Western Statesman, Volume 1, Number 10, Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, 12 May 1830 — Page 1
"THE CONSTITUTION WLSDO.M, JUSTICE, MODHU ATION' VOL I LAWKENCEHURGII, INDIANA; WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1330. No. 10,
I
M.
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY
M. GREGG & T. DOWLING,,
CuBltB OF HIOII VII SHoRT STRUTS.
TERMS : T O TKIt.I.AHS AND UK I Y CF NTS per ycttr, par. i'iV ili ar: tint m.ty be iIi-h hiirg- it by tin- p.tj. m it ! I HO 1K)L!,IKS hi mlvaiicr. Thru- im.nlli, iMir the c.uunu no tut til will bctiluvviil for advance p-y- !! t. I !m receive th. ir pap' r, by private poM mint oy the ie.fiigv, or it tvitl bi aihli d to tlirir siitiM-rip. No paper will Ik iti-r.'iioti'.'. .! until nil arn ar:irian i-rotl (um.,, m tbr .ti;ni tit ihe t.iliiirl ; siiil a duhir.. t' until,- h tlii-i.ntiniKiT.cr at tin- end tf tin- tune tubcnl.d, wilt I.- cn-ul i il h le w encagi'liie nt. I.' ti. m to tl,, I dituii niii-t b post paid. ADVUUriSKMCNTS inserted at the usual rates. CONGRESSIONAL. U. S. SENATE - SECRET SESSION. March 17, 1830.. The question U'iun upon a resolution c.il'.in upon tlic President for tFio cause of removal of certain officers, Mr. IJartox ro.e, and addressed tlic Senate as follows. Mr. I'kk.'-ident : Upon the important quest ions, f the pow er cf the President of the Utiiteti States to remove irorn ollice ; ami of, ho Senate to restrain him in ..n a!usive exercise of that power, depend tlic questions whether we are to have-, in each succeeding Presidency, a four years' despotism, with an irresponsil.lt? tyrant, if he be si disposed ; or a Republican C overnnieut of laws, with a checked and i cs; rained Executive ? To the discussion of these que.-ti nis, involved in the calls for informa
tion of the causes of removals, now pending Lef ire the Senate. I come, avowedly, as a gleaner after the Sonat. r from Delaware (Mr. Clayton' ;) and, if I can find any heads f wheat, worth notice, in this clean shorn tie d, over which lie has passed, 1 w ill endeavor to gather and preserve them ; tut, it' I liivl none, it w ill he no dishonor t rake and hind after -ch a crad'.cr, in ft m h a fiId. It is it 1 .nor a dispute n!i. ml names Midi as lYderali-t r Republican, (-lira IV ler.ili-t or P-mocra iS'tti 'iial Republican or Si ttc-veto Republican, or anv other cant words or phrases
Missouri, tt present their views and mv wiii. t, ...,:., i i. l. ..i .'.,.
f .. , llll lll.ll UlllI'.1! II , M ItdlC 1JJU
honor to act f r many years, thmnoh rroJ and through evil report, in all the attacks made upon the Constitution of the Uai m, in that State, in the shape of relief laws, j'id;:e-hre.ikinr. stop-laws, and the loan office act that hold attempt to issue hills of credi!, hy the auth rity of a Stale, to retrieve the fi'len fortunes of adventurers and speculator, in violation of the letter and spirit of that instrument ! In all attacks upon thai he-t legacy of our ancestors, the net of Union, we have rdootl together, sometime in majorities, and some'mies in minorities, arfiint the powers of interest and itvratv'c ; knowing that the preservation of is principles, hecks, and restraints, chiefly distinguishes our government of law and liberty, from those despotic governments of arbitrv Executive dis
cretion, that have so lon despoiled the l est
rights of man, over the creator portion of
the earth. And in this most fearful of all attacks, ever made upon the Constitution introducing a four years' despotism, if the President be so disposed ; and striking at our elective franchise, t lie root of all our constitutional liberties we will stand together aain, whelher in a majority or a minority, and invite all who l ive the President much, hut love their counJry more, to join with us, and rally around the stand
ard of the Constitution. It is no que?tion
whe'her a President tnav remove, at his
own will and pleasure, his Secretary of
State. I hat was the very question bef re
Conaress.intherj-prit debate of Such n officer is tlie mere pen, in the hands of the President, to w rite with bound to do just such things ns are prescribed by the pers ual orders of the President, in matters for which the President himself is resp nsible, as the head of the Executive Department ; and, consequently, he must exercise his freedom of selection, or how could he be responsible ? In such case, he act of .Tidy, ITS';, softies the question, by acknowledging the lawful riht, in the President, to dismiss this instrument, when
this to be a fV?, r'pbft bcrati?" hc Reprwcv.tafiv?; (r.r'rM whom I vottl v.ith rt'!i r.nco, arifim fro.n or S'nators of thp prison rou l.nv l or P'liiovr know p.i yrii:itin c in Ij-Jt, tint save utc -.! rxa!ol l;is jiuitab'.rm'ts ortju:!ifn atiit for ofttri1, or t!ie cau-st' oitittiun of t!. sph'tntor of liis mi'i'l ; and iVnm thof iii- rt",iirval : oi, ti;-atto, PreM-lents ai" not on1 i- luMi-ii rxprase if outfit, situl cus'Tttt-tn' prfwnt to inri'y rJi.p'tsrd t ) ahu' thfir p-tw cr : but, for tit'' sp- the Dcv of A! 41-1-, i";'ii'.-"iit'lH ta es l-y tiie Si-nator emit y of the public, if tlirip Ik an pllrimiim or 't;- IVntii Virin if he ivoultl jursuaijc us vote fur "Option of the untitir? of tue noiiiiitt't , in of t'-c i!u'- Mm ; as wi-'l ,15 fern tho nremm i t" t.tr?pl bv tbe SrHility of lite rettntval, it brroitips !: ihity of iIip Si- n.itui from Tpiiiip"v, Mr. Wliit.) twill rtit st';--s:ate to imvsiro it -to the inotVr, nvl act at p.jroiii.u'y, p"-p th:. Consul is to bo niat'r tltr S' a;oat to b-'ar Ity an ?rtive rvnii.ii! o! tin ir i".'-tt;i::;ii"; pnv.-fr. Oiip ;tay the sins of this A'liniiii'tratioii ; and t':at the rtpeiti of iprrsciitatioii i., t avail the public of the majoiit;. , ha'-ing rtan!ishei! their rr-pu'Tjon " ith th". I'et'.cr lishts fiom the scene ofapi.oi.tmeiU or tcinova!, Ft'blir, by his rejection, are now about t t-ifr. r-.tn.-l
than a I tsi 'ei:t
t'ie of rxerutlve r''u rrti.01 aivl official trust, iviiii h 'tati'lr in IIi'p-ihl'M 5, in t j -p 0-. ri-ii to ti.e max ii n t";vt
h 11.4 rati (i ) no wrone." in mcrcutriics. AnJ,
pterrpt i rr. tf e i X: ' ltvis M ini..'
