The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-08-19


dress. In preparing this for our read
ers We have endeavored to give the
substance, bat not the spirit of the o.
riginal: m
In reviewing past events il was far
from being the desire of the Committee
to excite feelings of personal strife and
party animosity-their only object in
such review is to controul our judg-
ments in reference to the future exer-
else Of our duties Jas citizens Of q re-
public.
The present chief magistrate was i'm
augurated under auspices favorable to
the restoration ofgeneral harmony.s He
had authorised an expectation that he
would place himself, not al the head of
party, but Of the nation. He had
ayowed sentiments friendly to the A
mcrican System. As Senator ofthe
| United States he had given his vote in
supper, of some of the leading interests
of the country. lie had proclaimed
himself foe to corruption, and a friend
10 the purity OF OngfesS.
Had he administered the govern
ment on these principles, he would
have dIsarmed opposition--but he has
violated them again and again. Now,
for the proofs of this assertion.
Has he exerted himself to suppress
party strife No--he has exercised the
Executive patronage TO organise a per-
SOam party-the worst kind which can
/ be formed and nurtured in govern
ment like this. He has done this with
an utter disregard of the public welfare.
lis friends and followers have been
let alone, however deficient in honesty
or ability-his political opponents only
have been removed. Every attempt
in Congress to obtain from the Presi-
dent the reason for his removals has
been pertinaciously resisted. So per-
scvering has the President been in his
| efforts to reward his friends, that after
u rejection of those nominated by him
TO the Senate, he availed himselfof the
absence oftwo of the members adverse
to the nomination, to nominate the
same individuals again. And the Sen
ate so far forgot its self respect as to
tolerate this proceeding.
Under the Administration Of general
Washington of eight years, there were
eleven removals.
! Under that of Mr.. John Adams of
four years, there were eleven also.
Under that of Mr.. Jefferson of eight
years, thirty-six.
Under Mr.. Madison's ofeight years,5
Under Mr.. Monroe's OF the same Pc
siod, nine.
Under Mr.. J. G. Adams of four
years, two.
! Under general Jackson's during the
FIRST year ofhis administration, tpO
thousand.
Daring the forty-five years existence
of the present constitution, prior to the
present administration, removals, land
/ they were almost inyariable for cause,
were AT the rate of not quite one in six
months. Under the administration of
general jackson, they have been at the
rate of nearly FIVE per day.
Mr.. Jefferson has declared under
! his own hand that he never removed
any officer, in consequence of his ex-
ercisc Of the elective franchise.
n, hstanding his ayowed deter
minat,on to preserve the purity of Con-
gress, the President has appointed
more members to office in one year,
than either of his predecessors did in
eight. lie has selected from the Sem
ate alone, nearly one eighth of their
whole number. The constitution it is
true allows the power to the President
but this was q defect inthe constltu-
ton which General Jackson proposed
\ to remedy.
How far hostility to corruption is
sincerely felt by the President, the ap-
pointment Of more than fifty printers
to office, will determine. No other
class or, calling has received so great
share OF Executive favor.
Those intimately acquainted with
the governments at which they were
accredited, have been recalled, at great
and unnecessary expense, that their
offices may be made subservient to the
system of rewards and punishments.
five turn our eyes upon our domes-
tic affairs,we shall sec the great policy
of internuiimproyements, steadily pur-
sued for more than twenty years, a.
bandoned and overturned--the tariff
ihreatened--the Union menaced by
partizaDs of this administra,ion--and
the President himself, Notwithstanding
his former assertions to the contrary,
permitting himself TO he announced IA
a candidate for reelection.
| The address then refers TO the reso-
infinns nassed af the nuhlic ineefinu q In