Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-02-15
II ats Of t';emocracy
No w.


Presidential power and patronage
was fruitful theme Of defamation
for ever, Democratic Office SEEKER !"
and GU, of congress, while The go
yernment was in federal h"nus'
I ,oud and yociferous were tue com
olaints on this 81 .ire'. The! ieis"|
would have mad The people believe
that this power and patronage when
the federaii,rs we're endeavou: Ing toI
vest in the executive Department.
was caIeulatsd TO absorb the powers
| Of tie Legislature, and eventual!
destro, all the rights and privileges
of the people-,hai the safe govern
ments we're to be consolidated and
the whsle broush, under a menar-
ehy
What has exVeri nee Taught u.s.,
since the government his fallen into
democratic hands i--llave not these
DISCLAIMERS at v.riou. tunes attempt
ed, and. in several instances have ac
tuall, vested, their fsyouri'e presi
dents with discretionary powers. for
bey oud any thing ofIhe kind before
ATTEMPTED. even so far as to make
and suspend laws Al his pleasure-&
the heads Of the departments. who
are he immediate servants 4 the
president. have been freguentl au
thorized 10 exercise powers and 10
make rules and regulations. which
have had the effect Of laws. suhyer
sive Of the dearest rights & interests
of the people /!
The patronage Of the president has
been within the last fifteen wears.
enlarged and extended to a degree
far beyand any former ample
New offices have been erected. with
bnuntiful salaries annexed and the
power. Of old oHes enlarged 10 an
alarming degree. until this patronage
has become unboundcd. fhp post
officer, department ouIy.will now be
particularly natired The number
OF posi m.strrs have heen increased
{ since Nc. Jrtferson was frs. elected
from abou, ,hrec hundred TO nearl,
, fifteen hundred uutil they ares nu
merous in some parts OF the country.
; as to be- puolir nuisAnres. instead Of
public convenience These petty Of
ficers, with their numerous con
nexions and particular friends. are
q powerful Phalanx. in The support
Of presidential ioiluenee--and are
most OF them. mere puppets d tools
oftheir masters servants Nor. in
; fiurnce and mare iniIigues are ear
ried on through this department then
in that Of any other
= To enumerate al huntrrd.h part
of the comPl.inls and ilI~loundsd
elamours. which these olire-keePers
were constantly raising. and spread
ing abroad, against the measures of
the administration, while in the
hands of federal men. would be dis.
gushing TASK. and swell the catalogue
10 an snhounded size. Their con-
duet since they came into Office, is
the best q oni, test oftheir sincerity.
II the honest. candid part Of the
community. would cox back into The
history Of federal dmcs. and consider
the professions ofthcsc leading demo.
Gratis and compare them with their
practices. since they have gained
their object in possessing the go.
vrrumrui. il would be useful EN-
lpioyment. and serve 10 convince
yer, homes, mind. OF the danger If
ent usling their public interests. and
their berties, in the hands Of men
who .. Rai,er them with their lips
while their hearts sre far from them
/, and cover their practices with de
ceplion, that so they mo, receive
jfhcip reuasd