tin' , the majority has i.ow leKe-l to e.x- ' iy rav of li.,!;! Iroir. tee tanes of lenei'. il.
iiation atiiit.t h''ar ti.e restMMivibiiitv:
but if it be oi-t.i'iete.1 ae.or.g sote.e f.ventv-fitre or six Senat-ir-, it may t" leisfeit; aivl weneeo not ! otrpiip'l if tue ir.oft lni'janve olVicev iiml Vj,:eniitl i'ppoattmonts hotitf tu thrown at tueir f-et by the r:ite-
1111 -V;mur
tin:
w iih ril t'.u
them ir '.l"t!e e
'1 iir A'i.i
ut'tl,'l'.;o;i :is the S,... i.fm! f ri-i lift t.i r,n-
eot up in t.'se inetropiu.-, can have. ,an.l waiunv all that litio batch of nnitii nations 1 vine J rasitc for savin.' "he roval retu.t:'tiin at t it ' 1 n.l of
But let me examine tb.c tine nature ati-J extent of tiiP;on your talie .eii nil tap hireling ptiuteis nnt lv:i- his own; or as Ah'.xan'ier, h..-e uiader ha't lushed decjititisiu now ptociaimotl by the majority ; the a r-, tors of party paper;, who,e nom.nt'ons ww-Cau- aim into suite i'.trii:a:.b a!i;'..UM-a,;e or (tite.nma SUiwiits by which they att-mpt to sn-.tain themselves ! tiou!y heM back for the anivai of the Vi.v.nia Sena- I wci!r ree iri oid l'armc nio Fin hp's (;,...,'-. , : ' in their 1 it v autocracy contrary to all their ar-in- tor from the late convention a? f it were takn f jr j t-overi.-.g him from the a.-.-i'-ii.'-.Vv ri-kii'tii'.-tAii
mrnts, reports, a;vl vote; neietoiore ; ano, it po?,lii". I .o ntie'i tint iu.;t'in V ii-'trat proouecs a ra-p 01 men,
the crudes and practical consctmcn-es of toi astound- : ;:oo.i at-l tree, with siteh cla?iie and lirteniii..!e Sena-ingprtK-lamation. The Cwivlers of the Kppubiii', aid I "fial nvT'-ii's, as to suaJlo'.v tiowa ( 'atn!'s lonip of t!ie ieopie f the' I'nitetl State-, when ttiey aitopted : tiie p-eeu inoi:ntain pinus n-inivtn s'd.'i in pju the l'eiit ral t.'ontitutrm, w rce-pecialiy jealous ol the 1 '.'6i. w itii a'l it? l'iues, (i'; attti hemlocks un-
P'mcis of the 1'resi tent, and the em 1. J' !in,(i -j ii.t ot Executive ill. To that point, all their priticinal
f. ars uei-p con' entiated ; and the bJ-tory of that iav value of a tea tax, and the great principle of regulated
hows tiiat it was with some dimcujfy trie people of! liberty, involve! 111 the demand a race apt to revolt
1 t.c ' 1 .1 V .0.1 ,. a
' ' 1 ' I ".v . j-.u,..- , a race ot men capable of thsiumuishins between the
with which f ) deceive the puhlio, and raliy parMs.ms around our resprrtiw. standards. It i-i a dipule in whi h is involve I the preservation of our republican institutions and o ir roiediiuMoii.il li!ortics. T!ie issues n.-e u v fairlv joined, upon the orcat iuntlatnental principles if the government, without regard to party ramis. The inaj"iity contend that the President has the i...vt..e -.. r.'trri'.i' Ped: -"l . .iTl.v I S. "f tile
class now before us, anil that the Senate
ne pleases. .oohiv wonitt wisii to lorce it !i-ae;reeaile member of the Cabinet on the President. The public interest requires harmony between them. And the
.Senator from 1 enne-see, (.ur. CiRitndy,) tnio'iit have spared hiiiiself all his argument to prove thi- : fir ik ttnc had denied or disputed it. Still, Mr. Madison, in the debate of l"Ji, expressed the opinion, 'hat a wanton removal of this officer of the Pi t-
sid nt, and not of the public, miuht subject
the I nitt-d Slates could be induced to adopt the
I'mon, rest the rresiaent, " ith the pemers then accorded to him, should become the dcstiovcr of their libertics. Tin ir feais of E.xc utive encroachment were no' idle chimeras of the fancy; nor were they affet led fiom mere impatience 1 regulated libeity, and a government of laws. To them they were deote.i. The hUtoiics of all nations, which had lost their litterlies, lav open before them ; and they saw , on their pae-, t'eat arbitrary llxecutive diretion and will, aailitw tnenisi Ives of the spirit of discord ainong the peo le. and the u ant of firmness among their Kepre.sen'ativt s. ni Mutermnents w here the Ivepresentative pi mm iph u a. adopted, had been the tle.-troyers of national liberty throiiijiout tiie sreater part of Hie world, whetewild anarchy had not supplanted tlifm ; and that tiiey had effected their cootpie'ts by gradual approaches, and bv corrupting the sentinels ut liberty ; and the fitliersj .lid inl"nd, and the mot of them havi left thi? world in the paternal confidence that they had effected the objei t, to establish a government of law, and of checks
