Litchfield enquirer., 1829-12-17
No. 27.-WHoLE No. 183.

1 "ot "c "uOP'eu' IS worthy Of consider alton whether provision disqnaRfyingsfor office the Representative in Congress on whoO, such an election may have devOlved would 1 not be proper.
 ] While members of Congress can be cun additionally appointed to offices of trust and profit, It will be the practice, even under.the most conscientious adherence to duty, to select them for such stations as they are be- IieVcd to be better qualified to fill than other citizens; but the purity of our government would doubtless be promoted by their exclu- s'"0 from all appointments in the gift of the President in whose election they may have been officially concerned. The nature of the judicial office, and the necessity of securing in the cabinet, and iu diplomatic stations of line highest rank, the best talents and political experience, should, perhaps, except these from the exclusion.
 There are perhaps few men who can. for any great length of time, enjoy office and power, without heinz more or less under inc influence Of feelings unfavorahc to faithful discharge of their public duties. Their in- tegrity may be proof against improper con- alterations immediately addressed to them- selves, but they are apt to acquire habit of looking with indifference upon the public in- terests, and of tolerating conduct from which an unpractised man would revolt. Office is considered as species of property, and Gov ernment rather as q means of promoting in- divldual interests than as an instrument crea- ted solely for the service of the people. Cor ruption in some, and in others perversiOn of correct feelings and principles, divert govern nent from it's legitimate ends, and make it an engine for the support of the few at the ex- pense of the many. The duties of all public officers are, or at least admit of being made so plain and simple, that men of intelligence rpndilU uI1a iifv fl,on1 al Hnr forrnance: and cannot but believe that more is lost by the long continuance of men in of- lice than is generally to be gained by their ex- perience. submit, therefore, to your con- slderation. whether the efficiency of the gov ernment would not be promoted, and official industry and integrity better secured, by a general extension of the law which limits ap- pointments to four years.
 In country where offices are created sole- " for the benefit of the people, no ono man has any more intrinsic right to official station than another. Offices were not established to give support to particular men at the pub- lie expense. No individual wrong is there- fore done by removal, since neither appoint ment to nor continuance in office, is matter oR right. The incumbent became an officer with a view to public benefits and when these re- qure his removal, they are not to be sacrifi- ced to private interests. It is the People, and they alone, who have right to complain,
 He who is removed has the same means of obtaining living that are enjoyed by the millions who never held office. The proposed
 limitation would destroy the idea of property now generally connected with official sta tion-and although individual distress may be sometimes produced, it would, by promoting that rotation which constitutes leading prin- ciple in the republican creed, give heathful action to the system.
 No very considerable change has occurred, during the recess of Congress, in the condi- ton of either our Agriculture, Commerce, or Manufactures. The operation of the Tariff has not proved SD injurious to the two for- mer, nor as beneficial to the latter as was an- ticipated. ImportatiOns of foreign goods have not been sensbiy diminished; while domes- l tic competition, under an illuslye excitement, has increased the production much beyond the demand for home consumption. The consequences have been low prices, tempora- ry embarrassment. and partial loss. That such of our manufacturing establishments as are based upon capital, and are prudently
 managed, will survive the shock, and be uI-
 timately profitable, there is no good reason to
 doubt.
 To regulate it's conduct, so as to promote
 equally the prosperity of these three cardinal
 interests, Is one of :he most difficult tasks of
 Government; and 1t may be regretted that the complicated restrictions which now cm-
 barrass the intercourse of nations. could not
 by commoO consent be abolished, and com merce allowed to flow in those channels to
 which individual nterprise-always its surest guide-might direct it. But we must ever expect selfish legislation in other nations, and are therefore compelled tO adapt our own to their regulations. in the manner best calcula- ted to avoid serious injury, and to harmOnize the conflicting interests of our agriculture, our commerce, and our manufactures. Under these impressions. Invite your attention to the existing Tariff, believing that some of it's pro- visions require modification.
 The general rule to be applied in gradua- ting the duties upon articles of foreign growth or manufacture, is that which will place our own in fair competition with those Oi other countries and the inducements to advance even step beyond this point. are controlling in regard Io those articles which are of pri- mary necessity in time of war. When we reflect upon inc difficulty and delicaey Of this i operation. h is important that 1t should never bs attempted but with the utmost caution. Frequent Legislation in regard to any branch of industry, affecting iis value. and by which its capital may he transferred 10 new chan oels, must always be productive of hazardous ] speculation and loss.