The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1826-10-03


A place in his cabinet, &C that period Of nav
life, was more than equivalent to any place
under any administration, at my present
more advanced age. His immediate sue
cessOr rendered me the same place in his
cabinet, which he, anxiously urged me to
accept the mission to England. Cen
tlelnen, hope you win believe that far from
being impelledby any vain or boastfiI spir-
it, to mention these things, l do. it with
humiliation and modification.
II ! had refused the department. of state,
the same individuals who now, in the ABB
sence of all proof against all probability,
and in utter disregard of all truth, proclaim
the existence of a corrupt previous arrange
ment, would have propagatcd the same
charge with the same affected confidence
which theynow unblushingly assume. And
it would have been said with at least much
plausibility, that had contributed to the
election of chief magistrate, of whom /
thought so unfavourably that I would not
accept that place in his cabinet which is
generally as the first. / thought
it my duty unawed by their denunciations,
to proceed in the Office assigned me by the
president and the senate, to render to the
country the best service of which my poor
abilities are capable. Ifthis administration
should show itself upfriendly to American
liberty and to free and liberal Institutions $
if it should be conducted upon system adj
verse to those principles of public policy,
which | have ever endeavored to sustain
and / should be found still clinging to Of
flee; then nothing which could be said by
those who are inimical to me would be UNI
deserved.
But the president, it is said, ought not to
have appointed one who had voted for him.
Mr.. Jefferson did not think so, who called
to his cabinet gentleman who had voted
for him, in the most warmlycontested cleo
ton that has ever occurred in the house of
and who appointed to 9th
er highly important Offices other members
of the same house, who voted for him.
Mr.. Madison did not think so, who did not
feel himself restrained from sending me
on foreign service, because had suppor-
ted his election. Mr.. Monroe did not think
so, who appointed in his cabinet gentle
man, now filling the second Office in the
government, who attended the caucus that
nominated him, and warmly and efficiently
espoused his election. But suppose the
president acted upon the most disinterest-
ed doctrine which is now contended for by
those who opposed his election, and were
to appoint to, public Office from their ranks
only to the entire exclusion of those who
voted for him, would he then escape their
censure2 No we have seen him Char
ged, for that equal distribution of the pub
lie service among every class of citizens,
which has hitherto characterized his adj
nlinistration with the nefarious purpose of
buying up portions of the community. A
'pirit Of denunciation is abroad. With
'ome, condemnation, right or wrong, is the
order of the day. No matter what pru-
lence and wisdomsmay stamp the measures
IT the administration; no matter howsmuch
ne prosperity of the country may be adj
,anced, or what public evils may be avert.
I'd under its guidance; there are persons
Who would make. general, indiscriiAinate
md interminable opposition. This is not
4 fit occasion, nor perhaps am La fit per-
son, to enter upon a vindication of its meas
ares. But hope shall be excused for
asking what measnre of domestic policy |
mas been proposed or recommended by the I
oresent executive, which has not its proto-
ype in previous acts or recommendations [
IF administrations at tho head of which
vas a citizen of Virginia. Can the liberal
md high-minded people Of this state, con-
lemn measures cmanating from a citizen |
of Massachusetts, which, when proposed |
by a Virglnian, commanded their express
assent or silent acquiescence; or to which,
if in any instance they made opposition, il
was respectful, limited and qualiiedl The
present administration desires only to be
Judged by its measures, and invites the
strictest scrutiny and the most watchful
vigilance on the part of the public.
With respect to the Panama mission, it
is true that it was not recommended by any
preceding administration, because the Cir
cumstances of the world were not then
such as to present it as subject for dis
cussion. But, during that of Mr.. Monroe,
it has been seen that it was matter Of com
sidoration, and there is every reason to
believe, if he were now at the head Of af-
fairs, his determination would correspond
with that of his successor. Let mo sup
pose that it was the resolution Of this coun-
try, under no circumstances, to contract
with foreign powers intimate public engage
ments, and to remain altogether unbound
by any treaties of alliance, what should