Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-22

wl,slesome principle of rotation 10 the Presidents
partizans, and the best illustration oil the rear
meaning Of the language used on this occasion,
is TO he found in letter written from the fresi-
dents house, under the Presidents frank, to
member of the Pcnnsy lvania Legislature, uest-
ins hun touse his influence to procure from that
LEGISLATURE nomination OF the President tor re-
election. The ductrine Of rotation in office had,
therefore, nothing to do with the matter. The
motives assigned, in the first MISTAKENLY the Pre-
s,deut, viz: the incapacity aud corruption OF the
;ncumbents, would have been sufficient had
thew been founded in fact. But 1t was felt
that no removal for such reasons would be toie'
rated by the public, unless the supposed IncaPa-
BILE Or corrupt functionary was first put upon his
trial, and allowed an opportunity OF defending
himself against the specific charges, whatever
they mi.ht be, which had been preferred against
him. 1t was therefore found necessary to a6an
don this ground. and, for want of better, resort
was had by the Presidents councillors to the stale
sophistry Of rotation in Office. 49,,
On the appointments which were made I" I'LL
the numerous vacancies occasioned by these re-
movals, we shall not enlarge. Among them are
to be found the names Of some persons very no
norably known to the public ;but they were made,
in general. almost avowedly for 10 consideration
but that of party. and in many.lnstances, with 81
little discretion that they were rejected, IN one
or two cases, almost unanimously. by the Senate
An occurrence Of this kind IS, we believe, with
DOT parallel at any previous period OF our h'sto
ry, and would be sufficient Of itself to throw dis
credit on the Administration. VI the persons 81
rejected. some were recommended anew, under
circumstances amounting to an attempt by the
President TO force them into office against the
known opinion of his constitutional advisers. -
On this occasion was also exhibited strlkingex
ample of the inconsistency between his protes
sions before his election. and his subsequent prac
tce Although he had himself signalized the ap
pointment of members of Congress to office as q
great abuse, he selected four Of the FIVE heads Of
Departments from that body, and appointed 1t:
members to other places to an extent which had
never been known before. Although he had in
weighed with warmth against the supposed cor
ruption of the public Press under the preceding
Admins ration, and in his Inaugural Address had
even denounced his predecessor for having brought
the patronage of the Government into conflict
with the purity of elections. par;izan editors
were now among the most favored classes Of
prctendcrs to employment Under these cir
cumstances the first year Of the present Anmlnls
tration presented little else than an eager and ~
multuous scramble for place. The offices which
were instituted for the public service and ough
to be conferred with view to no other object,wert
apparently, and even avowedly, treated as prIZ
es to be distributed among the conquerors in the
struggle Of parties. What have eve been fighting
for-was the languae of some Of the leading Ad
mlnistration prints-if the public Offices are not
to be the spoils Of victory
Such were the auspices under which the pre-
sent Administration commenced their career
They were not of kind to create very high eS
pectations from the result of their labors. Thu
subsequent progress of events has shewn yer,
clearly that the least favorable expectations tina
could possibly have been formed ut their polio,
were yet too sanguine-that our most importan
institutions are now seriously threatened, an,
that a continuance in the course that we are Pur
suing. will probably plunge the country, at NJ
distant period, into dangerous-perhaps irremedi
able confusion.
In the conduct of the foreign affairs, there ha
been, however, an appearance of success, in con
sequence of the fact that several arrangement
with foreign Powers which bad been maured, ant
in some instances concluded. under the precedin!
Administration have been made public under this
Such was the case with the treaties with Austria
with Brazil, with Denmark, and with Turkey
In announcing the conclusion Of these arrange
ments. President Of an elevated and generou
disposition would have taken delight in dom!
complete Justice to the merits of a political com
petitor. Gen. Jackson took to himself withou
scruple or ceremony, the whole credit of thes
negotiations, and on this and other occasions al
fectedly avoided TO mention the name of his pre-
decessor. In the recent treaty with France III
principle adopted by the last Administration il
the arrangements with Denmark were proposed
as the basis of compromise and IN c. nsequenc
of favorable change in the in ternal policy Of tn
former Power, was assented to. The treaty will
Great Britain, surprising it even. which may wei
be doubted, to have been the best arrangement
which circumstances rendered practicable, wa
obtained BY concessions derogatory to the homo
of the country and the dignity of the Govern
ment.
The Administration have, in other respects
mistaken the leading principles in the true foreis
policy of the country. With Russia. mos
important. powerful, and useful political ally, ou
relations have been wholly neglected. At cri
teal moment in the political affairs of Europe
when our influence with the Emperor of Russ;
might have been turned to the best account in ia
vor of the cause of free government. WREN thu
breaking out OLA general war NAV render his in