and restraints upon E.xecutive will, ia which no case
diould exist, in which the fate of the humblest c itizen,
whether in private or public life, could depend upon the arbitrary will of a kindle man. No; their fears weie rot idle ; and, with such lights hi fore them, and the then recent claim to arbitrary power, lilted by the
British Crow n, t!ir:l'ui! in their bosoms, they never
would have adopted lite I-e leral ( (institution witnout the restraining power and duty of tiie Senate, diniiij
the I'resi Initial term, when, il ever, he would be dis
posed to i .late the lights of toe citizen. 1 he pov-ei
is now boidly asserted on this floor, by tnc majenty, for the first tunc sii: e the foundation ol the Kcpublie, ofremovin? this class ! Federal Ori.tfrs by the IVside.i', at discretion, without toe slightest restraint, t.y t'ne Senate, and witiinut even the right of a culprit 10 ask the cate e of condemnation, upon a blind and scriie 1 resumption, on tiie part of tnc Senate, that the
a use was lawful and sood I Ani, trao ifin the
line of tiieir w hole lives, anil their recent cotuse under the late Admmi -.tuition, the majoiity have pex-lain tr'
iver this subject an absolute desiit.iini, and I'ht ol lark and ex paite imposition ! It fell upon iny c.,r
like the anathema of tiie minority, pioiiijuuccd from
the moilt 111 atican : It sounded like t'ne knell of
our constitutional liberties! And let not the Sc.a-
liom 'J"i.iu'jc- CAlr. Gst'Mud 11 tuv tiif- tt.it-
ht to inpiiro into the cause of a Pi csitleut lo impeachment although the
hTs no n
removal ; but m ist presmru' the cause tojhiw-had jiiven him the .absolute power to Inve been lawful! ind cannot restrain make the removal if the motive could be tin; President in an abusive exercise of that pcertained before human tribunals ; as a power; but must rely on impeachiucr him mother would chastie her hoy fir breaking ly the II ni. of R?,rscntafives ! The litis rattle, from a peevish or v, h kod motive, minority deny all these roMtiop.-. except r ("or a had purpose. And what does this
the rrmo in.j power, f r c ne ; and c!i:i-:i .opinion assert, more than the great princi-
th tt tht seitlcd praeti" if tin S ".rite shall i1, "four rights, Mat all powers conferred
It? adhered b ; that the pr isiopal power i'in"- c Ivorntive.arc but trusts, for the of removal from fi'iee, bv a Pic-i u nr. j.-'-'ic benefit, and cannot be perverted to when it ex i- at a'l, is a hi -h le il ties,-. ;o:ln r cids ? There mioht be 1iiTlc-.lt v in
d oiil lor th
:ii
id.
lie h'.'i'
to tie exerciser
in sound 'i- cre'ioti. 1 tSe official conduct or bent ; and should n,.t hih ptirp -si s. (n (bos, or pers ma I veii'.r-ar.c
cr the oxvivisp d tii
In 1,: .' 1 oin f r r :i nis f 1 . te-.. or io fl lemc 1:1 uir Presidenial Uicetieps nv in a word, t purpi -cs td'txru tiv ai;d bri lri v coin!. i ne!. 'e couo f r the r--ttaiiiin ; p"UM'-if tin Senate cf tiie l." t . 1 ...
k' ;iic', as umtt rsto. o 1 v tn cotcmpei ai v
if.
r cause d l i'!!i; t !itn ss of th-- uietmie ncrver'ctl '.V :n its "I p.ir'i-.i;i warf 'ct , f r opoiio sake.
c! r i p t'r.'.ivliis,, or
asci a t litp-ij the motite, or etid t.f ihe net. '-cf -re human tribunals ; but I set none in
'be abstract principle, advanced by 31 1
f ' W.' .1. It .
i puson. it is pureiv lit nut ucan. 1 tin
t d admit, for one, that the Senate can, b
r . tberwise, renounce Ihe rcslrainino
" '. it 'nrie:.c, to iht ir or.-aiiir.atitm ; but, I
. .v., r. . : 1... . . 1.. ..1
I
to
'.rac
the rr. sidci.t should hav
law
POVNCT, at:if t
(seal h''e:.)ei in cl.r.i,ij and ri'ectiii; hU ('al inet
jan 1 tlv act of (aniiot l e lon-i leietl as toiii ' '. 't o.id tuat 'me. Hut the class of officers now be-
in i their i redei e-'tn-, attemnled to
1 'H t h Sen ite.
' 1- ineve.l by I ic I 11 'i tent. Were not under eonsi ' ier i'mn in th".!e':iate of 1 This is ; ela ;s of put)
1,1' 1 nii' i '. 11 n ... 1 1. .-.- 1 1 . . -t .
