Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-09-22


generous, and enlarged views of policy. l must
herefore, consider thc property of those party ed
TORS, who ure willing to appeal TO the most vulgar
passions, IN order to support their cause. Rotation
In oilce Is naturally enough preached up by class
of people called office cxpectants (and editors now
stand foremost in that class whose radical opinions
on this subject apt to undergo radical change
the moment their wishes are gratied' And L would
ask what proportion does this noisy, interested class
of politicians bear to the great body of the Peoples
who neither desire nor expect an office and vho are
content provided there is no privileged order or class
claiming a monopoly. The intriguing politician
who, by no other incentive but the emolumcnts of
office, will use the name OF the People, cxcaiming.
like Robcspicrre-s Pourre PeupIe! Poupre Pen
PEE! at the moment he is cutting their throats i'm
order TO acquire the exclusive right 10 Office and es
taosh real monopoly AS to the People. it is their
interest that the office be we'll filed by able and res
pcetable, and honest men, that the duties be we'll
ana faithfully discharged.
Ii Is the interest of office hunters that the tenure
be uncertain, that it may be the prize of intrigue ga
ming, bargaining, and other corrupt Practices And
let me ask any rejecting whether it is probable
That Offices can he well filed, when they are consider
ed the sport OF successive packs OF ravenous expect
ants who will first tearther prey 10 pieces, and then
iasten their iangs on each other, The peopie want
good otficers-the rotation men want the Offices
One would suppose, from the language of those am
oitcus and covetous persons, that offices were crea-
TED merely ON account of the salaries or enoumenis
anu not tor the purpose of rendering certain services
10 mo public w hen the people reflect for moment
now small the number of those who hold Offices or
desire to hold them, it is surprising that the conin-
nity should sncr it's peace and harn,uv r., he dis
trbed, 70 crafty that small number of intcrested
sons In the management of our private concerns
we KNOW how 10 pace proper estimate on exneri-
Greg, capacity, ami long continued faithful services
Is tberc any reason why this should not hold good in
relation To Our public servants, ii thew must do
pend or tho tfnctations of party poIitics is II nor
cgdent that offices will come to be flied onp bv men
VINO marc Pofttics tGde; aud men OF character AMI
ability will he precluied from accepting, enplovments
so desutory precarlous, and delusive Thus instead
OF having the services OF the best men, to which they
have right, the People will be obliged TO put nm
with the worst such as the trade of politicians mny
cnndesccli to give them. We should spurn he idea
OF having our blacasmiths carpenters or bakers our
lawyers or doctors, appointed 10 Us in this wav-
And then as TO this rotation, how is il to work in
practce' BY what rule can We ascertain when AN
incumbent has been long enough in office, There is
difficulty IN liking upon the length OF time for holdu
the once. The office hunter, who is ready to huzza
Tor a to-day, am Tomorrow, true only 40 his pur-
suit of office viii think day. an hour too Ion tr
his impatience-but if he should be successful in oh
tanning the post. he will wish TO grow fast to il; or
NO tcc cvcr IL :hc Gant.e Stc"i-ri, VIII ..xclain-
Sun, galoP down the Western skies
90 quick To bel, aud eaily rise
O. lash your steecs-rost ,hne away
Aud haste about Our bridal day
AId Il we're wcaried, honest iichf
Slap y yau IKE, a peek That a. gtE
Notle wishes of The Office hunter are ji-,,,..I, -,
variance with the true interests OF the peoDIe Tic
removal of an officer who has hcen a long time in
office, to make way for one equally meritorious am
Winhg 10 admit, Is no cause Of complaint the part
OF the person removed-but the community the POO
pie, have right to complain. If they have been dcDri
we'd OF the services Ct long tficd and faihu servant
ana IN general, | am we'll convinced that II their
wishes are consulted in these removals, it will be
found that the mere principle Of rotation or even the
diversity of political thinking, apart from other cen
siferstions, VIII rarely induce them to adopt such
measures
justified on the example of 3Ir. Jefferson venerafc
hr. Jehcraon, but do not think it impossible for him
10 nave done wrong-dD'cus SocrIteS Gmcus Piqto
Sed niHs au1icuS Ueritqs. II is great misfortnne
says !unlls, when great mon violate principle in the
pursuit OF policy when their acts may afford precci
dents Tor those who disregard all principle. They
are oiien used as convenient things by those ,whol
nave no respect for them. If Mr.. Jefferson was
guilty Of visiting upon free Americans tho sims ofi
Them open and honest opinions so far from being
SUBJECT OF praise, II is grevous reproach on his mo
mGry. OIe OF the waTmest friends of the presant
administration, Mr.. Livingston, who was turred Off
ms batturc az New Orleans, bv military force vi
presume would not recommend every act OF Mir Jec
icrson as worthy Of intuition! The truth is that
Wneh heh are dong wrong, they will he TO loss to
ind excuses; but these must be scrtinizrd ly reason
Are they consistent? Are they rationaland ilists If
ihcy arc frivolous, eqiivocatnU, at u0riTns MIN
fDrnc prlessIons we can be at no loss for their orr
GIN. Ii Dir. Jefferson did make sweep Ike that
which has been lately made and is still rnalsing for
opinions sake we have his words iii his Inaupu-
raj Speech, that it is violation of the spirit of Tho
Constitution. But why skip the three last Ad-l
tunes, upon which the patriot must look bnck with
regret Is there not danger-raher is il not certain
that every future President will follow the example
unless he be patriot Of such stamp, as we have
not had since the days of Washington? What must
be the consequence The Offices will be the peroni-
site and reward of political partizans; bt this win
not be the worst; partizans stimulated By the prize in
view, VIII excite as TO the most violent and bitter con
tests thus disturbing peace and harmony causing
that deporabe state of society, the madness of the
many for the benefit Of tho few.
repeat that If Mr.. Jefferson persccuted'the Fed |
era party for opinions sake, he did wrong Tho
same ideas with those j have EXPRESSED. anpcar IN
have been entertained by tho present Chief Moois-
trate, when IN hs letter Mr. Monroe. he aIvisod
him 10 appoint Federalists to Office. The FedoroI'
lists IN various parts Of the United States cave him
their sincere support, on account ofths nag3nnrnoms
sentiment and little suspected that persons would be
removed 'nd appointed, not on account Of u ntrn.
SIC merit or usefulness not even because of tho acoi
dental circnm lance of their being active in tho ranks
OF party, bu lrom the morit or dement, Of te
ing Tor or against The elevation Of PARTICULAR ndivd
nal But 1t Mr. Jefferson was gully orthe poitica
sin Of intolerance, which he 50 beautifully condmnt
4 a fflg frufa. ,for L