Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1801-12-14
From he Nswyork Commercial Adver.iler.
NUMBER TX.
Ts,h PRzaD1Nr Of The United STATES.

rk PRzgDzN7 ef The United States.
de.
N the psaage Of your anfRer to the re-
.,oiasnee already recled, you fagget il as a
~.sy sfrigbt that political parties Mould duly
~.ricioats 10 offices. THIS idea is not enly
f.otooei, bur repeated, in various forms, ana
q alisdged as injutice in your predecefIors,
,h,rore patty was excluded from the enjoy
1nsot Of thsr e7zol rigbfs to emolument. The
er,Ity Of rhis doerlne will iurprhe am man,
aot .ccOaomei 10 modern philosophical para
4eSss.
bin law and government, implies pow
~ ID But who is the citizen of the
: " rs S.,,.s no hasfuch a legal or natural
1'.'s - - a., u 20 make demand of the
s@ Maqiara,e to be put = p2asflion Of il :
Wat Is he character Of this rigbt 70 orncers
I8naurd or acqured--oF if acquires IS Il
hviahsrilance, gift or Purchale What is !. 5
1 storsl l. it al sbfolute or qualified right
/ Ansht 70 the IL or to the us only Examine
/ soul principles BY any OF the known rules oflaw,
1 AID fec &c Whist they amount.
No,Gt,--No individual or party has claim
/ 81 rRho any Office whatever, Admit the
principl-, ana who ibail delcribe or define the
ehsrsaer by which the title accrues Right
4 lapgaes definite perloo, ia which the title ex-
I iGs capable Of proving his claim, and enjoying
hsughi A political Jsa enurled to offices !
but tie whole feet cannot. podeis the Object
| WAoA4ll defgnate the individuals by whom
he right ihall be enjoyed or define the quail
ts to which the right is alta ched ? A polit
III iea is certainlyno legal corporation, NOR
ap.lloO, lulcep'ibIe of rights and powers 10 a
wpuate tapacitY-at leaf | pre(ume even
Ysur rsashcau if7 has NOT yet acquired that
tharadsr.
/ Nor Is Il true, as you (uggeR, that minori-
6s have equal rights" By the very conRruc.
non and uarre Of our government, majority
ouaiutes,or is, in legal understanding, fb- 4DbOle
l,s sr BODY b,l;ie. The will aud the rights of
j Id body are indiviGble--they cannon be lepar
/ red even ia idea A will Of The mai7ri.y is
; saal Of the whole. There is no flch thing As
viii, or rights attached to minority as fuch.
The individuals who compete a minority nave
tie fame pelfonal and political rights as the ia
{ dnauas Of majority. But neither a party
nra majority, as fuch have the remotet pre-
uatons to polical rights. To pretend to any
/, albright is perfectly abrdrd.
II Bsfdes, We are taught by the preamble Of
i as Contribution, that the "general welfare"
I, aad the "blefings of liberty" are the objects
d the aGociation under the national compact !;
and the whole iniFument, 10 all its provlions,
II prove. the fame fact. Not word in the Con-
i hiunon authorities the fuggeRions, that the OBJ
EdOfths Union was 10 make provG0n fer the
fsOltsngs Of individuals our Of the public trea
afI much leis TO create in citizens or parties
ahss 10 the poGedion and emoluments of of.
III Csc
II latssd, It is the Rrangea doctrine ever pro-
y mnlglted BY aatelm IN and philolopher, that
d; sBaa 9f government are created far be beneft
9naudaat; and this is the unavoidable con-
salon from your principles. No man before
~ s'T cooildered government to be inRituted 10
f'sa' fvzgt flr its citjzsns. On the other
andi We have heretofore undertood govern.
nsat to b: eltabIiIhed to fecure to individuals
~ 'sH natural tights, th-ir liberty aud property
Andia tree government, ia which equal rights
Sskcursd, and in which no more property is
II, tron the citizens than is neceG4ry 70
pO'sd them a their occupations and acquire
~ a'as Offices Ihould not be held up as prizes,
~ 'aS's contentious, but as imple rewards for
- ~,Ne' performed for the public.
81 "as oltnbalion Of ohces by the executive,
! con'dera.ion Of rg5t lhould be excluded,
y p0ap'ned TO what are the true grounds Of
~ oS'owment-viz. real and fubRantial qnal.
~' The only perjoaal claim 70 Office,
y .0It benefit, is derived from former JSrvicel
I"'s'si made 10 the public interef. This
% = wholly excluliNe of any rigbf exiaing
- 2 iueh ierviyes, and mutt always Weld
III '' iu'able qualifications for the Office, in
81 d rSu'or' 10 lhorS, office, under any form
so 81 fnn'nt, are created foley for the bene
II pn,.. Puolc-they are 70 be filled by the
n Mem authority foley with view to that
aAer conlsquence, candidates can offer
aa,1 ior appointment, in well admin
! W IA, sVss'ament, on no ground but that Of
~. spo al'"0'at'ons - dlcharge their duties to
M " se. &C. On other ground, can faithful
u h6s'.ir as ADMIT der projections. The only
aa s ,os7auure f on thi. rule, is in favor
aho0.5,.reO and thai in cafes only where,
rn,,, s;""'atlons are no. equal to thoie Of his
49, ~, they are at lsaR fully adequate 10
y Bm l''nfuI execution ofthe Office.
esa.s = not on principle alone, that This pre-
r.p.l Ct political pa tics to Office, may
Ihn agumeut a5 igeoH u aie,Yi D
- A.