1" 1 ...... I.. 7, l . IV ... I . r It'. II. It'll
oii'itrs of the - .'t.cnil v ill Itt'.t i 1:1, til j use, ae. ! d.ities cf oilier, are fixe I and pics libed by
Iliadei-- .. iV"i:ii iii '. is wtd a- d ap-.otnt- 1 " 1 ' v ' "'"'i n"1 ''V tin l.xet utive wi
: i fie oti.rr class. Ihe first class are assistants t.te I.. i 'eio n.wl n.-tiln r.....i.t".i.t. i 1.; ..1..
i HI, and SilVlllfy v law. Il.a teis 1 lass of Fedeial otlieer ate nubile
Pc'er:' ():fi.'er.
: id appoint- ; -iti in to ar-
1
tit ia rv 1 ,t'"i'i tti
- ... . -
10 i.eciiii',e v. i,i ;ini! 1, j riuiten;io the
r.iito the vena! rcisierof Ieeutie et'it ts! f r ;h treed tti of inquiry int the exorcise, of I '. .. utive discn ti-.n ;t;ttl ofueial tro ; ia -vp 'siti "i t r,cco'ive irre;';ioi.sii dit, "ni scrri-nj,,., if,,. I'irutie ; in the liht of truth, '.v a s-tpiuvsi'in ,f
fi.f iaot irv into mir iniblie a flair
".iti'.v, roi 1 n t r -movable atthe ar'nitnirv will of a
P.e-iden. llodand fjithful, lh public is interested in t '. ir e, v ie, s : if bad and unfaithful, the public to .id rcji.ii their leriotal, in tiie mole of pro-
Js-' i: te. 'e contt n.l f r the freedom ami purity t f e'e.e'io'.is, unov.ed by 1 il'ici tl pun-
lsliineiii-, and n
.1
ru;d(il by tii ial re-
xv arils : in ern ir ion to remove Is Irom of
fice f,r sou It cai'ses ;is tb 'sc aboyp stated. I lore are the is-.ucs j ini d l't w ei'n us ; ttml
tfopi your oocisioii, sit. Hi
it 1
e against us, 1
i op 'nu: n ij.uo .1 oy tnc rc -pet live teniires of ti,eir otli- ", as . - oh. I by the known la'v. A dark ami seer iti.-,iisitioii wr.s never intended 1 ) be admitted into tmi ii -litutions ; nor was a refusal to tell the cause ot obieetion :a . oneen i.-iiv.,, i.....,...c.. i . .
' 1.. 11, 111 1. fi.tjit- JvillllMI 1(1 S in 1 he j the "cuius ol our liemib'ie : not even t. ;.r. ., ;:Ot..
. . . . . ,
c -cSit removal now Pelore t he h'u'jci t to o.i.cis : noi t, the cuhiiit irmioml u.u
bar. ,V e a Innt the leLal and duty of the President to sup. r ede, Misiienii the funi tione, or, if you preler the t.'ii.i. lemove 1 i -tri. t Attorney-, M.tr-hals Uio-b .s and Iweeeiveis of lVo'iie Moneys, and. I'tet .in 1 lou-e Oliiceis ; and, more espti iallv, the whole c!a--s of our inline ;:- iitnerut" Ar'nts and such otheis as.ue made reiv.ih c by him. for cau-e, relatni" to then u!l,. i.il eondu, t.or dtuess for their stations; but such r. ,n..val or Mt-Fei.sion is fuhject t tl. R.stiain11 poAcis in t,.e N 1 iite, on , au-c'shown. The publie n.teic-t and atcty ici.iie it should be so; and otn in-tit.itiohl an' onioiinctl m the exigency. 'I bis,
II 1IOCI 11 Oil '11.1 l.iim.. : l 1
, , . , , ' 1 ..i'i.-ii until , aio inn il liltt-
We Cf IliCiol. a;vl M ll are IllVllts ll,ne-t, lui u .,1 the ,mei. The cause ol removal generates
lltlv It'.ioriiltMi t.l Inc. n;ci:!s f a " ' to the power of removal, as the overt a. t oil tieasmi j;.es appln .ition and life to the jwiwcr to
Tl, . neoslh ot . f t-i-tlv 1, n r.. i... ' "' i,nV natol lit re avow the I Iicm; questions ait 1 .isti more 1111- ,,1. n c-n it,nt . n, - 1 , 1 -, iipniion, i.i.it tliese olliees and then eniolmnents or
pi rioitec 10 Hit permai.cnt :.nu purnv i v& oro.i.ionai iemoin
fair i'"rties, and to the great cause td'fni' S" orn:nents t.f laws, as 'nn;r:i!istinuis.j t I from arbitrary goernn. ti's of Kveeu-: tit e wit!, than cither f the Presidential qucsti of themselves, that have aoittttci! ' this Republic since i's f.umilation ; anil of more iinnertance than an v question of pnh-
r.nd 'iC'tiust all your own former tb't isi .ps of the same questions, when other men were in power, ue will appeal to tiie pe i-
j b t t tht; l.uiteil S'ate, .n wh.
ti ring unction to ins soul," nor dect-iyc lnu.s'df, 1.. tnc
moments ot t ie into n auiig xictery 01 t ie coiubn.a11011, '07 stiiai o-'mc lite public mind can be (Incited
tioiu the treat and vital principles at issue between us,
hy telling them the t'ispute is about the misnable ol-
tiees of t:;e countiy, or comparing the stiule for the
treat republican pt111C1p.es, to an attempt to agitate
the ot-pan by l uowing pebbles into it, as he has done.
