Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-09-22
EOLITECkI.
prom TIE National Iateiiigence,, Set. 10.

ticcd it, except for the purpose of saving that the
Opinions winch he expresses on pubsc affairs would
command general attention il they vent forth with
tie sanction of his proper name. He he avows
himself friend of the President, and stronny indeed
must he DC impressed with the ilnproprety OF the
of the Administration, when his fcclinrs
npci him to express his dsapprobatior of it.
"a THE EDITORS OF nAr,oSAL InrrsLL1GENcrR.
Inc manly, yet decent manner which YOU have
treated the pTcscnt Administration, iighy credita-
he to YOU. Ever free American Sho I'D sr,& ont
his sentiments respecting public men, boldly, openly,
but not abusively. He that would attempt to check
tins freedom, can be no friend 10 the liberties of his
country. What you have said the subject of the
numerous removals from oticc--remdvals uncallcd
Tor by public opinion, has my entire oI,roba;ion |
am no enemy to Gen. Jackson far from it: but love
my country too much approve and applaud even in
ms Administration, what my Judgment dearly tells ne
IS not only wrong, but pregnant with SERIOUS evils TO
our future peace aud prosperity. 1t may DC sport 10
ns 10 sec the disturbance produced among those re-
moved from public employments; and perhaps our
sympathies for set of persons, the Turned out NAV
be- tor the moment suspended, by participation i'll the
good fortune OF those VINO have been turned in-but
the consequences take wider range, and the future
effects may be deeply deporcd even ls those who
now applaud. The subject should be c,lmy and dis
passonateiy considered; its Importance, ii my opinion
Is much higher than the ordinary topics IF newsDarcr
reCrmination.
Let us examine the grounds on wlicltI,e rroprie-
W OF these removals have been maintained by the adj
NOcntes Of the Administration.
I. Because the persons removed ii3yc used tIn;r
oices III such nannoc 10 int .tcrp with The free
dom Of elections.
.. That others have tecn removed a, account o'
lncapaclty, or official misconduct.
). Their removal REQUIRED IN The y,ilcj,yc or
rotation i'll office.
t. Because this course was pursued bv Mr. IL i;,r-
son when he came into otlicr.
l. The first ground is of vague and iu,iefnit., =
character that aim at loss how to encounter IT,
What to understand BY this official intert,
renee? Is the who holds the office TO have mo
voice. to take part in elections or if allowed ia
take part, to what extent Is he aiowe to yo:es IT
allowed to speak, must he particular tone of
voice. or set of phrase? Unless these thncrs be ,n
derstood. there will be safety to tho officer Tic
mode III which he is to express, or dcncan himself
Should be made known to him. if he is subject 20 ON err
post Juct0 rule of tyrannca discretion il j. worse
than 10 be forbidden to take any part even to give u
silent vote. For myself, l ain so great a lover Of
Lceuon, that can discover reason why cyar,,
American should not be allowed to express his oDr
IONS In his own way in relation 70 public mon and men
sures IhIs freedom is the very essence of our Con-
stit"tioh. Our government IS one of opinion and It's
exercise ought to be held so sacred, that no man
ought TO be responsible for it IL any possible mode
NO terror, intimidation, restraint should he Trocti
sea against the open and fearless expression Of op
ion Ii the contrary should prevail what a ,a 70 viii
hot open TO spies, lnorGlcrs, and bearers of false
iaies, which the poor officer will be unable to defend
himself against because from their very nature thcv
VIII be secret! There viii be no such thine AS h,s
been practsed heretofore of sendinD him conias Of
tie accusation, with the names of the aCcusers and
giving nm an opportunity of defending himself To
place the slightest restraint on any American IN Tho
c"eI.ISe VI tiS sacred privilege. rather dutv
fePrsl step tooards e'asarr him. 1t opens oupb
Ut our ieet wide enough to swallow up the whole ~
our boasted republicanism.
But If the MAJ, may eaowed to speak freely. vsf
INC influence of his office ought not to be used for
the purpose of swervin9 restraining the free on;n
ions OF others! Theoretically this is correct. and
when the practice can be clearly established il Justly
deserves our Reproduction. But how does this promo
ston suppose that the Office is made TO herr, l. Il
to be understood that the consideration of the Officer
giving greater weight to his opinion or greater means
OF enforcing 1T, by argument Circumstances
Incidental to the artificial standing attached to the
officer, is the ground OF objection This is AGAIN too
vague and indefinite; il is only saying that the officer
must remain perfectly neutre in order to be safe II
becomes necessary, then, II we do not expect him
merely bacause we have placed him in Office to sur
render the rights of freeman that we should ,oir
our exactly now far he may 60. For instance; if he
mas certain patronage, and turns every sbord-
nate merely because they differed from him in opinion
this would be an abuse of his official power: but if *
the very case complained of in the present Admins
tIdtlon, WHICH has announced itself the chepo of
the freedom of eections And again if TIE Drjtcjie
be correct one, and acted upon It's application sonJ
De uniform The officer who took part for b. should
be liable to its censure as the one who oIoc3;n
cd for his opponent A. The inprourietv II il he sol
does not consist in having eyertcd himself for or
n't IN having used the weight and influence attached
10 ms SITUATION to interfere with the eeon, If cleo
IONS. fias the present Admlnist ration acted ON tbs
principle: Ii not, 1t Is disingenuous to use il as y
PTetcxt as an msncere excuse, which greatly bctfav
u want OF conscious recitude.
2. The next of the numerous reroo,.,,, CO.
ONCE, OF persons for the greater part appointed by
Madison, Monroe or Jefferson is that of ncapacitI,
or improper conduct So far the facts will warrant
these removals, the Administration dnservos &c
thanks OF the community That some have been reno
we'd for good cause, will not he denied This has hecn
the case under every Administration and if improper
persons have been knowingly retained by the late one
1t deserves our censurc. Perhaps it NAV he os1ed
whether among the numerous appointments lately
made, some reforms may no be found necessary here
alter. Inc moral effect however, Of the removal
for cause may be very much Iessened by not being
clearly distinguished from The removals ,yjf1vt cgve
The want of proper discrimination on this head M.
w0ci. cruci injustice 10 honest and estmabo MOI,
whose only fault misfortune has been. in tho 49,
ercise of sacred right to have differed with tbogo
entrusted with power. The letter of the Constitr-
ton may enable the Adnnis ration to toka 49,, a.
Offices, but surely neither its letter nor ite ~ III