Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-09-22

Without regard to their having yVted for a. or B.
To say the truth did not expect to fi this low and
grovelling notion encouraged by Administration
which in under the promise of the most liberal,
generous, and enlarged views of policy. | must
therefore, consider if the property Of those party ed
ltorS, Who are Wiling to appeal to the most VULGAR
passions, IN order to support their Rotation
in Office Is naturally enough preached up by class
OF people called office eXpectants land editors now
stand foremost III that class whose radical opinions
OH this subject apt to undergo radical change
the moment their wishes gratrtied And l would
ask what proportion does this noisy, Interested class
of politicians bear to the great body OF the People,
who neither desire nor expect office, and who are
tent provided there is privileged order or class
claiming monopoly? The Intriguing politician,
who, by no other incentive but the emoliments OF
Office, will use the name Of the People. cxcaimiug,
like Robespierre-'' Pduore Peuplei Paurre Peu-
pie! at the moment he is cutting their throats in
order to acquire the exclusive right to Office and es
tabi5h real monopoly. Asto the People, it is their
interest that the Office be well filed by able and
pcc;able, and honest men. so that the duties be well
and faithfully discharged.
Ii Is the interest OF office hunters that the tenure
be uncertain, that may be the prize OF intrigue pa
ning, Bargaining, and other corrupt practices And
let me ask any rejecting man. whether is probable
that offices can be well filled, when they consider
cd the sport OF successive packs of ravenous expect
ants, VINO will first tear their prey pieces, and then
iastcn their tangs each othcr' The people want
good ofIcers---,hc rotation the Offices
One would suppose, from the language of those am
bilious and covetous persons that oices crea-
ted merely on account oftc salaries or emoluments,
aud not for the purpose OF rendering certain services
20 the public When the people reflect for moment
how small the number OF those who hold Offices or
desllc 70 hold them, it is surprising that the
nifty should suffer IFS peace and harmony to be dis
turbcd TO crafty that small number of interested per-
) sons. In the management of our private concerns,
Nc know how 10 place proper estimate on expert
! ence capacity, and long continued faithful services.
Is there any why this should hold good in
reia ION to public servants? II they must de-
pend tho fluctuations of party politics. is it not
evident that Offices will come to be filed only BY men
who MAKE IniiticS trade: and OF character and
ability viii be precluded from accepting empoymcnts
so destory, prccarous, and delusive Thus, instead
OF having the services Of the best which thew
/ have right, the People will be Obliged to put up
with the worst, such as the trade of politicians, may
ccndeScenG to give them. We should spurn the idea
OF layig blac.smiths, carpenters bakers, our
lawyers or doctors, appointed to us i'll tkis way
And then us to this rotation, how is it to work in
practice? BY whit rule we ascertain when an
incumbent has been long enough i'll office? There is
ltfculty III fixing upon the length Of time for holding
The Office. The office hunter who is ready to huzza
for to-day. and Tomorrow true only to his pur-
suit OF office, viii think day. hour too long for
his lmpaenCe-but if he should be successful in OBJ
tanning the post he will wish to grow fast to it: Or
Ike the lover in the Gentle Shepherd, will exclailn-
! Sun, saop down Western skies
Go quick TO bel, and early rise.
u. lash your steeds-post time away,
And haste about bridal day
/ And II we're wcaficd, honest light,
! Sleep, y you Ike II 'cceb that night.
No-thc wishes of the Office hunter are directly at
variance with the true interests of the people. The
removal OF officer who has been lone time in
office, TO make way for one equally meritorious am
willing to admit, is of complaint on The part
OF the person reoyed-but the community, the Poo
pie, have right to complain, if they have been depr
we'd OF the services OF long tried and faithful servant:
and IN general, | am well convinced, that if their
wishes consulted in these removals it will he
found that the principle of rotation or even the
diversity OF political thinking, apart from other con-
sideratons will rarely induce them to adopt such
measures.
Il The removals at the 1oi and pleasure, istIy
justified on the example of Mr. Jefferson. Iycnerate
Mr. Jefferson, but 60 not think impossible for him
| to have done wrong-Gmicus Socra&gs ouicys PLoIo
Sed nrDHa n'nicuS UeritaS. 1t is great misfortune
says iuhius, when great men violate principle in the
pursuit OF policy; when their acts may afford prece-
cents Tor those who disregard all principle. They
! are often used convenient things by those who
have no respect for them. IF Mr.. Jefferson was
guilty OF visiting upon free Americans the sins of
their open and honest opinions, so far from being
subject OF praise, is grievous reproach on his me-
lnory. One Of the warmest friends of the present
Administration, Mr.. Livingstone who was Turned off
MS oatture at New Orleans, by military force /
presume would not recommend every act Of Mr. Jef
ierson as worthy Of imitation The truth is that
when men are DONG wrong, they will be at no loss to
ind excuses; but these must be scrutinzed by reason
Are they consistent Are they rational and lust, If
they are frivolous equyocating, or at variGnce Nth
jGr"er Ir9feSStonS be at loss for their orr
gin. If Mr.. Jefferson did make n sweep like that
which has been lately made, and is still making for
opinions sake, have his words i'll his Inaupu-
raj Speech that it is violation of the spirit of the
Constitution. But why skip over the three last Ad-
ninistrations TO seek example in those unhappy
times, upon which the patriot must look back with
regre Is there not danger-rather is it not certain
that every future President will follow the EXAMPLE
unless he be patriot Of such stamp as we have
not had since the days Of Washington? What must
be the consequence The offices viii be the peroui-
site and reward of political partizans but this viii
not be the worst; parzans stimulated by the prize in
view, will excite to the most violent and bitter
tests thus disturbing our peace and harn,onv caus
that deporable state of society, the madness of the
many for the benefit of the few.
repeat that if Dir. Jefferson prosecuted the Fed
eral party for opinions sake, he did wrong The
same ideas with those have expressed, appear t.
have been entertained by the present CHEF Maeis-
tratc, when in his letter Mr.. Monroe he advised
hm TO appoint Fedcraliss TO office. The Federal
lists IN various parts Of the United States gave him