e a unit tne people ol tlie t uitei) States cannot be a dialed they oolit not lo be agitated on account
of tiie unices or the emoluments. Was it the value
of the tea tax, let me ask l.iiii, that induced some ol the fath'-is of the l.etclutiou to throw Ihe tea chests iato tiie harbor of Ilo ton, and commence the American KevuUainu I Or was il tiie piinciole assumed by
tiie loiti-h ( down and raihament, to bind the Colo
Hies, in all ta es whaiMH vt 1, l.y an tx parte, arbitiai w ill, in v. i.ich tne Colonies had no voice for t'ne liriOsh lrowu nc.i r aiUanced the claim to do so by a dark and sct iet iin;ui ilion. The victims inndit U1
pi en nt in the capital of Ki,t;Iai.d, and even in the House of I'arliament, and know all the can es et tin ir condemnation, llrituns would not bcai the tv-
ratmical piinciple now advanced. The Colonn
would not Lear one of 1 mil ler form ; anil it their iosteiily be not wofuliv uep'in i itei! from the spirit of theii am stors, sint t they uiew the broad tii.-tinctioi, bt lweenthe aim of the tiiflim; !. a t ix, and the tucat principle iuvohetl in it, they will exclaim with us ' take ail ti.e odices in the country, durini; t ie term "of your President: but restore to us ourcoiistitutioii- " al "liberties, sacrificed 10 screen a nh Pre.-ide.it and " Cabinet fiom the lirjtt of inquiry, by this- portentous 'declaration of Lx ecu live irresponsibili'v , ami dark
iiipiisition ! ' Let toe now examine the sub.-.tattce
of the allotments by which this despoti--piinciple is
suppoited. Ai'tl first in order is the President himself. In bis fust ir.esst ;o, lie labius to propouate the i lea that otlict s, in this country, are not private pioIM'itv, lit public trusts. H e admit it. The President is tiidtt. il I he admit, in turn, our propositions, above laid down ; and, more especially, that offices aie not the private property of a President or ( abint t, with w Inch to buy popularity and votes, or to reward nien lor votes or inlliience, eras instruments with which to punish opponents, for their votes anil opinions? His argument is a two-edged sword, and
cuts both ways, with equal keenness and force; unless,
indeed, it be sinful in the Cardinal anil Htshop to eat
nii and lamb, in order that his holiness the 1 ope may
monopolize tiie market of Uonie, ami eat them all hiin-
sell I I he Senator Irom 1 emiesscc l.t. ti:c;.io,;
has dcapiointen all iny hoi.es in him, upon those
momentous questions. 1 had been taught and l now
discover eieatlv mi-tattiiht to look to him as a siarol
constitutional liberty, in the est. In our need, I
cast my eves and my hopes upon him ; but he vanished like a meteor from my uiew, and left me standing, disappointed and in the dark. In the discussion of Pout's Resolution,' he introduced the argument, upon this topic, of the removing power of the
i. :i... 1 ...... j.r of 0.1. n.ui
and, to pervert it ' " " I
at any arbitral y or improper use of 1 Ixecutive power,
and jealous ot t'ne encroachments of F.xec utive will. The Senators from Virginia and Louisiana (.Mtjsi-s. Tazew ell and Lii ie!;-toii) have pointed nut Ihe powci of inipeachiii the presuient, as our only remee.y lor an abusive exercise of the power of teinoril ; and the Se n. tor from Missouii (.Mr. llenton,) concurs witli the foroer in placing these matters " upon the liie.h responsibility of the. Piesioent nieaiiini; impeachment as a remedy, or that" the King can tio 110 wron;;!" and the two tonne r also uige auxiliary allotments, w li'n ii 1 .diall notice separately. 1 po.. thi, conmioii d.wtiine of the itiajoi Oy, that impeaLhinent is our only rc,ned , we contend tin y are w icing upon tlie reason and etiliiy of ti.e th'uy, as well as upon tiie authority of the case. Mark the err dual appioaches ofdespoci'in t iider the last Admini,ir:tion, ail tiie nt'oority, w ho w re tiien in the Senate, held toadian.tti'i e 'I r ;ij osite crcet! ; and ,,i.w . u ithin a lew day? past, then; ha s been a great con ulidetiun of phalanx, amob? tue faltering and oscillating ranks of the majority. Men who, through their lives, have taught and piacti cd tlie reverse men who have been doubting during tne session, seem suuiieniy 10 u.c been tonverted, and confi.med in this new and monstrous faith of Executive irresponsibility, dark iiHpitsition, and limr jcars' (U'spot'iMn ! Aot heredit-?; v as yet ti c ptojile are not reatly fa tuat. iX'ot even lor life ayet the people are not prepared for that neither. But a depotisia for years, with 110 other restraint but tc impeach t.n- dominant paity, in tiie itersuu of theii leader, whose popula.ity they abuse! Consul loi years, with a servile Statate! Then Coiiail for life n itii a more servile Seiia-e ! Then I iinperoi of France uithabsol'ite power! All history warns us that such are the regtii-r gradations by which the libeities 01 inaiii.ind have been succe-sfnliy availed and overcome. They st ldom fall by one gian J covi de main, on tiie first a-.iu!r. The rampint of v r.tti'n constitutions is seldom overleaped at the fust clVmt, as Ketiius tueilcijieil tiie i.iimic w al.sof hi.- brother Uomti-
, at the rude loundation of Koine. It is more tiso-
a. a.id prat li ao.e to approach it by gta lea! unoer-
ui.ui.ig; or by taking jtmieient oistance, ami plaiitint:
a sti;e ol'pntt dei.t two feet huh, thca four, six, eiht,
n 11, unoi cue a-sdi. au is ivac u auu suriiicuinl tne wad
1 ut. i tne I'm tress ; and 1 any even the citadel itsell. ; he n.-t hI pr'ji tss is for a combination, undt r some came 01 oiiit-r, to nl.'y arouuo stii.ie poptilai leader, 'i-uady one (i.izziing tiie multituue with military fame ; set him up lor then heat, to answer their own purpo-ep; seize tlie goveimneiit, and gt aduallv demol1J1, one after another, the last land-marks of constitutional libt ily ; and then taunl the slave- by teliiuc them lo go e.xen ise the ridit of iebcllion, and ri scue themselves by victory, if they can. If you succeed, 11 will Le glorious evolution if not, yocu chains can be livened no closer! The only iedt eiiiuig feature in this lour years' despot! an ol the majority, is the right of iinpcai Imi ' the Piesident, to whi. h we art? pointed as a rthel ft.nn our 1 hains. 'I'bat is to say, go put tiie majority don 11 if you can; for never, until then, could you impeach their l'roi.iei.t, if there wesei ause. W as ever the miracle a' liieved of indm in.' a maioii-
V Ii'!l i t "ause.
