Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-06-16

iuVeete0 ZOE the gOo0 OF the whole,
upon the principle Of devotion and attsehrent to h,
and not according 20 the ability and fidelity with,
which the People are may be served, that Chief
Magistrate, for the time being, and witha the scope
ct s discretionary power, 49, in fact, if not in form
twas objected to the late ADMINISTRATION that It
adopted aud enforced system of prescription Du-
ring the whole period Of it not solitary officer Of
Government, from Maine to Louisiana, within my
knowledge, dismissed, ON account of his potcal
opinions. 1t was we'll known to the late President
that many officers, who held their places eubcct to
the power Of dismission, were. opposed to his re-
election, and were actively employed in behalf of his
competitor. Yet not one was discharged from that
cause In tue commencement and early part Of his
administration, appointments were promiscuously made
from all the parties in the previous canvass. And this
course pursued until opposition was organized,
which denounced all appointments from its ranks us
being made for impure purposes.
/ am aware that it may be urged, that n change
was made in some of the publishers of the laws.
There are about eighty annually designated Of
these during the four years of the late Admnistrn-
ton, about twelve or fifteen changed Some of
the changes were made from seograicul, or other
local considerations IN several instances, one friend
was substituted for another: Others one opponcnt
for another Several papers among the most iffiu-
entail in the opposition, but otherwise conducted with
decorun,, were retained OF the entire number of
changes, not more than four five made ON DC
count of the scurous character of their papers, and
not because of the political sentiments of the Editors
IN
tuencc which the laws should always command, xhat
they should he promulgated in the columns of a pub.
lie paper, parallel with which were other culunnes,
III the same paper OF the grosscsl abuse of the Co
government and its functionaries
On this snbsect eau speak with certainty and |
embrace with pleasure this opportunity !nr cxplana
ton. The duty of designating tho printers Of the
laws appcrtains to the office which Z lately filed
The selection is usually made at the commencement
OF every session of Congress 1t was made by me
with sho
dent or any member of his Cabinet. In making it.
felt under greater obligation seec; the nab
Usher OF the laws ot the previous year than an midi.
vidual feels himself bUpd insert succeeding adj.
vertisement III the same paper which published his
last The law does not require it. but leaves the Sc
cretary of State ut liberty to make tie selection
according to his SENSE of proprcty. A publisher Of
the laws Is not an officer of Government. Il had
been judcialy decided. He holds no commission
The accuracy of the statement therefore that no
ofhcer OF Government dismissed by the late ad-
mlnlstl alton. IN consequence OF his political opinions
Is not impaired by the few changes Of pnblisirefs of
the laws which were made.
But, IT they had been officers Of Goyernucnt who
could have imagined that those. who objected to the
removal, would soon have themselves put i'm prac-
tlce general and sweeping system of exclusion!
The President is invested with the tremendous
power OF disInIssion to be exercised for the public
good and no, to crafty any private passions or pr.
poses II was conferred to prevent the public from
suffering through fathless or incompetent officers
IL was made summary because ii the slow process. Of
trial. before Judicial tribunal resorted to- the
public might be greatly injured, during the progress
and PRIOR to the decision of the case. But il never
was IN the contemplation of Congress- that the pow
er would or could be appliedto the removal of com.
petent dilgent officers Such an application of il 10
an act OF aFbitrnry power and a great abuse
regret extremely that feel constrained to notice
the innovation upon the principles and practice
institutions now In progress. had most anXiously
hoped, that | could heartily approve the acts and
of thp 4
that 1t VIII pause. and pursue course more in uni
son with the spirit of free government. entreat
my friends and fellow citizens here and elsewhere to
be persuaded, that now perform most painful duty:
aud that 1t Is far from my wish TO word that can
lnlct any wound apon the feelings of any of them
think, indeed that is the duty Of all of them to ey
ercse their judgments, freely and independently on
what Is passing; and that none ought to feel them
selves restrained, by false PRIDE by any part which
they took in the late election, from condemnnp what
their hearts cannot approve.
Knowing the imputati,lls to which expose myself
would remain silent, if1 did solennly believe
that there serious of alarm in the principle
of removal which has been recently acted on Hi
the1to, the uniform practice of the government has
beeB where charges preferred against public Off
Gers foreign or domestic to transmit them copy of
the charges for the purpose of refation explana
tlon. his has been considered an equitable substi.
tute to the tedious and formal trals bofore ju
dicial tribunals. But now persons are dismissed not
only without trial Of any sort but without cilarre-
Ana as II the intention were to defy PUBLIC opinion,
and to give To the acts of power higher HaYee of
eDormity, in 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 execute the
purposes of oppression. If the new administration
had found these discharged officers wanting in
Jealous operation to execute the laws, in eonse-
quence of their preference Of the preceding election
there would have been ground for their removal.--
But tins has not been pretended and to show that it
formed no consideration, they have been dismissed,
among its first acts, without atfordnp an opportunity
OF maHltesting that eir of public duty was I'M
affected by the choice which they had at the prece-
ding election.
Will not dwell on the injustice and individual dis
tress winch are the necessary consequences of these
acts ofauthority. Men who accepted public employ
ments entered on them with the implied understand
ing that they would be retained long as they con-