The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-03-24

q
and interesting account of the debate,
showing, in conclusion, that it was
only by the castiug vote of the Presi-
dent Of the Senate, John Adams, that
the advocates of a strong Executive
trlumphed. He then went on to say
that the question was too great to be
determined with reference to the per-
sonai character of any single Presi-
dent or Vice President, q question not
meeely for to day or to morrow, but
for the future, when we should have,
perhaps, one hundred States and one
hundred millions of people. He
thought that in this view the Senate
ought carefully to consider whether ii
could wisely divest itself OF power
which all except the Democrats con-
fessed belonged to it under the Con-
stitution, or might properly be con-
ferred upon it by law. Was there no
danger that we should have another
Johnson? Had the millennium really
come because the people had inst sue
ceeded in electing an honest Presi'
dent and Vice President? He feared
not. There would be country left
after General Grant and Mr.. COlfax
should have passed away. There
would be contentious of parties and
factions as heretofore. The army of
pOstmasters, collectors and assessors
would still attend the primary meet
ings (laughter), and there would be
the same danger that had always ex'
isted of Executive patronage, when
left to the Executive alone. Would
it not be temptation In some closely
contested elections for the Executive
in office TO refuse to surrender the
reigns Of government, and to keep
control of them by this means?
Mr.. Yates inquired whether all
these considerations had not been fa'
miliar to the statesmen of the past,
from the days Of President Washing
ton down to the days of President
johnson; and whether they had not
disregarded them and agreed in the
opinion that this disputed power be-
longed to the Executive?
Mr.. EdmUnds would not undertake
to say whether the statesmen Of the
past had been familiar with these
considerations, but again appealed to
the opinion of Senator Yates, one of
the judges in the impeachment trial
(laughter), TO show that the OOnStitu-
ton did not confer any such power
upon the President. The Senator
from Illinois seemed to forget that q
tree government could be sustained
only by having wise laws, continuous
in their operation, and which, altho'
they may not be needed for good
men, are always ready for bad men.
Every law arises out of a necessity to
remedy some abuse or to guard against
q threatened abuse. There had been
no complaint on the subject until the
administration of John Quincy Ad-
ans, but on the 4th of May, 1926,
| Mr.. Benton, from select committee
to which had been referred q propO-
| sition to inquire into the expediency
of reducing the Executive power,
made report.
Mr.. Edfhunds was about to read the
report, when Mr.. Davis, Dem. Ky,
asked how many removals from Of
fee had been made by John Quincy
! Adams9
Mr.. Edmunds confessed that he did
not know.
Mr.. Davis 1 had it from Mr.. Ad-
ans himself that he made only two
removals, apd they were for cause.
Mr.. Grimes suggested that there
had been complaints of the abuse OF
Executive power in Jefferson's time.
Mr., Davis inquired whether Mr..
Edmunds knew how many removals
had been made by Jefferson
Mr.. Edmunds again confessed his
ignorance.
Mr., Davis said there were only
about twenty.
Mr.. Edmunds was pleased that
there was one gentleman in the Sen
who had been identified with the
| Government, and was familiar with
the details of its history from the
days Of Washington down. Laugh
ter.
Mr.. Davis suggested that the sena
I tor from Vermont would do well tC
make himself more familiar with
that history before going so much
into its details,
Mr.. Edmunds thought it unnecssa,
ry for him to do 80, as the Senate WaE
bound 10 keep a judicial notice Of the
history of the Government from the
earliest day, as embodied in the per
son of the distinguished Senator from
Kentucky. Laughter.
Mr.. Davis-1 will give you more
of it by and by.
Adiournment.-Mr. Drake seeing
no prospect of reaching vote to day
moved to go into executive session
which the Senate did at 4 O'Clock
and soon after adjourned.