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

attachmCilt 10 nm Eer0 an lnulSpSllS@OlO
qualification without which no one could
hold or be appointed 10 office. The con-
trast between the inaugural speech OF that
great man, and that ofhis present success
sor was remarkable in every respect. MIR.
Jefferson's breathed spirit Of peace. 1t
breathed spirit Of calm philosophy and
dignifed moderation. 1t treated the nation
as one family. ave are all republicans,
and federalists." 1t contained no denun-
CITATIONS; no mysterious or ambiguous Ian
guage; no reflections upon the conduct OF
his great rival and immediate predecessor.
What is the character of the inaugural
speech of the present Chief Magistrate l
shall not attempt to sketch. Mr.. Jefferson,
upon the solemn occasion of his installation
into office, laid down his rule for appoint
ment to Office. SIS he honess is he ca.
pable; is he faithful to the constitution
But capacity and Integrity and fidelity,
according to the modern rule, appear to
count for nothing, wheat the all absorb
ing virtue of fidelity to President Jackson
will not consume the time OF my
friends and fellow citizens with observa-
tons upon many of tie late changes. My
object has been to pont YOUR attention to
the principle whlchapEears to have govern
ed all of them, and to classes. lrePeat,
that | would not have touched on this un-
pleasant topic, but that it seems to me to
furnish much and Just occasion for serl-
Gus alarm. hope that have treated II
in manner becoming me, without incur
ring the displeasure of any one now pres
ent. | believe the time requires all the
calm heads and sound hearts Of the coun
try. And |. would not intentionally say
one word to excite the passions.
But there.are a few cases Of recent re-
moval, of such fragrant improperly, as
sincerely think, that'F cannot forbear allu
ding to them. Under no administration
prior to the present, from the commence
ment of the government, have our dlPlO
matte representatives been recalled from
abroad, on account ofthe political opinions
which they entertained in regard TO pre-
vious Presidential election. Within my
recollection, az this time, there has beer
but one instance of recall of forelg!
minister, under the present constitution OF
account Of any disahection with him.
But President Washington did not recall
Col. Monroe { the case referred to- from
France on his individual account, but be
cause he was not satisfied with the manner
in which he performed the duties othis mis-
sion. President Jackson has ordered home
two of our foreign Ministers, one filling th'
most important European mission, and thu
other the most important Of our mission
on this continent. In both cases the soil
ground of recall is, that they were opposed
10 his election as President. And as i
there should be no possible controversy oil
this head, one of the was recalled betor
it was known at Washington that he hac
reached Bogota, the place Of his destina
rion;. and consequently before he coul'
have possibly disobeyed any instruction
or violated any duty.
The pecuniary effect Of these change
is the certain expenditure, in outfits of SIS
coo, and perhaps more than triple tina
sum in contingencies. Now 1t does seen
to me that and put it to your candid judy
ments whether) this s.too large u sum 70
the public to pay because two gentleman
had made mistake Of the name which
the should have written on a little bit 0
paper thrown into the ballot boxes. Mis-
take? They had in fact made no practca
mistake. They had not voted at all, on
being out of the United States, and tn,
other out of his own State at the time 0
the election. The money is therefore Il
be paid because they made a mistake il
the abstract opinions which they held: ant
might possibly, if they had been at home
have enormously inscribed one name IN
stead of another on their ballots.
There would be some consolation 70
this waste of public treasure, if it wer
compensated by the superiority Of quahti
cation on the part ofthe late appointment
in comparison with the previous. But
know all four of the gentlemen perfect.
well; and my firm conviction Is, that II
neither change has the public gained an.
intellectual advantage. In one Of then
indeed, the victor of TiPpecanoe and 0
Thames, of whose gallantry, many WIZ
are now here, were witnesses, is replaced
by gentleman who. if he possess one sin
gle attainment to qualify him for the office
| solemnly declare 1t has escaped my dis
cernmCnt.
There was another class Of persons
whose expulsion from Office was marked
by peculiar hardship and injustice. Cit
izens of the District of Columbia wer,
deprived of all actual participation in TIT