Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-06-25

public paper, parallel with which were o,b
or columns. in the same paper, of the CROSSES,
abuse 81 the Government, and its fupelion,
ries.
Knowing the impntstions to which rexnese
myself, would remain silent, IL I did not sol
EMMY believe that there was serious csuse Of
alarm in the principle Of removal which had
been recently acted on. Hitherto, the uniform
practice OF the government has been, where
charges sre preferred agans, public officers.
foreign or domestic, to transmit 10 them a COPY
ottbe charges, for the purpose of resu,a,ion or
explanation This has been considered an 2.
qhtsbie substitutes 20 the more tedious and for
NAL trials before judicial tribunals. But now
persons are dismissed, not only without trial
q any sort, but without charge. And as il the
ne intention were to defy public opinion. and
To give TO the acts OF power a higher degree
o. enormity, IN some Instances the persons dis.
missed have carried with them, In their rock.
e's, the strongest testimonials to their ability
and integrity, furnished by the verv ,nstr,i
meats employed 10 execute The pui poseE of
oppression. II the new sdministrai,on has
found these discharged officers wanting in
Jealous corporation TO execute the laws in
consequence of their preference at the nrece-
ding election, there would have been ground
for their removal. But this has not been pre.
iended;and to show that formed no considers.
ton, they have been dismissed. AMONG its 6rs,
acts, without afiording than any opportunity
OF manitesting that their sense of public duty
wss unaffected by the choice which they had
at the preceding election.
Our institutions proclaim, reason enjoins. and
conscience requires, tha; every freeman shall
exercise the elective franchise freely and
Independently; and that among The candidates
for his suffrage, he shall fearlessly bestow il
upon bin who will best advance the interest OF
his country. The presumption is tina: this IL
always done, unless the contrary appears But,
II the consequence of such performance OF
pstrofic duty is 10 be punishment, il an honest
and sincere preference OF A. to j. is to be treat.
ed as crime, then our dearest privil, &c is a
mockery and our institutions are snares
During the REIN Of Bonsparte. upon one of
those occasions in which he affected to take
the sense OF the French people as TO his being
made Consul for life, or Emperor, an order
was sent TO the French armies to collect their
suifrages They were told, in public proc
clamston, that they were authorized aud re-
quested to vote freely according to the d,ctates
of their best Judgments. and their honest con-
viction. But a mandate was privately circulated
among them, importing thai if any soldier vol
ed against Bonaparte. he should be instantly
shot.
Istbere any other difference, except in the
mode OF punishment, between that case, and
the arbitrary removal ef men from their public
stations Tor GO other reason than that Of an hu-
nest and conscientious preference ofone Presi
deatial candidate to snotheri And can il be
doubted. that the spirit which prompts these
removals, IS restrained from beng extended
to all. in private life, who manifested simi-
lar preference, only by barriers which il dare
not yet break down. But should public opin.
ion sanction them, how long will these barriers
remainf
Oae OF the worst consequences of the intro.
duetion OF this tenure of ubiis office will be,
should It ac permanently adopted, 10 substi.
tute for aystem of responsibility, founded up.
Oh tho ability and integrity with which public
officers discharge their duties TO the commu.
nifty, system of universal rspacity. incum.
bents. feeling the instability of their situations.
and knowing their liability to periodical RENE
vaIs, at short terms, without any regard TO the
manner in which they have executed their
trusts, will be disposed TO make the most of
their uncertain offices, whilst they hold them.
And hencew may expect innumerable cases
OF fraud, Pscuiation. and corruption.
TWAS objected to Mr.. Adams that, By ap.
pointing several members ofCcngress to public
places, he endangered the purity Of the body.
and established president fraught with the
most misch'eVoas consequences. And Pres.
dent Jackson (no, he begged his pardon. il
was candidate Jackaon) was so much alarmed,
by these appointments, for the integrity and
permanency OF our Institutions, that in SO.
Tenn communication which be deliberately
made to the Legs ature Of Tennessee, he de-
clsred his firm conviction to be, that no mem.
Der OF Congress ought TO be appointed to sny
othcs except seat upon the bench. And he
added that he himself would conform to that
rule.
During the four years of Mr.. Adams's ad.
ministration, the whole number OF appoint.
ments made by him, from Congress, did not
exceed tour or five. In the first tour weeks
OF tsai OF bis successor, more than double that
number have been appointed by him. In the
first two months of President Isckson's adj
ministrstion, he has appointed more members
OF Congress to public sffice, than believe
we're appointed by any one oil his predecessors
during the whole period OF four OF eight years.
And 1t appeass that no Office is too high or 100
low TO be bestowed by him on this favored
class, from that OF bead department down to
an incensiderabie collectorship, or even sub.
ordinate Office under collector If have not
been misInformed. representative from the
greatest commercial metropolis in the United
States, has recently been appointed to some
inferior station BY the collector Of he port of
New York.
There WAS another class of citizens upon
whom public offices had been showered in the
grestes. prefusion. do not know the num-
L.. - Il