Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-06-26

fellow citizens with observations upon many of the
late changes. My object has been to point your
attention 10 the principle which appears to have
governed all OF them, and to classes. repeat, that
| wcnic not have touched this unpleasant topic,
Out thatit seems TO mo 20 furnish much ard just
occasion for serious alarm. hope that l have
treated II IN amanner becoming me without incur
rlng the displeasure OF any ono now present.
| believe the times require all tho calm heads and
sound hearts o! the country. And would not in.
| tenuonalIy say one word to excite the passions
| But there are a few cases of recent removal of
such tagrant improperly. as sincerely think that
Garnet forbear abiding 10 them. Under no ad-
ininisfa'ion prior To the present, from the com.
! mcnccment OF the government, have our DIPLOMA
tic representatives been called from abroad on ac-
count Of the political opinions which they enter
tained IN regard to previous Presidential election
Within my recollection, at this tine there has
been but one instance of recall of foreign minis
ter, under the present constitution on account of
any dissatisfaction with him. But President WASH
ing.on did not recall Col. Munroe (the case refer.
red toy iioin France, on his individual account but
because lac was not satisfied with the manner i'm
which he performed the duties oil the mission Pre-
sdent Jackson ordered home two Of our foreign
Ministers, one filing the most important Europe
an mission, and the other the most important O! our
missions on the continent. 10 both cases the sole
ground OF recall Isl that they were opposed 20 his e.
lection as President And as il there should be no
possible controversy GA this head, one Of them was
recalled before il was known at Washington that
he had reached Begota, the place Of his des,ina-
ton; and consequently before he could have pos
sioiy disobeyc6 any instruction or violated any
| duty
| The pecuniary effect of these changes is the
certain expenditure, in outfits of SIS, 600 and per-
hnPs more than Triple that sun, in contingent
eies. Now, II does seem 10 (and put it 70 your
candid judgments whe,her) this is too large a sum
Tor the public 10 pay. because two gentlemen had
made 4 mistake Of The name which they should
have Written on little bit of paper thrown into
the ballot boxes. Mistake! They had in Iac.
made no practical mistake They has, no, voted a,
all, one being out of the U. States, and &he other
out OF his own State, at the time OF election The
inooey IS therefore 10 be paid because they made
mistake in the abstract opinions which they held,
and might possibly, if they had been n, home,
| other on their ballots.
There would be some consolation for this waste
oil public trea sure. il il sre compensated by the
superiority OF qualification the part of the late
superintendent comparison with the previous. But
know all four Of .hc gentlemen perfectly well,
and ray firm conviction is, that in neither change
has the public gained any intellectual advantage.
10 one OF them indeed, the victor OF Tppecanoc and
OF Thames. OF whose gallantry many who are now
| here, were witnesses, is replaced by gentleman
who, il he possess one single attainment TO quail
~ nm ior the ofce, sole,nnly declare i. has es-
/ capped my Ciscernuent.
| There was another class OF persons whose expul-
sion from Office as marked with peculiar hardship
and injustice. Citizens of the District of Colum.
bia deprived of I'll actual participation in the
elections of the United States. They are debarred
from voting for President, or any member of
Congress-. Their sentiments, therefore in reIa-
ton TO any election Of those officers are perfectly
abstract. To punish them, as in numerous instan-
ces las been dore, by dsmissing them from their
employments, not for what they did, but Tor what
they thought, Is cruel aggravation Of their ano-
maious condition. know well those who haze
been discharged from the Department of State;
and take pleasure in 6eariRg testimony 10 their
merits. Some OF them would have done honor to
my bureau in any country.
! We may worship God according TO ;lie dictates
J oI our own coDsc:encss. no mans riuht IN that
respect can be called into Question. The consti-
.ution secures it. Public offices are happily, ac-
cordng to the theory of our constitution, alike ac
cessIb!e 10 all, Protesanis and Catholics, and to
every determination of each. Bnt IL our homage
nent which an erroneous worship Of Cod does not
bring upon VA. Those public officers, il seems
Who have failed 70 exhibit their devotion to that
mortal 70 be visited by all the punishment which
he can intiict, in vrtpe of laws, the execution of
which was committed TO his hands for the public
good, and not 10 subserve his private purposes
al The mos; important port OF the u. S. the Of
nee OF Collector was filled BY Mr.. Thompson,
whose removal was often urged upon the late ai-
Trlnstraiion by some OF lis friends upon the ground
o! his aiiedged attachment 10 Gen. Jackson. But
the late President was immovahe in his resolu-
ton TO deprive no man OF his ofiice,n consequence
OF his political opinions preferences. Mr..
TbompsCn's removal was SO often aud so strongly
pressed, for the reason just stated, that an inqui-
ry was made OF the Secretary ofthe Treasury in
10 the manner in Eiich the duties Of the office
were discharged. Tie Secretary stated that
there was no better Collector in the public sery-
vice; and tlia! his returns and accounts were re-
gulary and neatly rendered, and all the duties of
his Office ably and honestly performed, az far as he
knew or believed. This ,neritorious officer las
been removed TO provide place for Mr.. Swart-
won't, whose association with Colonel Burr,s no.
toTious throughout the United States. put il 10
the candor Of all who are here TO say if Snci a
change can Le justified in the port Of New York,
the revenue collected at which, amounts 10 about
$4,000, 900, more than one third ofthe whole re-
venue of the u. States,
VIII detan TIE present assembly no longer mp
on subjects OF the General Government. / hope
that shall ind, in the future coaTse Of the new
administration, less for public disappro5a;ion
1 most anXiOusly hope that, when its measures
conc to be developed, at the next and succe edins
sessions Of Congress, they shall be perceived 10
DC such as,are best adapted to promote the pros
peI;y OF The country. 1 will say, with entire sim
ceriiy, that shall be most happy 10 see il sus-
tanning the American System, including Internal
Improvements, and uphoidng The established DO.
hey Cfthe Government at home and abroad. And
shal! ever be ready 10 render praise where
praise is due, as it is now painful TO me, under
existing circumstances, TO participate in the dis
appreciation which recent occurrences have pro-
duced.
No occasion can he more appropriate tlan the
present, when surrounded by iny former consttu-
enis, 10 say iew words upon the unimportsnt sub
ject of myself. Pr:or 10 my return home, had
stated, IN answer TO oil enquiries whether L<!Iould
be again presented a candidate to represent my
old district in the House OF Representatives, that
should come TO no absolute decision until had
taken time for reflection, and to ascertain VIVA,
might be The feelings and wishes Of those who had
so often honored me with their sufITages.--Thc
preFent representative OF the district has conduct
ed himself towards with ihc greatest libera.:ty;
and take pleasure now in making my public ac-