Virginia statesman. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1828-1829, 1829-06-17

concurrence Of distFacta0 people, put al
end 10 useless forms.
| an aware that the late acts of admin
istraion on which it has been my disagree
able luty 70 animadvert q hope without
giving pain to any of my fellow citizens,
as most sincerely wish to give none)
we're sustained upon some vague notion
or purpose of reform. And it was re-
Aarkabie that, among the loudest trump
eters If reform, were some who had lately
received amendments to lucrative offices.
Now must be admitted that, as to them,
a mos. substantial and valuable reform, had
takenplace: but trust that something more
extensively beneficial to tue people at large
was attended by that sweet sounding word.
| know that, at the commencement, and
throughout nearly the whole progress, of
the late administration, reform in the
constitution was talked OF, so as to exclude
from public office members Of Congress,
during the periods for which they were E.
IecteC and a limited term beyond them.
This proposition appeared to be received
with much favor, was discussed in the II.
of Representatives session after session,
at great length, g. with unusual eloquence
and ability. A majority ofthe body SEEM
ed disposed to accede to 1t, and thought
for some time, that there was high Proba-
baity If its passage. at least through that
house. lis great champion Gen. Smyth
of Virginia pressed it with resolute perse-
verance. But, unfortunately, at the last
session, after the decision of the Presiden-
tial question. it was manifest that the kind
ness with which it had been originally re-
coived had greatly abated. Its determined
patron found it extremely difficult to engage
the House to consider it. When, at length,
he prevailed, by his frequent aud earnest
appeals, to get it taken up, new views aP-
peared to have suddenly taken the reform
lists. II twas no longer an amendment, IN
their eyes, so indispensable to the purity
of our constitution, and the majority which
had appeared to be so resolved to carry 1t,
now, BIZ direct or indirect vote, gave 1t
the 90 by. That majority, | believe, was
composed in part of members who, after
the fourth Of March last, gave the best
recantation of their opinions, by
accepting from the new President lucrative
in direct opposition to the
principle of their own amendment And
now Gen. Smyth. would find 1t even more
impracicable to make, amongst them,
to his conservative alteration IN
the constitution than he did to gain any TO
his Exposition of the Apocalypse.
Reform, such as alone could interest a
whole people, can only take place in the
or laws or policy of the gov
eminent. Now and then, under every adj
ministration, and at all times iaithless or
officer may be discovered,
who ought to be displaced. And that IN
all the departments of Government. But
presume that the correction of such occa-
sional abuses could hardly be expected to-
fulfil the promise ofreiorm which had been
so solemnly made. would then ask what
was the reform intended! What partofthe
Constitution to be altered! What law re-
DeaIed; what branch of the settled policy Of
the country was to be changed The PEG
pie have a right to know what great bless
inc was intended, by their rulers for them,
aud to demand some tangible practicable
good, in lieu of general, vague, and un--
defined assurance of reform.
| know that the recent removals from
office arc attempted to be justified by a
precedent drawn from Mr.. Jeiferson's adj
But there was not the most
distant analogy between the two cases.
Several years prior to his election, thePub-
lie officers of the country had been almost
exclusively bestowed upon the party to
which, that, at the head ofwhich'he stood,
was opposed. When he commenced his
he found complete mo-
nopoly of them in the hands Of the adverse
party. He dismissed a few incumbents
for the purpose of introducing, IN their
places, others of his own party, and thus
doing equal Justice to both sects. But the
number Of removals was far short OF those
which are now in progress. When PresI'
dent Jackson entered on his administration
he found a far different state Of things.
There had been no previous monopoly
Public Offices ware alike filled by his
friends and opponents in the late election
If the fact could be ascerlained, believe
it would be found that there was larger
number oroficers, under The government,
attached than opposed to his late election
Further. In tbe case ofNr. Jeffsrson's
election it was the consequence OF the peo-
pie having determined on radical change
of system. There was general belief
among the majority, who brought about
that event, that their opponents had vlolat-