Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-10-07
CABINET SECRETS.


RJoriniHg or pr0scription-General An.
drew Jackson was inaugurated Prcsiden, n
fhe United States on the 4th OF March. $50.
at that period, Gen. w. III. Overton va
representative elect ofthe State of I.ouisiags
in the National Legislature. Shortly Ate.
the introduction OF General Jackson as cb;sr
magistrate, Gen Oyerton wrote a letter to
Martin Van Buren,, Secretary of State: tbs
reply TO which will be found at the close 81
these remarks, drawn from us in conseuuene.
ofthe peculiar character Of that reply.
Gen Oyerton, is a military man, bred in
camps, ard was, we believe, "A pupil Of Cen
jackson, and no doubt issued tbs Orders -
The subsefvlent Secretary, in . style charsS
~teristic Of the soldier; and AIr. Van Buren,. II
would seem, caught The military method Of
doing business; for with great pfomplness he
executed the viii of Gen. 0ver;on. VINO, Tho,
not convcrsant with political affairs, nor az.
customed 10 the intrigues and management,
Of elections, well knews how orders should
nc given, aud how and in what manner lhty
should be obeyed: IL was therefore necesss.
ry that the Secretary should act and write
correspondent to the disposition and views
Of him he was destined to obey.
Io what a situation are the American No,
pie reduced! A known partisan Of this al.
mlnistration oil our government has only ia
pass the secret word, and any citizen can bs
prescribed, ne matter how worthy as such.
how capable or honest in the performance Of
his public duties. For what crimes were the
~iEcurnoents, to which Mr.. Van Buren's letter
ailudes, dismissed, condemned and proscirb-
ed, without a hearing? No public charges
made against them; but at the werd of a 10,
lltical opponent, or a private enemy, or both.
they are secretly required to be renewed
from stations OF which they were perhaps
particularly useful 10 the nation, ard iH eve
~ respect had filed them with credit 10
themselves.
We hope Gen. Oyerten. at the time hs
caused these ~ies4ovsis, was not actuated BIZ
any motives inconsistent With the principles
which are generally understood 10 character.
i'e a soidief. Some years age we had a per-
sonai acquaintance with Gen. 0Verton, ard
iron our knowledge Of him at that ,inae, We
presume, II ~ causing the removals he acted
alone uhoer the party exeitemsnts of the
'itHeS, be has, ere this, made repatriation fos
any evils ne might have brought on lhe cil.
2SnS, consequent upon their removals.
we give fir. tan Buren's letter to Gen.
overton, handed 30 us as 4 true copy iIem
aH oflataat iineitheF the Secretary Of State
nor The General deny what il purports to be,
3" cGsy jro.s al c%r.gFaq!. why ihe public Wiz
Of eo'Irse be satisfied that it Is not q FOR
gerry" 1.-THE authenticity Of The letter be
des'sd, why toe responsibility ef publishing
1T must fall on he L.astor Of ."The Naichez."
WAsHIsaToy. April 29, 1880.
zig dca" Sir: I have thc honor oil acknowl.
edglag the receipt al yours Of the Qlst. ulti-
mo, oil informing You thai the removals
and appointments you recommended was
made as soon asy our letter was received.
with respect, your friend and ob't ser'vt,
NJ VAN BUREN,.