Litchfield enquirer., 1830-01-14

Agraphe from the Message OE UovernOr Wet
calftO tho Legislature Of Kentucky Mtne o.
penlng OF the present session. ,,,,,
"Upon the termination OF the Pres'uenta'
contest, which has BEEN through TUG wnoL"
Of h. characterized by uncommon warmth
and NcrImOny, Il was the Interest ut Nll, and
Il believed to have been tho general InclinN'
tlOn, IL cOnslgn ~ oblivion, unpleasant Incl.
dpnts which attended Il. The win OC n ma
lorItv oC tho nation had been constltutlUnally
Expressed, and Il was the duty of those who
differed with that majority, to submit 10 It's
decision; and IN Difference to Il, as well az IN
Justice to the distinguished individual who had
been elected, to give fair and impartial cOn-
SidpratiOn 10 the acts Or his administration.
Alter having COn(ormed to that duty, and de.
llherately examined those acts, with all the
CundOr and Freedom from bias, Of which I aln
capable, feel constrained 10 express my seri-
Gus RpprGhcnSiOne Of tho dangerous tendency
O[ the principles, on which the patronage Of
the government has been recently administer.
ed. The present administration exhibits the
first example, under the general government,
Ofthe exercise Of that power, IN numerous In.
stances, by Diminishing officers, ut home, as
well as abroad, on no other ground than that
Of difference Of opinion, ~ to the person
who should DO intrusted with the chief ma
giAtracy Of the country. Aud II has exhibited
the Arst example also, Of the recall, at great
and unnecessary expense, ct several OF our
foreign diplomatic agents, without the slight
eat intimRtion Of any fault IN the performance
of the duties. Without dwelling upon the in
Jury to the public, from the dismission Of able,
honest, and experienced servants, or upon the
Injustice Of furnishing those servants, by II
sudden privation Of their means Of subsst
cnce, for no other reason, than difference Of
opinion. there Is much cause Of alarm In the
practical consequences Of principle which
assumes that the President Of the United
States may rightfully expel all who ventured
to oppose hrs election, whatever be their 'ncr.
Its In other respects.
age of the general government by removal
from office alone, that Just occasion IL fur
nished for serious reflection and fOrebOdiOg
The numerous appointments that have been
made, Of the members Of tho last or present
Congress ~ the public employments, far
transccudng In number, those that have been
made during u similar period under any other
administration, cannot but excite anxious so.
lictude, in respect TO the independence. Of
Congress. TO that Eody 10 confined the duty
Of watching over every branch Of the public
administration; ofcalIing f0v and scrutiniXing
accounts, and Of detecting and furnishing u
buses Of any Of the departments Of govern
ment. What guarantee has the public for
the performance Of this high duty, In respect
10 the executive, IL an unequal proportion Of
the public Offices and honOrs is conferred
upon members Of Congress ny that very
the one hand, DO imprOpertO exclude them
from the public appointments, further than
they are excluded by the constitution, II
must b" acknowledged, on the other, that
mn inordinats number should notbe appoint
cd; and that tho public should continue to
possess adequate security for their hde'lty'
both In the importance, and the limited mum
Der Ofthe Offices bestowed.
Through members Of Congress, In the ex.
rrcise Of their frnnking privilege, and through
the press, In subsequently disseminating the
intelligence received from them. the greatest
mass Of political information Is distributed
10 the people. Hence, and on other acc cunts
nlsO the great Importance Ola perfect preser"
walton Of the purity and Independence both
Of Congress and the Press. But at the peri
cd when we have bsheld the disproportion-
ate number Of those who now are, or very
recently were members Of Congress, appoint
ed 10 public Offices, by the executive Of the
United States, We have also seen numerous
instances Of the appointment Of Editors OF
newspapers throughout the Union some OF
whom continue to perform their joint editori- |
al and official duties, after receiving their ap- |
pointnents. IL Congress and the Press are
infatuated TO look to the Executive, instead
Of the people, Cor promotion. honor and Off
ces, there would be much reason to appre- |
bend, that they would, 10 process Of time,
both prove 10 be fathless guardians Of the
public liberty.
Nor are the mischievous consequences Of
the principle confined 10 the period which |
follows the election Of the Presidency. II |
mingles with alarming force, with the cleo. |
ton itself. II calls into the contest every pc |
litical adventurcr, stimulated by the hope Of
gain, to be measured out to him, according TO |
the violence with which ha may advocate the
claims of the successful candidate; and the
rancor with which he may denounce and vii. |
lily an unsuccessful one. Thus thousands are
invited, by personal interest, to bring back
upon Us, with the recurrence Of every presi- |
Dental election, scenes Of heat and violence,
in the fury Of which there is certainly great |
great evil, and great danger Of error.
Truth Is disregarded, and an interest dan
gerous TO the purity Of elections, usurps the
place Of dispassonate inquiry and true love
of country. A title Is asserted to office. not
founded upon talents, integrity or service rem
dered TO tho Countrywide upon service rem |
dcred TO the President ia his election. The