James Madison "If An Unworthy Man Be Continued In Office By Unworthy President-Congress Can Impeach"

[kpete]

James Madison on impeachment

Perhaps the great danger, as has been observed, of abuse in the executive power, lies in the improper continuance of bad men in office. But the power we contend for will not enable him to do this; for if an unworthy man be continued in office by an unworthy president, the house of representatives can at any time impeach him, and the senate can remove him, whether the president chooses or not. The danger then consists merely in this: the president can displace from office a man whose merits require that he should be continued in it. What will be the motives which the president can feel for such abuse of his power, and the restraints that operate to prevent it? In the first place, he will be im-peachable by this house, before the senate, for such an act of mal-administration; for I contend that the wanton removal of meritorious officers would subject him to impeachment and removal from his own high trust. But what can be his motives for displacing a worthy man? It must be that he may fill the place with an unworthy creature of his own.

June 16, 1789 James Madison

http://www.constitution.org/jm/17890616_removal.htm

[DavidDvorkin]

1. Damn!

That should be repeated everywhere.

Too bad it's too long for a bumper sticker. :)

[ninkasi]

2. Madison apparently warned us

of what to do when a president removes competent people, and replaces them with political creatures put in office to further his agenda. U.S. attorneys, for example. Great find, kpete! Madison would tell us to impeach BushCheney now.

[Tesla]

3. It's amazing how smart our Presidents USED to be!!

[oldtime dfl_er]

4. REally!!

Reminds me I should go back and re read the Fed Papers on impeachment.

http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/658059

[seafan]

5. Thank you for posting this. We all need to send this to Congress.

It's clear to us that We The People are going to force Bush and his cabal out of office.


We will not be stopped.

[kpete]

7. "We The People"

most POWERFUL words EVER!!!

[Strawman]

6. The administration likes Alexander Hamilton's "president for life" ideas better

[robcon]

8. We have to go by the Constitution, (crimes/misdemeanors)

not the writings of one of its authors.

[Recursion]

11. But "misdemeanor" is what we are trying to interpret, and Madison is shedding light on that

In 1789 misdemeanor just meant "bad thing to do" rather than being a class of crime; the question is what type and level of misdemeanor should warrant impeachment (and I guess the answer is "whatever misdemeanor gives Congress the political will to impeach").

And, though I fear the resulting flame war from saying this, I personally think that not only Clinton's misleading testimony, but also the underlying affair, were sufficient grounds for impeachment and removal. A fortiori most of *'s actions are too...

[YOY]

9. He is the very definition of "Unworthy"

and Cheney fits "Unhonorable."

[mzmolly]

10. Which is why the Attorney General hearings are in progress I gather?

:D

The danger then consists merely in this: the president can displace from office a man whose merits require that he should be continued in it. What will be the motives which the president can feel for such abuse of his power, and the restraints that operate to prevent it? In the first place, he will be im-peachable by this house, before the senate, for such an act of mal-administration;

[compote_tom]

12. How Quaint