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

ed or ABANDONED, the friends 70 whom now refer
will be bound by all the obligations Of patriotism
and consistency to adhere to the policy.
| we take new commencement from the fourth
OF March last. After that day those who support
cd the election of the present Chief Magistrate
were lett as free 10 judge Of the conduct Of his Adj
moro inconsistent in them, il he disappoint their
cxpectations TO disapprovc his administrations than
Il will be in to support H. il. disappointing ours
no should preserve the established policy Of the
Nation, and introduce no new principles OF alarm
ing tendency.
They bestowed their SURFACES, upon the suppo-
elton that the government would be well admin
istered; that public pledges would be redeem cd
solemn professions be fulfilled and the rights aud
liberties OF the people be protected and maintained
IL they shall ind themselves deceived, in any
Of these respects; should principles avowed during
the canvass be violated during the Presidency, and
new principles, OF dangerous import, neither avow-
ed to, nor anticipated by them. be put forth, they
will have been betrayed; the distinguished indi-
Yidua for whom they voted viii have failed to pre-
serve his identity, and they will be urged by the
most sacred OF duties 10 apply the proper correc
| tive.
| Government is trust, and the officers Of go
vernment are trustees. And both the trust and
trustees are created for the benefit OF the PEG
pie Official incumbents are bound, therefore, to
administer the trust, not for their own private or
individual benefit, but so as to promote the pros
perity OF the people. This is the vital principle
OF Republic. If different principle prevail, and
| a government be so administered to crafty the
passions or to promote the interests of particu-
| lar individual, the forms of free institutions NAV
remain, but that government is essentially mon
archy. The great difference between the two
forms OF government is, that, in Republic, all
power and authority and all public offices and hon
ors, emanate from the people, and are exercised
and held Tor their benefit. In monarchy, all
power and authority, all Offices and honors, pro-
coed from the monarch: His interests, his capri
a,lL -. "A.
: TIMES Of the kingdom. In a Republic, the peo-
A, pie are every thing and particular individual
nothing. In monarchy, the monarch is every
thing and the people nothing. And the true
character the Government is stampt, not by the
forms Of the appointment to Office alone but by its
practical operation. Ii, in one, nominally free, the
Chief Magistrate as soon as he is clothed with pow
err proceeds TO exercise it TO minister to his
passions, and to crafty his favorites; and syste-
matca!ly distributes his'rewards and punishments
which he is invested for the good Of the whole,
upon the principle of devotion and attachment to
nm, and not according to the ability and fidelity
with which the people are or may be served, that
Chief Magistrate, for the time being and within
the scope Of his discretionary power. is in fact il
not IN form monarch.
1t was objected to the late administration that il
adopted and enforced system of prescription.
During the whole period OF Il, not solitary off
Ger OF government, from Maine to Louisiana, with
su my huOWieuSe, was ulSTnlSSeu on account oil
political opinions. 1t was we'll known to the late
President, that many officers, who held their pla.
ces subject TO the power OF dismission were oppos
ed TO his reelection, and were actively employed
IN behalf OF his competitor. Yet not was dis.
charged from that cause. In the commencement
and early part of his administration, appointments
were promiscuousy made from all the parties in |
the previous canvass. And this course was pur- |
sued until an opposition was organized, which de-
nounced all appointments from its ranks as being
N inn
am aware that it may be urged, that change
was made in come of the publishers of the laws
There are about eighty annually designated. OF,
these, during the four years Of the late adminis.ra
ton, about twelve or ffteen were changed. Some
oil the changes were made from geographical or
other local considerations. In several instances
enc friend was substituted for another. In others.
one opponent for another Several papers among
the most influential in the opposition, but other
wise conducted with 6ecorum, were retained. OF
the entire number OF changes, not mere than four
OF i've were made On account of the scurriIous
character oftheir papers, and not because of the
political sentiments OF the Editors. II was deem
ed injurious to the respect and moral influence,
which the laws should always command, that they
should be promulgated in columns of public pa |
per, parallel with which were other columns, in !
the same paper, fthe grossest abuse of the Co |
vernment and its func,ionaries
On this subject can speak with certainty, and |
| embrace with pleasure this opportunity for ex-
OF the Laws, appeFains 10 the Office which late
iy filled. Tho selection is usually made at the
announcement OF every session OF Congress Ia
was made by me without any particular consulia- !
ton with The President, or any member of his ca
binet. 10 making it, felt under no greater oh. |
legation to select the publisher Of the LAWS of the
previous year, than an individual feels hnselfl
bound TO insert succeeding advertisement in the |
same paper which published his last. The law |
does not require il, but leaves the Secretary Oft
State Hberfy In ms ka he
his sense Of propriety. publisher Of the laws !
is not an officer of Government. II had been iu- |
dicially so decided. He holds no commission. |
The accuracy Of the statement, therefore, that no
officer OF the government was dismissed by the ,
late administration, IN consequence OF his political
opinions, is not impaired by the few changes of
publishers of the Laws, which were made.
But, II they had been officers of government, |
who could have imagined that those who objected |
to the removal, would so soon have themselves put
in practice general and sweeping system Of ex-
clusioD?
The President Is invested with the Tremendous /;
power OF dsrnission TO be exercised for the pub |
tic good not to crafty any private passions OF pur-
poses. 1t was conferred TO prevent the public |
IRON suffering through faithess inoompeent Of /
fcers II was made summary because if the /
slow process of trial, before judicial tribunal |
were resOred to, the public might be greatly in |
jured, during the progress and prior to the deci |
sion Of the case. But it never was in the contem-
plation of Congress that the power would be ap- !
Piled to the Temoya Of competent, dgent and /
faithful officers. Such an application OF It is an
ACT Of arbitrary power ana great abuse.
regret extremely that feel constrained 70 no. |
tce the innovation upon the principles and prac-
tice Of Our institutions now in progress. had /
most anxiously hoped that | could heartily APP !
prove the acts and measures of the new admins.
raon. And yet hops that IL will pause, and |
hereafter pursue course more in unison with the |
spirit OF a free government, entreat my friends I
and fellow-citizens, here and elsewhere, 20 be I
persuaded, that now perform most painful du- |
~; and that it is far from my wish to say one |
word that can inflict any wound upon the feelings