Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-06-13
Mr.. CLAY'S SPEECH,
81 The Public Dinner al Fo,ciers Garden, Hay 10.
FcoScLUDED

DDinIng Sctcfal members OF S"URfeSo w Poo
lie places he eudangere the purity of the bo-
ay, and established precedent fraugh' with
,hs most mischie Gus consequences. And Pre-
sident Jackson mo, he begged his pardon, II,
was candidate Jackson) was so much alarmed
BY these appointments, for the integrity and
permanspcy OF our institutions, that in a SOLEMN
communication which he deliberately made 10
thp Legislature Of Tenns ssee, he declared his
q m conviction 10 be, taat no member oil Con-
grrss ought TO be appointed TO any office tx
cept seat upon the bench. And he aided
that he himself would conform to that rule
During the four years OF MIR. Adams's adml'
Distration, the who'll number OF appointments
made by him, from Congress, did not exceed
four or five In the first four weeks II that o!
his successor, more Than double that number
have been appointed by him. IN The hrsl Nv"
months OF President JaCkson's decentralization,
he has appointed more members oil Congress TO
public cfficp, than believe were appointed by
any one Of his predecessors during the whole
period Of four or eight years. And ], appears
that no Office is too high or TOO low to be be-
slowed by him oil ,bis favoured class, from that
of head Of department down TO an incon-
siderable collectorship Or even a subordinate
office under a collector IT | have NJ, been
misinformcd, representative from the great
est commercial metropolis in the L. S,a'rs,
has recently been appointed TO some Inferior
station by the collector of the port OF New
York.
Without meaning to assert, as general pin
ciple, that in no case would il be proper that
resort should be had to the Halls Of Congress
drag from Them tried TALENTS and experience
ed cubic servants, 10 aid in the Exc u'iye or
Judi isl depsr men,s, all mus, agrsee hat such
q re OFT should not be TOO often made; and that
the~r should BE- some limit, both 80 . 'he Puns~
ber aud the nature OF the appointments. And
do since cely think that this limit has, in DO b
particulars, been Iransceudsa beyond all ,aie
bounds, and so as 10 excite serious a?prehen-
sons.
I, is no, however my opinion, bat Ina, of
Pr, sident Jackson witch the public has now 10
Consider. Having declared TO the American
perpl-, through the Tennessee Legislature, the
Danger Of the practice; having deliberately
committed himself To- act in cOnsonance with
that dec Jared opinion, how can h. now be JUS
,ihed in violating this solemn pledge, and in
enrailing upon :his country prrilous prece>
dent fraugbi with the corrupting tendency
which hr described!
II is IN vain 20 say that the Constitution, as
Il now stands, docs not forbid ,hesr appoinl-
ments. IL daes no, enjnin them. II there be-
an inherent def CT in he theoretical character
bound 10 hav. redeemed his plrdge and en-
ployed the whole influence and weight of his
name, % remedy the defect. in It's practical
op-ratioa. The Constitution admitted Of The
service Of one man, in the Presidential Office,
during his life, if he could secure successive
elections. That great retormer as President
Jackson describes him, whom he processes 10
initiate, did not wait for an amendment Of the
Constitution to correct that defect; but, after
the example OF the Father Of his Country, by
declining 10 serve longer than NV" terms, es-
:ablished a practical principle, which is no,
likely To be 'iolsied.
There wa, another class Of citizens upon
whom puhlic Offices had been showered in the
eatest p,ofGsion. do not know The number OF
Editors of newspapers that have been recently
appointed, but have noticed, in the public
prints, some fifteen or Twenty. And they were
generally Of those whose papers had manifested
the grestsst aelisi,y in the late canvass, the
most vulgar abuse of opponents, and The mos.
fuisome praise OF their fsvouriie candidate.
EDITORS are as much entitled to be appointed
as>auy other class NJ the community: but, il
IN, numb-r and the quality Of those promoted
b. such as 10 render palpabe the motive Of
their appointment; if they are preferred, no,
on account OF ,heir fair preiensions, and their
ability aud Capacity 10 serve The public, but be.
Cause Of .heir devotion to particular indis
ual, ask IL the necessary consequence must
no, be 10 ren,ier the press ,enal, and in time
To destroy this hitherto justly cherished Pal
ladium Of Out Liberty.
IL the principle of all these appointments
this monopoly Il public uusts by Members Of
Congress and partisan Editois-be exception
aole, (aOd would no, have alluded TO them
ba, from my deliberate conviction that they are
essentially siciousl their eff cts are truly alarm
ing. I will not impu:e 10 Pr-siden, Jackson
any design 10 snbrer our liberties. hope aud
believe MAJ he does not now enter ain any sue b
. desg n Bar mus say, thar If an anbi'iou,
Pr i,den' sopsh, he over hriw of our govern.
menS. and ultima ely es',blish differrn
form, &c would, ,he commencement Of his
AdW,M,trati N. proclaim, b, mis- rffic al acts
In I the gre.'est pabiic ,i'ue W., dent de
vot,Oa to him. That no matter what had beef