Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-05-19
tFrpm the Cincinnati Gazette.]
REuOVALS FROM OFFICE.

v q
No considered a matter Of no public concern.-
Whoever looks rightly at it, must be satisfied
,h,t reproach attaches somewhere Either
IN, conduct of the officer has been such as to
dsnriye him Of public confidence, or it not,
then the removal is an act of injustice, both
% the public and to the individual; and this IN
;u>,iee rests at tie threshold of The removing
oow.r. f,he one is not delinquent, the eth
her inAic,s an injury.
Viewing the subject in this light there,
seems 10 be some necessity 10 notice the cases
Of removals as they occur. Where the indi-
v;Sual. removed are known, some notice OF
,h.;r characters and ofici al conduct is due 10
them and to The public. If no official delinquen-
~ attaches 10 them, the fact ought to be maue
known, 1t is but an act OF naked justice 10
proclaim il. The public are thus enabled 10
annrscia,e the act of removal. If their official
course has been reprehenible, that TOO should
be made known, that The removing power may
be fai,,y Judged. Under the influence OF these
imnressions, / have thought it my duty brief
" 70 notice the characters Of the gentlemen re-
Gently removed from The principal ofices IN
this state.
The District Attorney, MIR. Benham, Is
native born son OF Ohio. The first and the on
" man, in Office under the United States who,
can claim that character. His father was q
soldier of the revolution, and among the hrst
sent by the government on military expedi-
ton on the Ohio river, after the peace Of 1888,
The hardships he endured, and the Peri's tie
encountered, are we'll known to those oil the pi'
oneers who yet remain with us. In the year
1887, he was dangerously wounded IN an en-
papement with Indians near the mouth oil the
Little Miami, and with another individual al
most mi-aen luusly escaped destruction he
was an active officer in all the early campaigns,
and il was principally owing 10 his self posses
sion and gallant insrepidity, that at St. Glars
defeat, any portion OF the army was enabled to
re, reat IN such body as to protect themselves
from universal slaughter. He was member
OF the Territorial Legislature, aud lived and
died in The respect and confidence OF all who
knew him. So far as the public services OF an
ancestor cen Effect the claims Of an individual
10 public consideration, Mr.. Beuham stands
with the most favored. In the discharge Of
his official duties, his conduct has beeen unrx>
cep,ionsble. No complain, has ever been whis-
pered by the Government, or by Individuals
In conducting the business ofthe United States,
he has given entire satisfaction to the court
No effort wss ever made 10 multiply litigation.
or to press suits, when il was ascertained they
had been commenced on mistaken principles:
The public delnquen.s, whom it was his duty
10 prosecute. have in no instance, 10 my know
ledge, complained ofany harshnes or ina,ten-
ton 10 their requests, nor have witnessed any
negligence, or heard Of any complaints on that
head from the public officers. In respect 10
the late canvass, Mr.. Bsnham although he
gave his voice against Gen. Jackson, was not
by any means an active partisan. The utmos,
extent of his shining. IN this particular, was
that Of two or three times addressing his fell
low citizens, when assembled 10 consult about
the election. These addresses were moderate,
in their tone, partaking nothing OF the gener-
al asperity Of the canvass. Whether, therefore,
we look at the off ial conduct of Mr.. Benham,
or al hi, course toward General Jackson, in the
Presidential campaign, We can perceive nothing
Of the delinquency which would Justify his re-
NOV al from Office. He is evidently displaced
10 the wan,onness Of power, that his Office
nigh. be given to one who had voted for Gen.
ersl Jackson, and pressed for his compensation.
Col Dohersy, the Marshal, stands equally
free from all reproach, in dischaging the duties
OF his Office. He was an officer in the late war;
subsequently, for several years, clerk OF the
House Of Representatives OF this state, and Adj
iutaii General Of her Militia. In these Offices,
we'll as IN tnat Vi .harSuaI, nc has SiNSu W.
Universal satisfaction. No complaints have been
made aesins, him Of neglect on one hand, or OF
unnecessary rigor on the other. No allegation
Of favoriism was ever suggested, notwiih-
standing tue excitement Of the late canvass
nor have understood that he at all tIansgres-
sed the JUS, limits of freedom of opinion, 'ha,
is he birth-righ, Of every citizen, in maintain.
ing his preference for Mr.. Adams over Gen.
Jackson. No reason can be assigned for his
dismissal, but that hungry sycophant clam
ored for his place.
Col. Johnson, Indian agent a, Piqua, has
stood, one might fairly say, pre-eminenr for
puplic usefulness in the performance of the
delicate s-rvices assigned to him. His know
ledge of the Indian character, and his extensive
Acquaintance with the individuals of the differ
rnt ,ribes, with the high estimation in which
they held him, make il impossible that any
successor can supply his place, with tole rabie
advantage 10 the government. 1t would have
been much better for the nation to have given
an annual doucelr from the treasury to the
sinveling besgar for his place, than 10 have
II I,hrcor IN "a for him.