Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-06-16

ishee ~ which would Be distributed and reou,ated
ases1ss4 y devotion ofoppesition to Aim. And
81 Ut fsshinery was put in motion,
" ~ soe succeed insubpertihg the liberties of his,
coQ!ety aHd N establishing himself upon throne. il
rro5n De because como new means or principle of
Resistance had been discovered which was unknown
in other times or to other Republics.
But il administered ion conducted IN the manner
Just supposed did aim at the destruc tim of unbc
liberty. IT would enge nder evils of imaginable SO
great as gradually TO alternate the affections of the
people from their government, and finally to lead to
ITS overthrow Accor,lingto the principle now avow-
the compass OF the Executive power, ore to be aot-
ted among the partizans Of the successful candidate
The people and the service of the State are to be mt
inside, and every thing is to.be decided by the zeal
activity and attachment, i'll the cause of particular
candidate, which were manifested during tIn nrace
ding canvass. The consequence of these principles
would be to convert the nation into one perpetuol
theatre for political eladators. There would be one
universal scramble tor the public Offices. The ter
mnation OF one Presidential contest would be only the
signal for the commencement of another And on
the conclusion OF each, should behold the victor
distributing the prizesand applying his punishments,
like military comniandeT, immediately after he had
won great victory. Congress ,corrupte ed and the
press corrupted, genera! corruption Guild esue I'M
til the subsistence of free government having dis
appeared, some Pretorian band would arise and with
the general concurrence of distracted people, put
an end to useless forms.
am that the late acts og the admins alton
on which it has been my dsagreeable dnty to ami
madvert Il hope without giving pun to any Of my
fellow citizens, az most sincerely wish to give none
were sustained upon vague notion or Ournose Of
REFORM And it was remarkable that among the loud
est tumpeters. of reform, some who had late
~ received appointments to lucrative Offices Now
it must be admitted that them most s,,bsta an
tIal and valuable reform had taken place; but trust
that something more extensively beneficial to tho
people at large was intended by the sweet sounding
word. l know that, at the commencement, and
throughout nearly the whole progress, of the late
administration, reform the constitution was talk
cd Of to exclude from public Office members of
Congress, during the periods for which they were
elected, and limited term beyond them. This pro-
position appeared to be received with much favor,
was discussed in the H. of Representatives session
after session at great length and with unusual elo-
Qnence and ability. A majority of that body seemed
disposed to accede to it, and thought for some time
that there was high probability of its passage at least
through Tint house, Its great Champion fGen
Smytbot Firginia pressed it with rcsolute persever
ace. But, unfortunately, at the last session after
the decision of the Presidential question: it was man.
Itest that the Kindness with which 1t had been orn
finally received had greatly abatetl. Its determined
patron found It extremely difficult to engage the
fieuse to consldert. When Mt length, he prevailed
by his frequent and earnest appeals to get it taken
mp new views appeared to have suddenly struck the
reiormists. 1t was no longer amendment in their
eyes, indispensable the purity of our constitution
and the majority which had appeared to be resolved
That majority believe composed in part of
members who after the fourth Of March last gave
the best practical recantation of their opinions by
accepting from the new President lucrative appoint:
ments IN direct opposition to the principle of their
own amendments: And now Gen. Smyth would find
1t even more nnpractieable TO make amongst them
prose- ytes his conservative alteration in the con-
sitution than he did to gain any s Exposition of
the Apocalypse. 49,. --'----
Reform. such as alone could interest whole peo-
ple Gun only take pace In the constitution or laws or
policy of the government. Now and then under
every administration, and at all times fai,hless or
mconpetent officer may be discovered who on ght TO
be displaced. And that in all the departments of
Government. But presume that the correction of
such occasional abuses could hardly be expected to
tulfil the promise of reform which had been soiem-
ly maize j would then ask what was the ,eforn
intended? w hat part of the constitution was TO he
altered, What law repealed; what branch of tbs, set
tied policy the country to be changed, The
people have right to know what great blessing was
intended BY their rulers for them, aud to demand
somr tangible practical good in lieu of a general
vague. underlined assurance Of reform.
know that the recent removals from office are
attempted to be justified by precedent drawn from
Mr. Jctfersons administration But there is not the
most distant analogy between the two cases Scve-
raj years prior to his election, the public Offices of
the country bad been almost exclusively bestowed
upon The party to which, that, at the head of which
he stood, was opposed. When he commenced his
administration he found complete mon opolv of
them III the hands of the adverse party. He dismiss
ed few incumbeuts for the purpose of Introducing.
in their places, others Of his own party, and thus
doing equal justice to both secs. But the number
of the removals far short ofthose which are now
IN progress When President Jackson entered on
his administration he found far different state of
things. There had been previous monopoly
Public Offices were alike filed by his friends and
opponents in the late election. IF the fact could be
ascerfa'ned believe il would be- fpund that there
larger pumber Of oficers under tbe governmepi,
To h;S Late rfjnn
Further In the case Of Mr. Jefersous election i
the consequence of rhs people having Determined on
I'"Hai rhange OF system. There general belief
among the majority, who brought about tina, event,
mat be oppnnehts had violated the constitution in
enactment ct The a'ieu and sedtou laws; they had
committed uilIer great abuses aud that uf them
contemplated an entire change in the character OF
government, so as To- give il mopsicbcsl state
the historical fact without in,eudng revive The dis