Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-06-16

aud not according to the ability and fidelity with
which the People are may be served, that Chief
Magistrate. for the time being, and within the scope
Of las discretionary power, H. in fact, if not in form,
}, monarch.
\ IL was objected to the latc Administration that it
adopted and enforced system Of prescription. Du-
ring the whole period Of il not solitary officer of
1 Government, from Maine to Louisiana, within my
knowledge, dismissed, account of his political
opinions. II was well known to the late President
that many officers who held their places subject
the power of dsrnission, opposed to his re-
election, and were actively employed in behalf Of his
competitor. Yet not one was discharged from that
cause, I'm the commencement aud carly part Of his
administration appointments were promiscuousy made
from oil the parties in the previous canvass And this
course was pursued until m opposition organized,
which denounced all appointments from its ranks as
being made for impure purposes.
4 am aware that 1t may be urged, that change
was made in some Of the publishers Of the laws
j There arc about eighty annually designated. OF
these during the four yours of the late Admnstra-
ton, nbOut twelve fifteen were changed. Some of
the changes made from geographical or other
local considerations Inseveral instances one friend
was substituted for another others, one opponent
Tor another. Several papers among the most infu-
cntia M the opposition but otherwise conducted with
decorIiun, were retained. OF the entire number of
changes, not more than four tive were made OIL &C.
ot the scurrous character Of their papers, and
not because of the political sentiments Of the Editors
" was deemed injurious To the respect and moral in-
they should be promulgated in the columns &c a pub
lie paper, parallel with which were other columnes
IN the same paper Of the grossest abuse of the Co
government md Its trnc.ionares
On this sibScct can speak With certainty, and
embrace with pleasure this opportunity for cyplana.
ton. The duty OF designating the printers OF the
laws appertains To the Office which lately filed.
The selection Is usually made at tho commencement
III every session Of Congress. 1t was made by me
without any particular consultation with the Presi.
dent or any member of his Cabinet In making it,
felt nnder no greater obligation In select the pub-
Usher Of the laws of the previous year than an ndi.
vidual feels himself bound to insert succeeding adj
vcrtisement In the slime paper which published his
last The law docs not require it, but leaves the Sc
cretary OF State at liberty to make the selection
according to his sense OF prOpriciy. publisher of
the laws is not an officer of Government. Il had
been udicially SO decided He holds no commission
The accuracy Of the statement, therefore, that no
officer of Government dismissed by the late i'd
nlnistlatIon III consequence OF his political opinions
rs not impaired by the few changes of publishers of
the laws which we're made.
But, ii they had been officers OF Government who
could have imagined that those who objected to the
removal, would have themselves pot in prac-
tlce general and sweeping system Of exclusou'
The President Is invested with the tremendous
power OF dismission TO be exercised for the public
good, and not TO crafty any private passions or pur
poses. IL was conferred prevent the public from
suffering through fathess incompetent officers
1T was made summary because if the slow process of
ria before Judicial tribunal we're resort ed to- the
public might he greatly Injured dufiD1 the PROGRESS
and PRIOR TO the dccstop of tho Bot it never
was III the contemplation of Congress, that the pow
or would or could be applied 10 the removal Of com.
potent, dgent officers. Such All application Of it is
an act OF arbitrary power and great abuse.
regret extremely that feel constrained to notice
the innovation upon the principles and practice Of our
institutions now IN progress. l bad most anxiOusly
hoped, that could heartily approve the acts and
measures OF the new administration. And yet hope
~ tt-fl
son with The spirit Of a free government. entreat
my friends and fellow citizens here and elsewhere 10
be persuaded, that now perform most painful duty:
an that II IS far from my wish say one word that ca
inliict any wound Hpon the feelings Of any of thcn-
think, indeed, that IL Is the duty of all ofthem TO ey
crcise their judgments, freely and independently on
what Is pas sing; and that Bone ought to feel them
selves restrained, by false pride, by any part which
they took III the late election from condcmning what
their hearts cannot approve.
Knowing the imputatinns to which expdsc myself
would remain silent, if did not solcmnly believe
that there wos serious OF alarm in the principle
OF removal which has been recently acted on lii
thhito the uniform Practice of the government has
beGD where charges preferred agaos public 9TH
GERS, foreign domestic, TO transmit them copy Of
tile charges, for the purpose Of retatoD or EXPLAIN
tioJ This has been considered an equitable substi-
tute 10 the more tedious and formal trials boore iu-
dIcla tribunals But now persons arc dismissed not
oniy without trial Of any sort but without Charge
ANA us IT the intention 10 defy public opinion
and to give 10 the acts Of power higher degree OF
enorHty, in some instances the persons dismissed
have carried with them IN their pockets, the strong
est testimonials to their ability and integrity furnish
cd by the very instruments employed to execute the
purposes Of oppression. If the new administration
had found these discharged officers wanting ia a
Jealous cooperation To execute tic laws in cuns,-
quencc of their preference at re preceding election,
there VOID nave hoen ground for their removal
DUf tiIis has not bceD pretended and show that il
formed no consideration, they have been dismissed
among It's first acts without aording an opportunity
ct mamtestlng that their Of public duty was un-
affected by the choice WHICH they had at the prece-
ding election.
will not dwell the Injustice and individual dis
tres5 which are the necessary consequences of these
acts ofauthnrity. Men who accepted public ernpov-
meHts entered on them with the implied understand
Ing that they would be retained 0s long "a they con.
led 10 discharge their duties 60 the public honest
j. ably and assiduously. All their private arrange
Incnis IRE made accordingly. 10 he dismissed with
ont fault and without trial; To- be- expelled with their
families, without the means Of support. and IN some
ne "a ucpt fol h =. L.