Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1829-06-17

eminent, and Its functlonarIes.
On this subject | can speak with Ger.
tainty, and | embrace with pleasure this
opportunity for explanation. The duty OF
designating the printers of the laws appef-
tains to the office which | lately filed. The
selection is usually made at the com.
mencement of every session Of Congress.
Il was made by me without any particular
consultation with the President or any
member of his Cabinet. In making it,
felt under no greater obligationto selectthe
publisher of the laws of the previous year,
than an individual feels himself bound to
insert a succeeding advertisement in tho
same paper which published his last. The
law does not require It, but leaves the Sec
retary of State at liberty to make the selec-
ton according to his sense of proprIety.
A publisher of the laws Is not an officer OF
Government. II had been ludIcially so
decided. He holds no commission. The
accuracy of the statement, therefore, that
no officer of 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, il they had been officers of Gov
eminent, who could have imagined that
those, who objected 10 the removal, would
so soon have themselves put IN practice a
general and sweeping system of exclusions
The President is invested with the tre-
mendous power OF dismission to be exer-
cised for the public good, AM not to graf
ify any private passions or purposes. IL
was conferred to prevent the public from
suffering through faithless or incompetent
officers. 1t was made summary because
if the slow process oftrial, before a Judicial
tribunal, were resorted to, the public
might be greatly injured, during the pro-
gress and prior to the decision Of the case.
But it never was in the contemplation OF
Congress, that the power would or could
be applied to the removal of competent,
diligent and faithful officers. Such an APP
pIication of il is an act Of arbitrary power
and great abuse.
regret extremely that feel constraln-
ed TO notice the innovation upon the Prin-
ciples and practices of our institutions now
in progress. had most anxlously hoped,
that could heartily approve the acts and
measures of the new administration. And
| vet hope that it viii pause, and hereafter
pursue course more in unison with tho
spirit of free government. entreat my
friends and fellow citizens, here aud else
where. to be persuaded, that now perform
a most painful duty; and that it is far from
my wish to say one word that can iniilct
any wound upon the feelings of any Of
them. | think, indeed, that it is the duty
of all of them TO exercise their judgments
freely and independently on what Is pass
ling; and that none ought to feel themselves
restrained, by false pride, or by any part
which they took IN the late election, from
condemning what their hearts cannot APP
prove.
Knowing the imputations towhich ! OK
pose myself, | would remain silent, IT /
did not solemnly believe that there was Sc
rious cause Of alarm in the principle Of
removal which had been recently acted on.
Hitherto, the uniform practice of the gov
eminent has been, where charges are pre-
= ierred against public officers, foreign or
domestic, to transmit TO them a copy OF the
charges, for the purpose Of relutatlon or
explanation. This has been considered
an equitable substitute TO the more tedious
and formal trials before judicial tribunals.
Rut now nersons are dismissed, not only
> without trial Of any sort, but without
charge. And as if the intention were to
defy public opinion, and to give the acts Of
power a higher degree Of enormlty, IN
/ some Instances the persons dismissed have
! carried with them, in their pockets, the
strongest testimonials to their ability and
, integrity, furnished by the very Instru-
t ments employed to execute the purposes
! Of oppression. II the new administration
had found these Discharged officers want
: ing 10 a jealous cooperation to execute
the laws in consequence Of their preference
T at the preceding election. there would have
p been ground for their removal. but the
has not been pretended; and to show that
LII formed no consideration, they have been
dismissed. among IFS first acts. without
Offering them an opportunity Of manifest
inc that their sense Of public duty was I'M
affected by the choice which they had at
the preceding election.
! will not dwell on the injustice and Ia
Idiyidual distress which are the necessary
consequences Of these acts Of authority.
Men who accepted public employments.
entered on them with the implied under
standing that they would be retained as
lonn. O O fhnu conlln,,nd "a dlncharna lholr