Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-06-23

aud Integrity, furnished by the very instruments
eemp'oyedto execute the purposes Of oppression.-
II the new administration had found these dis
charged officers wanting in zee lous cooperation
to execute the laws, in consequence of their pre-
ference at the preceding election, there would
have been some ground for their removal. But
this has not been pretended; and 10 show that II
formed no consideration they have been dismissed,
among its first acts, without acrding them an op-
pcrtunty oil mani!esting that their sense of pub.
lie duty was unaffected by the choice which they
| had at the preceding election.
will not dwell on the injustice and individual
| distress which are the necessary consequences of
these acts OF authority. Men who accepted pub
lie employments, entered on them with the impli-
ell Understanding that they would be retained as
long az they continued TO discharge their duties TO
the public, honestly, ably and assiduously. All
uleIr private arrangements are made accordingly
10 be dismissed, without fault and without trial;
to be expelled, with their families, without the
means OF support, and in instances, dsqualifi-
ed by age or By official habits, from the pursuit of
any other business; and all this to be done, upon
the will of one man, in a free government, was
surely intoerablc oppression
Our institutions proclaim, reason enioins and
conscience requires, that every freeman shall ex-
ercise the elective franchise freely and injepen-
IDENTIFY; and that, among the candidates for his
| suffrage, he shall fearlessly bes,ow it upon him
who will best advance the interest of his coun-
try. The presumption is that this is always done
unless The contrary appears. But ii the consc-
quence OF such performance of patriotic duty is
to be punishment; If an honest and sincere prefer
ence Of to j, is to be treated as crime then our
dearest privilege is mockery and our institutions
are snares
During the reign of Buonaparte, upon one Of
nose occasions IN which he affected TO take the
sense OF the French people As to his being made
Consul tor lite, or Emperor, an order was sent 10
the French armies to collect their sutirages They
were told, in public proclamation, that they were
authorized and requested to vote freely, according
TO the dictates OF their best Judgments and their
| honest convictions. But mandate privately
circulated among them, importing that if any SOL
der voted against Buonaparte, he should be in
s,antly shot.
Is there any other difference. except in the
moue OF 'nishment, between that case and the ar
6itrary removal of men from their public stations
Tor no other reason than that Of an honest and
conscientious preference of one Presidential can
didate to another. And it be doubted, that the
spirit which prompts these removals, is restrained
from being extended to all, in private life, who
manifested similar preference, only by barriers
which it dare not yet break DOWN. But should
public opinion sanction them, how long will these
barriers remain,
One of the worst consequences OF the introduce
ton OF this tenure of public office will be- should
it be permanently adopted to substitute for sys-
tenn oil responsibility, founded upon the ability and
integrity with which public officers discharge their
duties TO tho community, system of universal ra-
pacity. incumbents. feeling the instability of their
situations, and knowing their liability 10 periodical
removals, at short terms, without any regard to
the manner in which they have executed their
trusts, will be disposed to moke the most ortheir
uncertain offices, whilst they hold them. And
hence we may expect innumerable cases OF fraud
pecuation, aud corruption.
President Jackson commenced his official career
on the 4,h Of March last, with every motive
which should operate on the human he art to URGE
him TO forget the Prejudices and passions which
had been exhibited In the previous contest and to
practice digniied moderation and forbearance.
lie had been the choice Of a considerable major
ity OF the people, and was elected bya large ma
lority OF the Electoral votes. He had been elect
ed mainly from the ali-powerful influence of graft
tude for his brilliant military services, in spite of
doubts and fears entertained by many who contri-
buted to his elevation. He was far advanced in
years; and, il fame speak true, was SUI ffe ring nm
der the joint ,i6rmi;ies Of age and disease He
had recently been visited by one Of tho severest
Affections OF providence, in the priva;ion of the
partner OF his bosom, whom he is represented TO
have tenderly loved, and who warmly returned all
his affection. He had no child on whom TO cast
his honors. Under surh circumstances, was ever
man more imperiously called upon, TO sifie all
the vindctive passions of his nature, to que eve
~ rebellious feeling of his heart, and TO dedicate
the short residue Of his life to the God who had so
long blessed and spared him, and to the country
which had so greatly honored him!
/ sincerely hope that he viii yet DO this. 7
sake of his own Observation-Disclosures he has du-
ring the two months of his administration, so con-
Quoted himself, let facts tell and history pronounce
Truth is mighty and viii prevail.
II was objected 70 Mr. Adams that, by appoint
ing several members Of Congress to public places
ne endangered the purity Of the body, and estab-
!shed precedent fraught with the most mischie.
vous consequences. And President Jackson (no,
he begged his pardon, it was Candidate Jacksonl
was so much alarmed, by these appointments, for
ffya and of
that in a solemn communication which he define
rately made to the Legislature OF Tennessee. he
declared his firm conviction to be, that no member
oil Congress onght TO be appointed to any Office
except seat upon the Bench. And he added that.
he, himself, would conform to that rule
During the four years of Mr.. Adams admins
tFaton. the whole number OF appointments made
BY him. from Congress, did not exceed four or
FIVE. In the first four weeks of that of his sI,c-
cessor, more than double that number have been
appointed by him. In the first two months OF Pre-
sident Jackson's administration, he has appointed
more members of Congress, TO public office, than
believe were appointed by any one of his prede-
cessors during the whole period OF four or eight
years. And il appears that no Office is too high
or too low to be bestowed by him on this fayoIred
class, from that Of head Of department down
70 an inconsiaerable collectorshp, or even a sub
ordinate Office under a collector. IF have not
been msintormed, representative from the great
est commercial metropolis in the United States,
has recently been appointed TO some inferior sta
lion by the collector of the port of New York.
without meaning to assert, as general princi-
Fle, thatin no case would il be proper that resort
should be had to the Halls of Congress to draw
from them tried talents and experienced public
servants, TO aid the Executive or Judi eiai dc mart
meDis, all must agree that such resort should
not be too often made; and that there should be
some limit, both as TO the number and the nature
OF the appointments. And DO sincerely think
that This limit he's. ia both particulars, beca tram
scended beyond all safe bounds, and so as to excite
serious apprehensions.
1t is not however my opinion, but thot OF Pre-