de-1,1,1 1
llli l.t ,
the re sident
ixiwer tl lb' President, were
"s ciih. 1 the means of luiln rv . or iiistru-
I pa lisleiicnt, in the naiids ol a candidate lor
', "i o a Piesidi'iit in oilier, to buy
vot. s-tor puni-!, (l0 i,,1((siMi, ,,,teSi J,, out presidential loiile,!,: Not one man will ayiiw ibis. That would be-ro sly abusing a (Km er confeired lor the public goo.!, and oiiiupting the very sources ol republican, e.etlne, an, I rejuesiiitativ e government tlie Rreat 1 e. live Irani bi-e it ..if. A lemoval ol iliis . -la.. ..1
lie, policy, political cr. .1,. .in , or eved:en- pubiie titiic.-rv, is hk. a iHMiiinatKMi for olli.:e,only pror", that "has 'ivide! till' cuns. Is of the n.l .visional and im ho.ile, until tt bit-oines absolute and lion dun.." the lapse of half l m.l.irv.i;V!""m,''l,""',"lh-1l"''lsl"'' 11 uric. 11 1 , ,11 ol-(;ivei.iH1M,ri.sU.l,1.hc,, aa, ml(,.,'a(..tieed man. These are the only question-ton winch I ,r , , , .,.,. UHm ( ;M.. ullv ,)tlsIm.ss. A, in felt any tlesire to adthe-s the S'liate. 31 V nomiii Oingto otn, ,.( H() ts0 M rP,,Vm;j, or tlispla. in frmer remarks) spr:inT nt if t!c cca '-ions '" 'Ins e'a.sot' the. public otiii eis, the ontl.at pr.Hlu. ed them Tbtlt on these I feel ,,,V" P-blic convenience, ou,l,t . . . ' ' '" 1 B "I tne I lesioeot ; and, m ordmaiy cases and compelled, bvthevetbal ant! written in- tn,..-, t,,e .1, t ( tl. r.,i nt r-. ivesthe ndispl"d junction1 of orui of the cn:at minority, in sjukiuhi oi i,k Snaf. All pa-t mtiriieneo .hows
lite, aau sat r, lit leg the vetertn pha'aus! 1 appeal fiom t'ne p. 'crested an;nmeiiU the 'tou.inaiit party, we.) arc c..y vised, by the inmoiity, . f tttis vioiatma ot 0:11 const, o.tional rmht,, to the vent ra il, a id di,l ,t r-.s-tcdautij,.my of the illustrious tiea 1, who f m;, ! . iovernov . ut, and set il in motion ; ami, in du-j time, wiilappv.il to the past a-'ts of the n.ai ;rit,, auiiiority against thei.isclves, and no more. In the coiiclnd.iig paragraph of the same Si. 77, of ,j deralist, upon this very subject of appoint. .-..',,t and removal, after sho. i.ig the coi.staet re-'traiiune p..e er of tiie Senate to be t'ne preventive remedy to save the KepubHe. from h.ti.n, by ti e vncri-acn,,,, i',t of J.'x.n nlive will, Mr. Hamilton points out " his liability at ' all times to impeachment, trial, dismission from of- " lice, incapacity to serve in any other, and to the " forleiturc of life and e5oate, Ly'subsequ- nt pr-isecu-' tiua in ihe common coulee of iavv. Hut these precau- " lions, great as they are, are not tlie only ones uracil " the plan of the I oavciaion has provided in favor of "tia public senility. In thon!y instances in which " the abuse of the Kxccutive autboety was materia U " lv to be feared, the I luef .Magistrate of the I'nitt 1 " Slates wovild, by that plan, be Mibje ted to tiie con. " control of a branch of the h gishitive bo.iy. ',at " more can an enlightened and reasonable people do "sire!" Such was the exposition mv.11 which the people adopted the Constitution of oveinment presented by its lraoars. Thus we see teat the hiili poc.et of impeachment vas iiiteinied only for punishment and disqualification, in extraordinary cases of corruption and crime ; and, in party times, can nevti be used until alter the dominant parly is down, U at all. It w as never intended as the common preventive remedy of restraint upon the encroachment of l.'xecutive will pending the Pienoenual term, when, if ever, the mischief will be dons-. So in p. 11 Attoney, Receiver, Collector, M trshal, and the life, ihe mis, hief they do is not in the moment of transit from the end of oi:e term to tlie beginning of another. Pending tin term as well with tne President as the inferior officers the government, is the tiiit:irit f-doirg season ani heme the restraint of the Ser.-.t" on ti.e fit. :,..,., a.id of t'ne appointing power on the 0:;';. crs of iie !aiS pr. fae tiie Senate, tlnrini, their tt ri'is. Tiie light -t and lowest may be st',je ted to imp', a.'hmi id. w hit h v as iiitT.de ! to be tiie arsenic of li.c Slate, to le a In i;.r.. tered Oley i:i C.v'iCino cases, and th' 11 with a 11:.' fid and skilful hand ; md not as the too,' of tiie podv nolitie, 01 the milk and htsty pudding of t ie l.epuhli. , 1? be taken as daily aliment. In other countnt s the impeaching and the a naming po cr have been rn nloyed upon minorities. Man is the same in A.neria. The Senator tiiin Virginia tatight us tiirei tly t ie reverse of t. lis in toe Paran a report, under .Mr.
