Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-05-04
"REFORM."

The facts collected by Mr.. Holmes from labori
Gus search of the public archives and stated to the
Senate on Tuesday last, illustrate in striking man.
ner the nature of the Reform executed by the Admin
stSation and the absurdity Of the comparison nstu
ted between the Jefferson and Jackson dynustcs
From the 18th March 1892 when the Government
went into operation, TO the 4,h March 1920, when
Gen. 5acksen was inaugurated, the whole number OF
removals made by all the Presidents amounie ed TO 10.
Ofthese with the exception of limited number caus.
ed by AIR Jefferson in the first year OF his admins
iration when the violence party spirit etortsd sa
CRITICS. from him, against his judgment and ncna-
hon. FAR the greater part, for cause. 1t was
and must continue to be- reproach to Mr. Jefferson $
administration, that he permitted single victim TO
iall for opinion sake nbhorrent TO his ma
ture and that spirit OF tolerance which distinguished
him in Religion and Politics. aad which indeed, is of
the essence of civil liberty. Evidence IL M; wanting
to show that he himself revoltcd from the severity
that he was teOsed and importuned into yielding in
few cases, and that he absolutely and indignantly.
rejected all propositions for general prescription
Mr. Davis was elected from the Post Office in this
city, and Mr.. Grummer from that in Petersburg
excellent and unimpcached ofcers-thosc cases con-
stitute exceptions, and do not prove the rule.
Let now look at the iron sway of the osecoud"
Jefferson. The whole number of removals caused
by him since the 4th March 1920, is not actually
known, his partizuns having voted down the motion to
obtain official information from the Departments As
however, Mr.. Barry states the numbe of removed
Postmasters alone 40 as the number of Publish
removed by Mr.. Van Buren,, exceeds go, and as
the removals from the Revenue and Land Depart
ments ore known to have been yet more indscrimi.
is 10, - hor IN his
ment that President Jackson had removed moro in
cumbcns in month, than all his predecessors had
removed during period of forty gears!
This is bad enough. That man should be hunted
out and hunted down. for the free exercise of opinion
and choice, ucccrds with the practice OF despotisms
but initiates against tho first principles of Republican
ism. There arc circumstances however, which add
darker and moro nefarious shade to the history of
prescription. They the attempts made to cast
suspicion upon the private characters of all the
vedthe obstinate refusal of all who have il in their
power 10 explain the reasons which have led the
amotion. To the Postmaster General, to the Sccre-
tary Of State and ortho Treasury, to the President
himself, petitions have been addressed in vain, by
many of tho dismissed, for the of their dismiss
SAL that they might have in their power 10 satisfy
their friends that their fame unsulled. All such
petitions have been cvadcd, or met by logged and
obstinate silence. Private injury added TO Fot
cal intolerance, and the removed have been compe-
ed to sit down under mputotons which power and
It's minions in oxtcnuaon OF lis n,Istcc. Ct to
cast upon them.
This 10 tyranny crihc r1ost oi;ous and dctcstpblo
character. The body is not immurcd in dungeons
or loaded with shuCklcs, but reputation is assassna
ted to excuse The oXccsses Of power and left at tie
mercy of mcrcenary who interested in sustain
ing the administration through all its dcprayity find
their profit in Islander, and their safety dctracon.
~ is impossible to imagine state of things more
-r horrible. 1t is the necessary consequence
"a'''" which feeling it's own indccnsibli'y
ofproscriplion- ,oc,,,,so % do,,,ri, ,o,r -.
on principle must hav. .un virdicatio,
iesned in lis vic'i-0e for ;es,