The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-06-03
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
FEDERALISTS IN OFFICE.
No. Q.

| dr made improper appointments,i is eomp0raffze-
| " much caller than the taGs of laying down one
| fixed principle that will apply to every boGfbk
| cafe Of appointment or removaL Initances of
| the tirt fort rare. MIR. Jefferfon has hither-
| to made but few Objectionable absgiutnents
Two only have we already attempted to iultfy,
becauie on theie the minority of the laf con-
greis have attempted to raife the unfounded
| charge, that he has actually departed from the
principles which put him into power.
But the latter queitionis farmore difficult, from
the wide range which it embraces. What an i'm
mente patronage is attachedto the federal execu-
tive! What an uncomfortable number of appoint
ments & removals is it poilibe to make! Thele
various cafes are difcriminated by fiich variety
of circumstances, that to decide upon any one
principle, applicable TO all, without much pre-
vlous inveitigation, would become only
man who poiefies Il great deal of genius or a
great deal of party fpirit.
1t is neceiiary to remind the readers of the
diitnetion which has been already taken De-
| tween an appointment to and remo7aI from
Office. There is ftill another which it become
us to develope.
There is this important dittin Zion among Of
fees ;that fome have direT influence upon the
politics CT nation, Whit others merely give
an indirect inRue nee to their incumbents. A fc-
cretary of itate FOR initance, connected by his
very office, with the principles Of an adminir-
tratIon. He touches it in variety of points
He has quelions continually before him which
involve fome- political principle. But how
different is the Office of a collector
Chinefe, completely ignorant of politics,
would make as good one as Chatham him
| felf. Let him but have honefty enough TO take
| care of the public money, knowledge enough
| to deliver and receive the proper papers and
regularity in difchareing his duties and what
| more is neceiIary to the competition of A col
| lettor? Ali that he knows of the dtinttons
between republican or federalift, may be left
behind hmat the door Of his Office.
| But is it therefore to be fuppofed, that no
| iudirca influence whatever is attached TO the
perfon Of collector? Is his faary nothing
Is the hyperion and artificial hation, that it
gives him in fociety, nothing Do not thele
give an air ofmuch greater confequence to his
political opinions, than they would ilfrinGeaNy
deierve or bis arguments could com
maHd (?
Some officers therefore are political, Others
| merely mniteria Some require political
knowledge others, demand the obiervance of
a regular routine. The lat gives only an ivdi-
red influence to the principles of the incum-
bent. The irit gives not only an indirect but
direa influence; not merely an influence flow
ing from the extrinfic confequence of the APP
pointment, but from the very nature of the
| functions which il practices.
| Every Office within the gift or nomination of
the Executive, may therefore be arranged ac-
cording to the degree of influence which they
confer. Thoie which have direaiy connected
him with politics, will of courle occupy the Jfrf
rank.
On the very front of this lit ftand the beads
| Of department..
Next follow members of the Judiciary de-
partment, with not only the means of exertine
political powers of great Importance, but who
holf tbete powers during good behaviour.
! The next in order, are our mnlters abroad,
with all our foreign relations TO negotiate
treaties to eitabliih; in difficult times,even the
! queition of peace or war, depending upon their
Intelligence, vigilance and patrotifrn.
! Then follow in fucceifion the governors of
our Weftern Territories, particularly of Orleans
and Louihana, with the subordinate lift of Of
flee aud patronage, that are veited in their
hands.
Can there be the f;nallet doubt, in making
all tbflf appointments, that the politics OF the
candidate ought to be an indfpenfabe coniide-
ration! With what couiiftency is FEDERAL can
| didate to be promoted TO political office /?
The preient naturalization repreients republi-
can people. 1t was not politiveIy Stipulated at
| the period of their election, that they were to
appoint only republicans to Office; but it was
tacitly undertood tina. they were to fpare no
I SuOllS 10 DVOHlOtc the republican
caufe; for that caulc was believed to be the caufe
oftheir country. But can YOU promote the re-
publican caufe by comforting political powers
upon the very men who obboe it? Would
you indutt a Mufti into chritiln church
federaliit qVomd not, if he could, advance the
interehs of the administration. Not that he
would tacridce his reputation or his Office, by
wilfnl violation of his duties. But there
I is an immenfe difference between the boneRy of
an officer who will coolly difchdrge his duty,
and the seal of one, who will grafp at every
opportunity to extend the meafure of his ferv-
ces. a Mutt might humble over the Litany or
a fcrmon But il is Il Chriftian minifer alone,
who will zealouGly tep out of his way to be-
neft his flock.
When the prefent administration therefore
was elected, they went in upon the tacit pledge
disappointing no feAeralif to merely politi-
cal Office. VIII they thenbrealS their faith with
the public II is not in the mott remote de-
gree infuu1tsd that they have done 70 or that
they viii do 70; but the quefions were, ought
they to do 70, and qvuma they not, by making
fuch appointments. But this is by no means
the mott cogent argument againlt them:
How would Mr.. Jefferlon expect to promote
the republican caufe by appointing its oppo.
nents toBoiific0I offices
How could be coutde in them for the mere
difcharge Of the very functions embraced by
their Office
How COULD the officers cOnfde ia the admnf-