Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-05-12
pErARrMSSr OF STATE,
Washington, Evil %, Is

u
IL announces TO me that my employment as CLERK
in your Department will terminate with the present
month--assigns as reason for giving "this early
notice OF 1t desire to render the change, resultin
from an unpleasant duty, on your part, as little
disagreeablc to possible, and closes with an ex-
preston OF your best wishes for future welfare"
TO the contents OF your note, have given the
most attentive consideration, and cannot resist the
conviction that Justice to myself demands of me more
than silent compliance with its mandate.-To that
mandate, indeed, as i'll duty bound, submit. But,
Sir your note implicitly calls upon me to submit to
something more than simple decree of exclusion
from the public service; 1. speaks with some empha
my exclusion the result Of that duty.
With the standard by which you estimate your
duty, do not profess, Sir, to be acquainted; but
would hope that am not mistaken in supposng to be
that which should regulate the conduct of states
man who would prove himself Wort ny of the age and
of the country in which You lve-hc standard of fair,
Impartial justice Justice to the public. whose servant
you are, and Justice to fellow servants.
i Can l. them suppose this to he the rule of that
'duty" which enjoins my exclusion from the public
service without feeling myself called upon in submit
ting to its operation, to submit, at the time to
the lmputatlon OF incompetency unfaithfu in
that service? You will, I am sure, hardly allow me
to suppose that you could, suddenly deprive public
servant, who happens to be placed within your power
OF the means which might constitute his only reliance
Tor the support of dependent family upon an,
sighter grounds than those have suggested or thai
you would, either expressly, by application charc
him with incompetency unfaithfulness but upol
the most clear ana satisfactory testimony.
Allow me, then, respectfully, to ask you--,vher
have you found the evidence of my inability t.
discharge the appropriate duties of my station, o
ofmy unwiiingness to perform those duties with fl
dehty, as well to yourself as to the public?
i have been in your department more than fiv
years. For alarge portion of that time my situation
has been prominent and highly responsible one ne.
ccssarily subecting the discharges of my official du
ties, in slight degree, to public scrutiny, and fur
nishlng the most ample opportunity of detecting
f whatever might justly expose. me to censure Ant
can be mistaken, Sir, III surprising that when yo,
entered upon the duties of the Head of this Depart
ment you bestowed some of your first thoughts upo,
the enquiry, from whom in it YOU MIGHT exnect
faithful and efficient cooperation in the discharge
those duties! Have you not asked whether the onn
tlemen whom you found employed here were acapa
be, or "honest, ''faithfl?' And will Won ALLOW
me to ask, whether, to either of these enquiries j,
regard to myself yon have received from any human
being negative answer?
, pnt these questions, Sir, in sober earrestnes.
not that ask, or expect, DESIRE reversal of TN
; sentence of exclusion; but because have a rem
, utation which l value, and which would preserv
ty with regard to my removal or rather in tho onI
.lG Tch nave ieit myself al hbertyto suppose yol
Duly approaching the motive of the seasonablepcs
OF your communication TO me, as well as the nol;t
terms IN which II has been made, l beo leave IN nc
sure you that your s'best wishes for nv future well
fare shall, occasion, be permit ed to exceed b
i measure CT mine for yours. ="
i am, very respectfully, Sir your obedicnt servant
y ~ w. SLADE
Hon. NJ. VAN BURnH<