Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-06-12

unison with the spirit OF free government. I
entreat my friends and fellow citizens, here and
| elsewhere, 10 be persuaded, that now perform
a most painful duty; and that il is far from
my wish to say one word that can ipelict any
wound upon the feelings Of any Of them.
think, indeed, that i, is tie cuty Of all of them
to exercise their judgments, freely and indie pen
dently on what is passing; and tina, none ough,
to feel themselves restrained, by false pride, or
bv any part which they took in the late election,
from condemning what their hearts cannot ap-
prove.
knowing the impu,aiions to which expose
myself would remain silent, If I did not SOL
emnly believe that there was serious cause of
alarm in the principle Of removal which had
been recently acted on. Hitherto, the uniform
practice Of the government has been. where
charges are preferred against public officers,
foreign or domestic, to transmit them copy
Of the charges, for the purpose OF refuiatlon or
explanation. This has been considered an equi-
table substitute TO The more tedious and formal
trials before judicial tribunals But now per.
sons are dismissed, not Only without trial of "a
ny sort, but without charge. And as if he in
ten,ion We're TO defy public opinion, and 70
give to the acts of power higher degree "f e
o,mily, in some instances the persons dismis
the stronges, testimonials to their ability and
integrity, furnished by The very instruments
employed to execute the purposes OF oppres-
sion. If the new administration had found
these discharged officers wanting in . Jealous
co-o2pra ion 10 execute the laws, in Conse-
quence Of their preference at the preceding rs
lection, there would have been ground for their
removal. Blu, this has not been prelcnded
and 70 show that i: formed no consider alton,
they have been dismissed, among its first acts
without affording them an opportunity Of man.
ifesting that heir sense of public duty was UNI
IF c,ed by ;he choice which they had at the
preceding election.
will not dwell on the injustice ard individual
distress which are the necessary conseque noes
Of these acts of authority Men who accepted
public employment S, entered on them with The
i'm li-G understanding that they would be re-
,ained as long as they continued 10 discharge
the If duties to the public, honestly, ably aud as
siduously. All their private arrangements
are made accordingly. To be dismissed, wi h
ou' faui,, anil without irial, to be expelled
with their families, without the mars OF sup
pore, and, in soiae instances, disqualified hy age
or by offic, hi from the pursuit Of any other
business; aud all this to be done, upon The will
OF one man, in free government, was surely
inioierabie oppression.
Our institutions proclaim, reason crjoins,
ard conscience requires, that every freeman
shall exercise The elective fra"Cht,e freely and
inde pcudcntly: and ,hat among, ne candidates
ioc his suffrage, hr shall fearlessly bes'ow II
upoh him who vii! best ad,a 'ht interest oil
his country. The presumption is thai this IS
always done, unless the contrary appears But,
if the consequence Of such performance OF
patriotic duty is 10 BE pcnishment; 1t IN honest
and sincere preference Of TO J., 10 be reaied
as crime then our deares, privileged, q mock
cry aud our ms titutions are srarts.
During the reign If BonaPa'te, upon one OF
those occasions in which he affected 10 take
the sense of he French people as to his bring
made Consul for life, or Emperor, an order
was sent 10 the French armies 10 collect their
.uffrages They were told, in a public proca-
nation, that hey were su horized snd request
| ed TO vote free !y, according TO the dictates OF
their bes' Judgments, and their honest convic-
| tons. But mandate was privately circulated
among Them, importing, that ii any soldier
voied aaain.t Bonaparle, he should be instantly
| shot.
| Is there anv other difference, except in the
mode OF punishment, between thai case and th-
| arbitrary removal Of men from heir public STA.
| ,iors for.no other reason han that OF an honest
and cou,r icnlious preference OF one Prcs'den-
ual candidate 10 another? And can /, be doubt
ed, that the spirit which promp's 'hese remov-
as is restrained from being extended 10 all, in
private life, who manifested a siwllar prefer
ence, only by 'riers which ii dare not yet
break down? Bot should public opinion sane
ion them how long viii these barriers 'emaih!
| One OF the worst consequences OF The intro
duc,ion Of this tenure of pubic office will be,
should i, be permanently adopted, to substitute
for system Of responsibility, founded up"n the
ability and integrity With which pu lie officers
discharge their Gulips 10 the community svs'
tenn Of unive rsal rapacily. lncumbents, feeling
the instability of tel, situations. aud knowing
their lisbiliiy 10 periodical removals, At short
terms, wi,hou, any regard 20 The manner ~
which they have ,x-cutrd their trusts, will be
disposed 10 make the mos, OF their uncertain
pffir e., whist they hold them. And hence we
NAV expec, innumrrabe cases OF fraud, pecu'
aiion, and CORRUPTION.
P,es,Gep, J.ckson commenced his official ca
reer ON the 4,h Of MsIch last, with every mo-
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