CONGRESS, UNITED STATES (1867). 



121 



relative to the heads of departments offered, 

 185; consists of two propositions: first, the 

 heads of the several departments irremovable 

 at the mere pleasure of the President ; second, 

 authorizes them to appoint their subordinates, 

 185; if the first prevails, there is no reason 

 why the second should not, 185 ; situation of 

 the President and Secretary of State if this 

 proposition is adopted, 185; this is a radical 

 change of the Government of the United States, 

 186 ; the proposition is fraught with future 

 embarrassment and inconvenience, 186 ; what 

 right has a head of a department to a policy, 

 except it be that policy established by law? 

 186; the practice which it is proposed to 

 change has obtained too often and too long in 

 the Government, 186 ; the amendment rejected 

 and the bill passed, 187. 



In the Senate, bill reported from the joint 

 select Committee on Retrenchment, with mo- 

 tion to strike out all and insert a new bill, 

 187 ; why should the heads of departments be 

 made an exception ? 187 ; reason why not ex- 

 cepted, 187 ; Secretaries, creatures of the laws 

 and not of the Constitution, 188 ; their connec- 

 tion with the President a peculiar one, 188; 

 practice of former years, 188 ; several distinct 

 subjects comprised in this bill, 188; details, 

 188; amendments moved, 189; the question is 

 simply whether the Constitution of the United 

 States shall or shall not be observed, 189 ; 

 what does the bill provide? 190; views of 

 Story, 190; decisions the other way, 190; 

 what will you gain by this crusade on the 

 President? 190; amendment, 190; Congress 

 has the constitutional power to pass this bill, 

 190; views of the framers of the Constitution, 

 191 ; the bill only undertakes to control what 

 has been confessed by the advocates of this 

 power to be an abuse of the Executive authori- 

 ty, 191 ; all the bill proposes is to say in sub- 

 stance that when a man, under the Constitu- 

 tion, upon the nomination of the President, is 

 appointed by and with the advice of the Sen- 

 ate, he shall hold until his successor is nomi- 

 nated by the President and appointed by and 

 with the advice and consent of the Senate, 

 191 ; on what ground of power is this bill pro- 

 posed? 192; only two possible locations for 

 the power of removal under the Constitution, 

 192; what does the bill do? 192; this sena- 

 torial pretension examined, 192; what effect 

 will be produced upon the Senate by the pos- 



session and exercise of this power? 193; give 

 to the Senate domination over the Executive 

 to an extent not contemplated, 193 ; further 

 amendment offered, 193 ; a sweeping proposi- 

 tion, 193; it will give strength and merit to 

 the bill, 194; the President announced he 

 means "to kick out of office " present incum- 

 bents, 194; all legislation of this kind very 

 dangerous in itself, 194; what a state of things 

 if all minor custom-house officers sent to the 

 Senate for confirmation! 194; the officer at 

 the head of the proper department is properly 

 responsible, 195 ; number of removals and ap- 

 pointments by President Johnson, 195 ; what 

 is there alarming in it ? 196 ; the President has 

 usurped the powers of Congress on a colossal 

 scale, 196 ; the duty of the hour is the protec- 

 tion of loyal and patriotic citizens against the 

 President, 196 ; are you ready to apply the 

 remedy according to the measure of your pow- 

 ers ? 196 ; we are in the midst of a crisis, 197 ; 

 amendment lost, 197; moved to except the 

 Secretaries, 197; lost, 197; bill passed, 197. 



In the House, motion to amend by striking 

 out the words relating to the Secretaries, 198; 

 carried, 198. 



In the Senate, amendment of the House con- 

 sidered, 198; Senate refuse to concur, 198; 

 report of a committee of conference, 199; re- 

 port agreed to in both Houses, 199; bill re- 

 turned by the President, 199 ; passage over the 

 veto, 199. 



In the House, resolution of inquiry relative 

 to a violation of the laws in Maryland, 200. 



In the House, charges of impeachment against 

 the President, 200 ; referred to the Judiciary 

 Committee, 200 ; further resolutions, 201 ; re- 

 port of the Judiciary Committee on impeach- 

 ment of the President, 201 ; minority report, 

 201. 



In the House, resolution relative to an in- 

 vestigation of the riot at New Orleans offered, 

 202 ; report of committee, 202 ; the " Louisiana 

 Bill,". 202; principles of the bill, 203. 



In the Senate, resolutions declaring the true 

 principles of construction offered, 204. 



In the House, resolutions relative to recon- 

 struction offered, 204; a bill for the restora- 

 tion to the States lately in insurrection of their 

 political rights offered, 204, 205 ; what are the 

 great questions that now divide the nation ? 

 205 ; meaning of terms, 205 ; the legislative 

 power is the sole guardian of sovereignty, 206 ; 