A 'tains; he now tells us that, to i. 'quire into a. el de. teiiuiiie the ca ise of removal, woidd be p.. indi'ini; tne 1 ause ol iinpfaclnaent that m.iv come In Ih.e ns! It is an unsafe and unsown i notion to con,, h-r the w it' molding of tiie a ivise and consent lo a iioiui.,:ttioii, ts a nfl' i tion even upon tne nominee; leu h '' s oulil S'n Ii w lOiiioliiiMg be prejudging the Pe ei t inilty of coiruptioti ami impeai tiab e oifenie. b'ct iny, wouitl it be picjudirlg tat. ;,,,, e. 0l , ; e President, when he informs u,, as be is bound t do, now the vacancy happened, utiethn by reieova', resignation, or death, to sanction all, ana t ius commit ouistlves? Did the Senate pi-jn ge .Mr. .Mu.'.rie and his Cabinet guilty of iiopea liable corruption, in rejecting tne military nominations 111 1 on the ground that others weie lawludy m, 01 entitled to th.e odices .' It is a new idea of the Sc-nntor ; and has no soundness in it. The whole eifei t of our pint ceding is to exercise our wholesome lestiaining pcmei, and deteniiine whether there be a law fill vacancy to lie tilled, without touching, either by consent or refusal, the highei an.) diatim t rpiestion, whether there he coirupt iiujHa habie motive? I every Cotut that ens in judgment of law, guilty of impeachable motive-., and prejudged by the rt vei-al of tiie judgment ! Or do. s the Senator intend to assume teat there was impi a. hahle motive 111 the It'll sw.mhi ol ti,ii Adinii.isti iti.,u ) I shall not dispute w itli hmi upon ttiat point fit j iesent. No, the Piesident, pent up in this city, e.o.n it possibly know the fitness of appln ants, or the a uses of removal, so well as the Senators horn the State ; and hence the wisdom of this icpreseiitative plan, and the restraining power of the Senate in fomi of advice, atttl not ofcoiidemnatiiai. It should be exert ised in caii loi and charity towards the Picridcut, as the gentle and ordinary medicine of the State, eyi n by tho-c
called tne opposition ; antl not to harass and e nibar. rass the Chief Magistiate, or as arsenic to dtstroy him. If there be cause of impeachim ut, it must arise, usually, in the obstinate persevnence 111 aibitiary Executive ill, alter the Senate has apvr.ve.l or rejected. Another novel doctrine of tne Senator fiom irgiuia is, that it we should detn uiim the. removal to be tmconstittitne.ai in the ra-e of a Mar-hil, for example, all the estates held under the sales of the successor would be void, and the prut eedivus, ir stc h east's, from the begirniug, might be opetied ; an i tun prnpeity of tie countiy uustttied! Suppose it iic .-., is not tt in t a question foi tlie Judicial y Di naitntent J Can any d.et i-ion of the Se, ate, either w tty, or these t ails for iiuforuiatiou, or tin se noi.iiua'i 'us, idiaugc the legality of such tid.s ? That nv.ttei i, already lixcd, one w ay or the.1 ni, lor tue past. Let us do our duty foi the future. tail I even Ihe violation of our oaths, and of thi! Constitution, secme sin h titles, if they be void ? The Senator from Louisiana (Mr. Livini;ston,) as a reason f ir excluding tin: light of inquiry from the deeds of the Administration, points us, in addition to the power of impeachment, to the iesponsibility of the President to the people, at the end of his teim! And even says that is belli 1 and moie dirt t than the greatly divided re-amn-thilii ot llul inoit num1 rous body ! So seem to think l ie powers that be; and hence the Cabinet and Pit si h ut, be. ing but a small body, shimk so modest y tmni tins jnqimy ; autl expect tne inajouty to assume the ie,j,icsibihty of s u'eiiing them, at their o.vn haz.nd, by . - cluding the light. But let us fx a le the new uiity foi the public, whi. ii looks vi iv mm h like a m iv
scriptitin anil rewards that led them iulo an inoxtiii a-I cditioii of the lnuiielv prov. ins, o( slnutiug the door
hie dilemma. The fiiends of law anil the outiaged i after the hot ;"' is stolen, 01 adiiuinstciing medn me elective rights of lite citizen, demanded the cause oC after the patient is dead. The Piesident is ie-. si. the removals. If the Administration should come out ; hie, to the extent of bis te-elet tion, at the end ol bin with the true causes, like const ions innix cm e unit il- ! term ; but does that ruber prevent or con the hum ing herself, and acknowledge they had used the otlict s done the Kepubhc dining the term ? So i-. the wholo ot ihe countiy as their ow n niii ate iironeitv, as means ! 1 hiss of olh' ers now bcloie tiie Senate rt ponsible, to
cannot eat either of them. I .tt this Administration of lew arils and puuislmients, lor the exercise ol the ; the extent ot a re-appointment, to the appointing , powtiii'est both, il it tan. Conslilutional liberty, expelled rights ol election, the honest yeomanry ol the I mted lei, at the end ol the time; but lias tint t been ! omul elh-li-om inostCovcimnents Uhii eaith, taint w ith tt an. States, who have no sinister views in the late election, c lent to prevent them fi 0111 embe?.2lniw our luuds, and deling the tleseit, and scorched by the vertical rays of' unuld condemn them. If tin Administration should j ruining out allans, so lar as they Ue within tucir 1 in U doinestie tvraunv. beheld the Senator a far oil, like the shiiiik from the tiulh, fear to tell the iHople that their : ol action, timing the term j and tin 11 ct aping liom the
