Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-26

cd, and in his first message to Congress tho Prcsi-
dent justified himself ON tho principle of rotation
IA flee; affecting suppose that tho public would
derive an advantage from employing new agents
fast the old ones acquired, by experience, the
capacity for performing their outios with ability
aud success. This doctrine, which, il applied TO
practice IN private life, would be thought TO argue
degree of imprudcncc, equivalent III it's effects,
TO insanity, and would Immediately ruin the most
prosperous observation-disclosures kravoiy announ-
ced AN acknowledged truth IL was affirmed
that the natural effect of possessing office was
to croato negligence and corruption in tho person
holding it; that the public lost more in this way
than was gained by the additional experience and
dcXtcrity resulting from tho same cause-that ire
quont changes in office were highly cxpcdiout-
'hat AL offices should DO held for short terms and,
in particular that tho constitution ought TO DO so
amended, that no person should be- eligible So
scnd slime for that OF tho President of tho Uaited
, States.
These principles, whether truo or false, are ire
iavsnt 20 The subject, because this removals from
rfhcc by General Jackson wcro not made, either
really prolssscdly, for the purpose Of change or
rotation but, professediy, because the incupbents
were incapable corrupt, and really for the pur
pose OF forwarding his friends and Furnishing his
enemies" No disposition has been shewn to apply
his wholesome principle of rotation TO the Prssi-
dents partAGns, and tho best illustration OF tho
real meaning of the lsnguagc used this OCCASION
is 20 BIO found in letter written from the Prssl
dents house, under the Presidents frank, TO G
member Of the Pennsylvania Legislature, request
ing him 10 his influence 10 pr from that
Legislature nomination of tho President for
election. Tina dectruo of rotatio in Office had
therefore, nsthng 10 do with tho matter. Tho
motives assigned in the first Instance, by tho Pres
idoat, viz the inca2zsi.y and corruption Of the in
cunbeats, would have been suffissnt had they
been founded in faet but il felt that reno
val for such reasons would DO tolerated By tho
Pr5ic, enieSs the supposed incapable or corrupt
tractIonory was fret put upon his trial, and allow
! 1nrtt ADfo., kN
RPecifc charges, whatever they might be, which
had been preferred against him. It therefore
found necessary to abandon this ground, and for
want OF bcttcr, resort was had by tho Presidents
councillors 10 tho stale sophstry of rotation i'll Of
iico.
en tho appointments which made to
I'LL the humorous vacancies ocoasionsd by these
removals, We shall not enlarge. Among thom arc
10 ha found the nannos Of some persons very hoe
era5iy known to the public; but they were made in
general, almost svowedly for consideration bu,
that al party, and in many instances, with Ill
tie discretion tnst they weFo rejected, in one or
two cases, alne.t unanimously, by the Senate
IA occurrence CT thia kind -, We believe, without
pSra al at any previous period of history, nd
would be sufficient ef itself TO throw discrodit on
the Administration. OF the persons rejected,
some were recommended anew, under ercumstan n
ccs aincGntios 10 an attempt by the President to
force thom into Office against the known opinion
OF his constitutional advisors. On this occasion
was also exhibited striking example of tho incon-
sstsncy bstwecn his professions before his election
and his subsequent practice. Although he had
himself senali1oi the appointment of members OF
SongreRs Ia Office great abuse, he selected four
Vol the FIVE hsads of Departments from that body,
and appointed its members to other places to an
extent which had never boon known before. AL
though no had onveighed with warmth against the
supposed corruption of tho public Press under the
preceding Administration, and in his Inaugural
Address had even denounced his predecessor for
having brought the patronage of The Government
q WI ha VT of
editors were now among the most favored classes
OF pretandcrs TO employment. Under these cir
cuFnstanees the first year of the present Admins
t-ati"a presented !!t.lo cso than eager and ti-
muituons scramble for place. The Offices which
wcro instituted for the public service and ought TO
be conferred with view to other object, voro
apparently, and oven avowediy, treated as prizes to
be distributed among the coEqucrors in the struggle
OF PaF:-cs- " hat haze we been fighting for--was
the iangUs &c of some of the leading Administration
Prints-f the public Offices are not TO be tho spols
of victory7
E"2i we're the auspices under which the present
Administration commenced tIer career. They
were not of a kind to create very high eXpscta-
lions from the result of their labors. The subse-
GuenE progress of events has shown very clearly
that the least favorable expectations that could pos
S!by have been formed of their policy were yet 100
sansulne-that our most important institutions arc
now seriously threatened, and that a continuance
IN the course that we are pursuing viii probably
plunge the country, at distant period, into dan.
geTous-perhaPs irromodablo confusion.
IN the conduct of the foreign affairs, there has
boon, however, an appearance of success, in con-
sequence OF the fact that several arrangeme
with foreign Powers which had been matursd and
in some instances concluded under the proceed
ing Administration, have been made public undor
this. SEch was thu case with the treaties with
Austria, with Brazil, with Denmark, and with
Turkey. In announcing tho conclusion of these
arrangements, President of elevated and gen
roas disposition would havo taken delight in doing
complete justice to the merits of a political oompe.
titor General jackson took to himself, without
scrnPio ar ceremony, the whole credit of those ne
gociniions, and on this and on other occasions af
toctodIy avoided 10 mention the name of his preds
ea5sor. In tho recent treaty with France the prin
ciPles adopted by tho last Administration in the ar
7angcuents with Denmark were proposed as The
basis OF a cOTTErom5o, and in consequence of
favorable change in tho internal policy OF tho for
!ner Power, was asscntod to. Tho treaty with
Great Britain, suppoeing it oven, which may we'll
bo doubted, TO have boon tho best arrangement
= liieh circumstances rendered practicable was OBJ
tainod by concessions dorogatory to the honor of
tho country and the dignity of tho Government.
The Administration have, in ethor respects mis-
takon sho leading principles in he foreign po
Icy of tho county. With Rupsia, our most i'm
9ortant, powerful, and useful political ally our re-
iaiionS have boon wholly neglected. At critical
'neTnont IN tbs political afFhrs of Europe whom orr
influence With tho Emperor Of Russia might have
been tanned to tho hast account in favor Of tho
cause OF iree government, whom the breaking out
Of general war nay rsndor his influence in Eu
rope OF tho hlghset Importance TO ourselves, dis
lngnshed citizen, Who had fer many yoars ropro
7oa'ed the country with extraordinary eradit md
-nGcos5 al st. Petsrsburgh, and who yTas known 10
be personally agreeable TO the Imperial family is
lbruPiIg recalled, and the affairs Of the Icoator
eit IN azRhoy uncertain state,
On th"Ngreat eublecis Of internal policy which