It was one of which the merchants were the best judges.

They would consult their interest as individuals; and this was a case in which the interest of the nation and of individuals was the same.
At length, the bills passed the house of representatives, and were carried to the senate, where they were amended by expunging the discrimination made in favour of the tonnage and distilled spirits of those nations which had formed commercial treaties with the United States.
These amendments were disagreed to; and each house insisting on its opinion, a conference took place, after which the point was reluctantly yielded by the house of representatives.

The proceedings of the senate being at that time conducted with closed doors, the course of reasoning on which this important principle was rejected can not be stated.
This debate on the impost and tonnage bills was succeeded by one on a subject which was believed to involve principles of still greater interest.
[Sidenote: On the President's power of removal from office.] In organizing the departments of the executive, the question in what manner the high officers who filled them should be removeable, came on to be discussed.

Believing that the decision of this question would materially influence the character of the new government, the members supported their respective opinions with a degree of earnestness proportioned to the importance they attributed to the measure.

In a committee of the whole house on the bill "to establish an executive department to be denominated the[42] department of foreign affairs," Mr.White moved to strike out the clause which declared the secretary to be removeable by the President.