Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-09-22

FOxrTIuAr..

&-ss'' hut we should not have acknowledged or no
tcd IL, except for the purpose of saying that the
)pnions which he expresses onpublic affairs would
connnad &c csal attention il they went forth with
Me sanction Of his proper lie is, as lac avoMs
ainsc friend of the President, and strongly indeed
hut ne nc Impressed with the impropriety of the
uresr of The new Administration, when his feelings
3n,ei hint cypress his tisapprobaticn of it,
{ve rms EDITORS az mss NATIONAL rNTEi LIGENcrR
& The manly, yet dcccnt m9nncr in which YOU have
{ftclted the present Administration, is highly cred;tn
\ bic 10 you. Every free American should speak out
his sentiments respecting public men, boldly, openly
Il but not ablsyoy. He that would attempt to check
this fieedn be no friend ca the liberties of his
{. country What you have said on the subject of the
,liinerous removals from oiice--remoyas uncaed I
for BIZ public opinion, has my entire appreciation.
nn no enemy to Gen. jackson; far from it. but love
luy country too much toapprove and applaud even in
ins Administration, what nay Judgment clearytes me
isrot only wrong but pregnant with serious evils TO
orr Future peace and prosperity 1t may be sport to
us TO zoe the disturbance produced among those re.
bowed sfon public elnployments and perhaps our
y'npaths Tor Que set OF persons, the ured out may
be, TOR the moment suspended by participation in the
good iortnre OF those who have been turned in-but
the consequences takea wider range, and the future
effects May he deeply dcpored even nv those v,bo
now applaud. Tho subject should be calmly and dis
pasSoratciy considered tsimportancc in my opinion
hlghcr Than the ordinary topics of newspaper
recriinination.
Lotus examine the grounds on which the prorrie
fy.of these renlovalshsve been maintained bv tl. adj
yocStcs NJ tho Administration.
~ Beca"se the persons removed have used their
& .sio,s Of eLciioas. wen IKE -''ee,
Q. That others hsye boon removed on acco,ot or
8 iacapacity official misconduct
g. Their removal was required ~, The f,,;uc;ye ,r
9ro a;ion in office.
4. Because this course was pursued by Mr.. Jcfer-
& son'wiss lic olInc mte Office.
4 :. Fine first ground is Of so VI ere md indaf,,;ta
character that | am at loss how to encounter u
What aye we TO understand by this official intsrfs
renee Is the man vino holds The Office to have no
voice to take TO part III elections, or if allowed TO
take part. to what extent Is he allowed 10 vote, Ir
aHo"ed 10 speak, must he use particular tone of
VOICE or set OF phrase Unless these things be un-
oer5tood there VIII he no safety to the officer The
mode in which h is to express or dernenn bposaif
should be made known to n if he is subject to an er
3,ossJ"t" rule OF tyrannical discretion. it is worse
tiian TO be forbidden to take part even To rive
e silent vote. For myself am so great Il jeyo~ az
3 ifeedon that can discover reason why ever,
american should not be allowed TO express his opjn
fons IN his own way in relation to public men a nd aea
sures This freedom is the very essence of our Con-
Stitution Oar government Is of opinion and IFS
'eNeTcse ought to be held so sacred, that no man
Ought 70 be fespon blc for 1t in any possible mode
NO terror intimidation, restraint, should be pract
sea against the open and fearless expression OF opn
ION. Ii the contrary should prevail, what gate viii
~ not open 10 spies, intorners and bearers of falsn
les which the poor officer will be unable TO defend
himself against because from their very nature thp
wiitbe secret There will be no such thing Us has
been practiscd heretofore Of sending him comics of
the accusation, with the names of the accugers and
giving him an opportunity of defending himself To
place inc slightest restraint on any American, in the
exercise of this sacred privilege or rather dutv 10
lsctrst step toicsrds eaSaung him. II opens c~nh
at our feet wide enough to swallow up the whole of
orr boasted republcanism.
But IT the may be allowed 10 sl,ask frer',- r,,
the influence of his office ought not to be used for
the purpose of swerving restraining the free min
ions OF others! Theoretically this is correct; and
When the practice can he clearly established it Justly
deserves our roproblou Bat how does this promo
sltipn suppose that the Office is made to hear, + Il
to be understood that the consideration of the officer
giving greater weight to his opinion, or greater means
OF enforcing IT, by argument Circnstancos
Incidental to the artificial Standing attached to the
ou'cer Is the ground Of objection This is acan
vague and Indefinite it is only saving that the officer
must remain perfectly neutral i'm order 10 no spf, II
becomes necessary, then, if we 10 not expect him
merely 6aeause We have placed him in Office to sur
render the rights Of freeman, that we should poiut
out exactly how far he may 90. For instance. &c b,
has certain patronage, and turns ont every sthordi
nate merely because they differed from him in opinion
tls would be an abuse Of his official power: buf III 10
me very case complained of in the present Adnins
traton, which mas announced sef the c,isrnTon ef
the freedom OF coctions And again, if the piiacjole
be correct one, and acted upon II npIicati6r
BE uniform The officer who took part for n should
z as labe to It's censure, rs the who elcctiopeer
! Tor his opponent a. The mproprety if If bo such
20 I9t consist IN having exerted himself for or b.
y IN having used the weight and influence attached
ms situaon 70 interfere with the Jree,ton nj cleo
Ts. Has the present Adnfnistr ration acted On this
-prnciPie' II rot 1t is disiugenuous to Use If No y
p'ei%t rs an usncere excuse, which greatly betravs
want OF conscious rectitude.
T. The noxt reason of the numerous removals from
oee, OF persons, Tor the greater part appointed bv
N1disoil monroe or Jefferson, is that of ncapacity
or improper conduct so far the facts will warrant
1Iele removals the Administration deserves tho
thanks OF the community. That some have been reno
yed orgood cause, viii not be denied This has beon
r case under every Administration and if jrnpropor
srsons have been knowingly retained by tho lae ono
~ deserves DOR cepsme. Perhaps it NAV be gsLcd
Whehsr nnoug the numerous appointments afolv
r''" sac reforms may not be found necessary hero
nl''-- nc moral direct, however, Of tho removal
for cause may be very much lcssened v mot bci,,,
eEary dssng lshet from tho removals ,oitbopt ooyes
ING want OF proper discrimination on this head NAV
work cruel lujustceto honest and egtinable mon
whose only fault, misfortune has been in The ~
cfciss OF a mcted right 10 have differed viii tIoso
@ntrus ed with power. The letter Of the Constifn
~ nay ehaDie inc Administration TO take away the
Offices bat surely Mother its letter nor it's eni iIj
Justify the linking away their cLaractersl II Il 10 MOI
intended to cast general stigma on an who ba,c
been removed ~ reason and common Justice do not
holdout the idea tut no reDocals haze tgEe, ,j,a