Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1802-11-24
From thc A1oevrNc Cnror1crE.

tINC pr1ncipal ground OF complaint d.
ganstthep present administrationor;pina
in-lhose removals from office, which follow
ed the change ofthe executive. Thut this
circumstance should OCCASION rnormurs IS
not 20 be reted among objects ofastonish.
ment' V IS no novel affair for men 10 ex-
cifim against That condu6f of which thev
nave them selves set Iae example. While
the advantage is theirs every thing feast.
pie is also Just. The question of expedi-
enee involves In It's decision the question
o. right. Reverse tie order of af9airs---
give their antagonists the aeceuciency and
deal with them according to theirown bre
cedcnt. The same men who hesitated
not 10 refuse every situation of ,rust. of
honor or of profit, TO those whose cobsci-
enceS would not subscribe to their Y5o!jtj-
cal creed, now utter the idudest complains
against the partial retaliation of that treat
n1eF' which they had praeticed in the most
unbonhded extent.
Surely their own arguments should pro-
duCe Convection on their minds. Ii IN
inc one case 1t was necessary to confne
subordinate oficesto men on whose attach
rlent to The administration reliance could
De placed---the necessity certainly exists
With equal force IN the other. Its assert
ed that republicans were but in few instan-
ces din'Enisaea on account of their political
sentiments, under the federal administra-
uon- The evasion Is scarcely worthy of
nouce' The emergency of the moment
did not render that measure necessar,,.
Almost the whole list OF Offices was alrea-
ny IN tederai possession. To resort to an
expedlent unpopular in its nature was not
therefore requisite. twas sufficient 70 FIJI
the vacancies that did occur, with men
whose opinions were decidedly federal.
he plan thus acted on was the same, II
went TO deny participation of Office 10 aiI
persons who were not considered tborouqh.
~ orthodox. Whether this was done hv
dlsialssal, or by the exclusive appointment
OF federal applicants, the effects were lie
same. in the former case Tie ipnpv ,o
INDIVIDUALS would be greater, but thatnust
oea matter of Iuinorimpoitancc. Its the
general operation ofths usage by which It's
Pyopflety should be tested. ]. is not that
Nlr. a. or NV. B.aie Inconvenience but
that the practice denies to large propor-
ton or the people all share in the honors
and emolurnents of government.
'ar ms was the extent in which it was
advocated by federal gentlemen. The re-
panhean party were considered as a fac.
Ton VINO were tobe crushed by the harsh
est methods. Their number. tatir re.
sPeetabllity, their integrity and their ia
lsnss' We're of no avail The terms of Sc
iusai were considered unans werable. You
are not satisfied with the administration.
You exelaim against IT'S measures. How
then can thai administration repose a CON
i1dence N your servicess How can IL en-
trust The execution OF its DEGREES 20 ner.
sons who consider these decrees .irnpol;t;c
sld unjust. These arguments seemed in
CoDtestlbie TO themselves and appeared
to warran, the engrossmcnt of all the pull.
lie situations.
such principles agowed, and such con-
anct pursued, during the latter stages Of
FEDERAL superiority, would have justified
then extensive retaliation. What. on
the contrary, has been the PROCEEDING nc
the present administration they found ali
the stations IN their disposal filed with f.
deral occupants. They felt it their d,nv
70 restore TO the republicans the share thst
had been thus withheld from them. In
the discharge OF this act Of Justice thew
nave drawn upon themselves a loren: Of
unmerlted abuse. 10 Judge from the ella.
naors that have been raised, II would be
supposed thataeyery .sderalist had bre,,
.dlsnnissedwithout asinglt exception. Yet.
u an impartial gland IS cast upon the real
situation Of affairs, il will be found, thai az
over proportion Of officers sdIl remains N
federal hands. '''' -