we succeeded
ie conGuering them. The President insists
that as the rebellion Is put down, and new
State Governments rave been set up in those
States hey are now entitled TO be re presented
in the two Houses OF Congress, Of tue N N
bers sent are loya) aud to participate IN all res
poets IN the administration of the general gov
ernment a, If they had not rebelsd, Congress
on the other hand, claims that all The legal
I4tions between those Safes and the general
government having by the rebellion, and
consequent upon il, been severed, ii rests with
Congress, the :ew-maklng department OF
the Government, 10 restore them again, and
that in doing so it is their right aud their du-
" TO exact such assurances and guaratles as Will
protect the loyal part of the nation against ali
danger from those VINO have shown sucn e
termination to destroy it. Neither the Pres,-
dent nor Congress yet show any disposition
to yield TO the views and policy OF the other,
and apparently the question must be deiermin-
ed by an appeal to he people IN the election
OF he next Congress. The President l~d tae
majority in both Houses OF Congress were
elected by the same politiea! parJy-the greet
Union party Of the countTy-whch Carried u.
gloriousiy through the great rebellion, and
the federal office. OF the country are geuer8sy
filed with members of the same party, ',ho
were appointed by the President Ms prede-
ssor, MIR. Lincoln. / suppose it 30 b. true
tnst the great majority of those perS 7ns now
holding office, well the great mass Of tie
Union party, concur with Congress IN the prop
er policy 10 be pursued in the restoration OF
thes- rebel States. | suppose that it is feared
ths, in this contes before the people 10 which
President will attempt to strengthen his posi-
ton by the use of his patronage-that is, tha,
be ill displace men who believe in, ard adj
vocate, the Congressional policy, and iii the
positions with either Union men Democrat
who will advocate the policy OF the President.
AMI | do not know but it is feared that men
now holding office, who really believe with
Congress, will, for fear Of losing their offices,
profess 10 believe anu act with the President
Now l nave no knoaledge that the President
designs any such course of action. He may or
may not. | do know that the Democratic
press ana politicians of The country are urging
IN is course upon him with great promise OF
political profit 10 him and his policy. l canno,
help believing that they have their own profit
ana advantage much more at heart than his,
or that of his policy, IN giving this disinierest-
ed advice. Now, should as deeply regret to
have any coed Union men removed from office,
and especially one that sympathized with Con-
gress 1T their difference with the President, as
any Senator in this Chamber, or any Union
man in the land. like to have my political
fiiends hold the offices, not only for their own
advantage and profit, but because | am very
apt to think they the best men, and that
the public service i. more honestly attended to
than 1t would be by msn of the opposite polit-
icai belief. Now il this amendment is adopted |
will it havs the effect 10 prevent the President
from making changes In office for political
causese Ii he has no such purpose or inten-
tion then there is need OF such an extraor-
dinary provision being attached to this bill |
And may be allowed to say that | am not |
pre- pared to believe that he designs to do any
such foolish thing. But, assuming that he has
such wish and purpose, will the adoption of
such amendment, as this be likely 10 prevent
him from accomplishing it? On the other
hand, will it not look like daring and defying