September 17

"The distribution of patronage of the Government is by far the most disagreeable duty of the President."

James Buchanan, 15th President, 1857-1861-from The President's Second Protest Message against the Covode Committee. Published: June 27, 1860. - Congress seems to have been impeachment happy in the mid 1800's as they attempted to impeach John Tyler in 1843,Buchanan in 1860, Andrew Johnson in 1867 and 1869, and Ulysses S. Grant in 1877. The U.S. constitution states that the President, Vice-President, and all civil officers of the United States may be impeached and removed only for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." Before the Pendleton Civil Service Act was passed in 1883, Presidents spent time listening to job applicants, requests to "grant" government jobs for friends and allies, or granted jobs in exchange for votes or support in Congress. Such was the norm of the era and even Abraham Lincoln was not above this type of "politics." Buchanan had not been a popular or strong President and apparently members of Congress were looking for ways to oust him from office. "In March 1860, the House created the Covode Committee to investigate the administration for evidence of offenses, some impeachable, such as bribery and extortion of Representatives in exchange for their votes. The Committee...was accused by Buchanan's supporters of being nakedly partisan; they also charged its chairman, Republican Rep. John Covode, with acting on a personal grudge (since the president had vetoed a bill that was fashioned as a land grant for new agricultural colleges, but was designed to benefit Covode's railroad company. The committee was unable to establish grounds for impeaching Buchanan; however, the majority report issued on June 17 exposed corruption and abuse of power among members of his Cabinet as well as allegations (if not impeachable evidence)... that Buchanan had attempted to bribe members of Congress..." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Buchanann). Buchanan defended himself with this message to Congress..."I protested against this because it was destitute of any specification, because it referred to no particular act to enable the President to prepare for his defense...In their examinations the Committee violated the most sacred and honorable confidences existing among men. Private correspondence, which a truly honorable man would never even entertain a distant thought of divulging, was dragged to light...The distribution of the patronage of the Government is by far the most disagreeable duty of the President. Applicants are so numerous, and their applications are pressed with such eagerness by their friends both in and out of Congress, that the selection of one for any desirable office gives offence to many. Disappointed applicants, removed officers, and those who for any cause, real or imaginary, had become hostile to the Administration, presented themselves, or were invited by a summons to appear before the Committee. These are the most dangerous witnesses..." (http://www.nytimes.com/1860/06/27/news/the-president-s-second-protest-message-against-the-covode-committee.html?pagewanted=2). Buchanan finished his term in office, but when Lincoln was elected to office in 1860 seven states, beginning with South Carolina, left the union and formed the Confederate States of America before Lincoln was inaugurated. Ft. Sumter, in Charleston, South Carolina became the flashpoint and in April, 1861 the Civil War began.