Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-04-19

| win oijecliohs 10 the most ample exercise q
| these powers.
| II is well understood, sir, that within the yea
| of which this day completes the circle, a grea
revolution has been effected IN the public Offices
by the discharge Of thu former incumbents
! and that the representatives, of many Of ih,
| States are ANXIOUS TO spread upon tho record,
| herr, for the benefit nt pos'erity, as well as o
| the present age, the Intent cause of this great
| Executive reform W. have another motive
10 make the effort 10 effect this We desire
Thar the simple facts should appear, in justice
! 10 all those who have been dismissed from the
public service without charge or accusation a
gainst them. We consider this necessary as
an act of Justice, not only 20 the sufferers. but 10
their families, their friends and their pesteTty
We seek TO Distinguish tho innocent from the
guilty. to exhibit 10 public view among the
searching operations oi this government, how
may have been removed on the representa- ,ons
ofse foes or sindicive political oppo-
nents; how NANNY have been dismissed on
suspicion, and how many without suspicion
aud how many have been condemned without
having been suffered TO learn the nature of the
accusations against them II rumors, founded
in many cases IN the statements If tho victims
OF the prosoriptlve system, be true, many have
been hurried from stations, which they have
vantage to the public, without the assignment
Of any reason for Ihe sct and IN MANY instan-
ces. il is said the files Of departments here have
been filed witt foul calnmines, by asplrants 10
Office. and their secret agents, without giving
| the accused even the Formally of a trial.
Il hi, be 50, here is a real inquisiliou,to rack
and torture mot the bodies indeed, but the
characters OF men. Is II more than an act OF
justice to the victims that the truth shonln ap-
pear The accusations against them, though
strictly er pariC, are yet the ayowed foundation
Of official acts Of departments here, which may
be resorted by all future generations 10 blacken
the memory oil these men, and 10 disgrace their
families when they shall be laid III Their graves.
Ia Il gov ernmpnt of laws properly administer
ed, the discharge Of public servant, without
any assigned reason for the act must ordinarily
cast some mpuiaton upon his character. No
| mater how innocent he may bc-no matter
whether any charge has OF has mol been prefer
red against him, yet The existence oil smell char
ges will be presumed Under such rircun-
stances the breath OF calumny IS sure Ia stamp
his reputation even though acquired by n long
lie Of faithful public service and exemplary
private conduct Tue iirelng lboer the pros
thule wretch who may have gained the very
Office from which he has been removed, will
sound the tocsin OF SANDER, and # the pres,
has been generally subsidized by the government
surinises of official delinquency will be careful
" propagateda, " proved on file" untll tho VIC
tim loses character as we'll az Office, by the ac-
ton IT Executive vengeance. To what tribunal
then should he appeal Tor Iastice answer 10
the Senat' Of his country, party TO the con
tract by which he was employed, and Which
by fairly showing the causes o. his Dismissal
NAV repel thu impulntIons resting on his repu-
talon, ADD " set history right - thus forming II
barrier against the influence OF splrl of m lie.
vol nee, which, in these latter days. rs we
have seen, can pursue a man TO his grave, for
vengeance on his posterv. No good or hon
orabIe man will dismiss a faithful servant from
his private employment, without furnishing
him al his request with certificate ot his hdel
ity The same Justice winch we dI pc a. in
private liz. should be vel led to faithful pub
lie servant when dismissed from public en-
ployment ; and unless rs public men we intend
to abandon those principles which govern rs IN
our social and domestic relations, we are, IN
my humble Judgment, hound 10 entertain these
naurlea They can do 40 injustice 10 the Tx
ecntive If It's power has not been wantonly
abused, the conduct of the gOVernment will be
presented 10 the people m IN unexceplionhblc
point OF view Bn', on the other hand, II the
Presidents authority has been perverted IL
pnTty and personal purposes, nrr we mol bound
TO correct the evil aud should we refuse 10 pre-
| sent him TO this nalpn in bis proper character,
nj the expense ofthe reputation Of all our Tel
low citizens who have been lramped under
foo; Lv the arbitrary add drspotc exercise of
power VIII it not be said that by shrinking
from che Interrogation, We have dIstrusted his
integrity, and have shown a belief that secnri-
" was in cOncealmeni II all has been right
ly done, do we not treat him ungenrronsly by
refusing him an opportunity oil presenting Tie
evidence for his acquiiial at tie bar oi pnbhc
| opiniOn-aye, sir, al the bar OF public opinion
| for at that bar he musi stand and wait his sen
tence and his dircs' foe could not wish him a
more certain condemnation than inevitably
awaits him, unless he Is heard 10 his delence
III am right in my views of the constitution.
al power Of the President and senate, thus fat
presented, the former can never property re
move an officer before the expiration of hi
term, but for cause Connected only with the
public interest, while the latter can investigate
| the cause, aud ascertain by the facts how fa
! the Constitution has been complied with anf
! if this authority has been abused or extended
! beyond rs constltul onnl hunts, the House may
impeach the author Of such abuSes before tht
! Senate and the Senate may remove him an
all his mInions An impeachment, however,
requiring msorlty OF the. House to prefer IT
two thirds ofthe Senate io,sus' ain u, can rarely
perhaps, never, prevail against the exercise o
executive patronage directly on Congress q TN
influence OF party spirit. Then suppose that
President, regardless of his duty, aud OF th'
consequences either Of ekpo.ures or lmpeach
mcut, should remove all our public servant
who would not assent 10 his uruspatlon Of ih
sovereignty Of the PEG pie, aud III theIrplaces
with favnuriIes and parasites who should seei
TO robe him " it'll the imperial purple W.
have been told that such case may occur -
that Aron Burr was once on The verge OF ihI
high Office aud 1t has been said that he would
have filed every Office in this way. do no
say SO myself, nor do ! pretend 10 decide upo'
that But the question now arises-whd
checks have the people upon usurper WI
should do these things for his own advance
ment, Immediately after his accession TO tn
Presidency II is certain that, unth the exp
ration Of his four years term, period long
nough Tor the achievement of revolution, IN
people have no check upon him except Hfons