broad top of an umbrageous tree, pi utilising hei shade pulilie olli. es bad been used as bribes to buy populaii- ' continent, Ihmugh the mouths of 010 great livers and
antl protuct ion ; she hastened, neaieti and latiguco tv, 01 weapons ol war upon opponents, and mane .1 hei sell the moie, to appioach htm, antl repose imdei (alse retmn to our 1 all, we could and would expose his shadow ; but she found his roots sm rounded hy the falsehood of the icliiin, and the t ajoled public many roils of impassable, pestilential inoiass of l lxe- w ould give a verdict against them, anil damn them foi nitive will, so iut she rould not enlei the t iicumfci- the double nime. Let the Admmistiauon rhnnsr ei-
cnie of Ins shade ; and she looked in another duet tion. ther horn of Ihe di'emma, and public condemnation tvoman out of temi is like a gale in the bay
In ainiroaeluiie Hit argument ol the Senator limn willbe inevitable. I hen is no aternattve nut lor of Ihscai daneuuis bv adv ei-e 1 to icnts.
V iiginia,(.Mr. lazewell,)! will not permit myself lo tlic tetority to ri'luse tt allow the impuiy the high, j e c.i-ily excuse in em liicuds thuse ludts that suppose tt at th. Iato Consul Alguis (Mr. Lee.) j and hitherto inalienable right ol inquiry into the nxu-j do nut alht t tis.
told us be was nut, as a citizen, in favor of removals
for opinion's sake, or lor votes given, or to make room
to reward followers, by the public oincers 01 tne conn
ti y ; and then my hopes were blight, and I drew the most favorable inferences ; but yes, then came the
liOe-destroying ' but,1 that, in the latter branch of a senteiii e, has spoiled so many glorious promises, in this woild, held out in the fust member of it " but you " shall not inquire whether the removals were for such "cause or not !" and then my hopes in him died with
in me. We asked bread, and he gave us a stone.
W e, il.s'md a lish. anil he save us a seoinion. We
ty, in tlie spring-tide of sin ce,?, to impeach themst lves, in the per; on of their lea lei, for deeds of despotism done to uccoitiiiio. -at. theiiiji-lves and their friends? linpi achiui ut, indeed! As well might some philanthropist Oavel in the South, and there iuoclaim, trump, t-ion gi.c, to the slaves of America. " lii-el impeach your masters, bcloie themselves.
tor liiii.'.iie; your race 111 slavery for two hundred yiai-l'' And if tne ihil.inn ol Afriia should
doubt pie piactienbihty of ii.doi ing the masters to iin
pcai ii and condemn ll.eiiiselve?, when made judges in their own 1 ause, let him explain himtf If intelligibly
' Kise, tiim tiie labb s on t our masters ; enslave them
"for two hundred yiars in your turn, and make " lliein raise corn, cotton, and vice, indigo, tobacco,
1 and sugar-cane, lor y-tt. liut suppose the inhale pei formed, of a maier'ay, in the zenith of power.
iit.pe.it liing tle'iiiselves in the House of Kepiesenta-
liie-, for tiie uses they have made of the Presi leut's
'polarity and military celal is it quite sure we o.ild peisua lc two-thirds in ti.e Senate to condemn
and punish him for cause, even if that were the pre
ventive remedy against arbitrary tvil! f Mr. Hamilton, in w nth g his seventy-seventh number of tlie Federalist, was a prophet. In tieating of the supposed danger of the S'tiute overruling the President, and assuming the government he said, t1, J'c.sides this, it js " evident that the POWER that can originaic the " disposition of honors and emolument-, is more " likely to attract than 10 be attracted by the POW- " Eli which can men ly obstruct their course.11 And Mr. Hamilton, like antitlier Elijah, seems to have shed his mantle upon his lllisha. A foreigner, supposed to be Ml. Polelica, the late Minister fiom U'jssia to this government, in w iittng of the 1 oiled States, says the first term of an Auiciit.an Piesident is always spent in seeming his rc-elct tion to a second ;
ami asto the restraining powers of the Senate, a little
management 111 the disposition ol olhces can alivay
secure a majority of that body. There was too much
truth in that book, wlitther it be palatable or not
lo, sir, instead ol a tlotuiuaut party, such as the present triumphant combination, impeaching thi ir Presi
dent, the astonishing scene at this nionv'ut exhibited
111 tins body, shows the impossibility of llial being the
appropriate preventive against the abuse of power by the llxecutive. In the iccess, a rash Adi.iiimtiation, 'surrounded and pressed by a mercenaiy host of oitice-
hunters, claiming tlie reward ol their prostituted in
fluence and Votes, 1 onlrary to the known oiiginal de
sign of the President, lushed into a course of pro-
esluaites, or gome to I exits or
responsibility altai lies to in. t oxi i.t iu.it Nt xt wllk.J
Mexico, neloie that
s f V
, . s . - 4