Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-08-11

destroyed his independence, impaired bis vi
gor, and distracted his attention:-his solicit
tude being directed from his country to him
self;--and the public interest sacrificed to
personal ambition. Ii was found even TO con-
taminate our morals, and corrupt the public
press;--the eagerness OF the incumbent to Sc
cure his renewed lease of power, leading him
to acts from which the patriot would revolt,
as criminal and unjust;-as fatal to the rights
and destructive to the liberty Of the citizen.
How shall we express our astonishmert and
grief, that Andrew Jackson should have bro't
himself within the possible sphere OF such
evils? But we must supercedc eur admins
tration, by drawing our determination not to
sustain him in course SO baneful to his coun-
try, and so blishting 10 the lustre of his own
glory
The APPOINTMENT Of MEMBERS OF Coz
eREss has seen the proliEc source of the most
dangerous collision between the legislative
and executive branches Of government 1t
holds out the lure of Office to the represen-
tatlves of the people enticiug them to de-
reelection Of their duty; and rewards the pi-
ant teol of executive pleasure, who may be
tray his country or violate his oath The
constitution itself, has attempted by an ex-
press provision to guard against this impure
collision Of the two separate branches Of go
vernment, where it declares section 6. ''that
no member IF Cong ess shall be apsointea TO
any office, ,chieh tcas created or Tie enoluaseats
tchereQf ,cere augmented, during the term TOR
rhich he ,cas elected We recite the article,
TO show that the spirit of this constitutional
exclusion clearly extends to the inhibiton Of
all appointments from the members of Con-
gross Even on the supposltlon that no d.
rect possible corruption existed, In such an
appllsatien of executive patronage; still the
undue influence which it must exercise over
Congress, cannot but ultimately lead to con-
sequences as pernIclous as the most open
and high handed corruption The mere fact
OF being ELIsiBLE to HesoRs and REWARDS
from the executive. is Sufficient to make our
representatives pliable instruments CT power,
instead of mfiexible champions of freedom,
aud faithful agents to their constituents The
saying sf WaIpole. that every man had his
price. expresses iallibe trait of tue human
character that ought to construct every pos
sible barrier against temptation. When even
a patriot like Andrew jackson can foregs his
purposes, and renonnce his resolves, at the
heck of ambition, how shall we trust these
an evil hour, he threw wide open this door
to corruption, the patriot was lost in the po-
/, lItcan, and the art of the demag0gue tri-
umphed over the honesty Of the republican.
On this subject, we must quote his own
words 10 his letter to the Legislature of
Tennessee-"There is no truth more sacred
in politics." says Gen jackson, land none
more conclusively stamped upon all the state
.t,,t.A IL 8
ton, than that which reqaFes the three great
departments of power, the legislative, jsdi
cial, and executive, to be kept separate and
apart. But simple and manifest as this truth
is, the difficulty of arriving at i. in practice,
with constitutional restraints, still remains,
and presents question, Whether the wisdom
and virtue of the present generation, with a
view to amendment in this important matter,
may not be usefuily Employed"
"With view to sustain more effectually,
in practice the axiom which divides the three
great classes OF power into independent con-
stitutiohai checks, WOULD IMPOSE Prov
SION, RENDERING ANY MEMBER Of CoNGaEss
INELIGIBLE 70 OFFICE UNDER THE GENEREL
GOVERNMENT, DURING THE TERM FOR WHICH
lie WAS ELECTED, AND FOR TWO YEARS TIERS
ApTER, except in cases of judicial Office
1.-The effect Of such constitutional provision
is obvious BY il Congress, in consdera-
bic degree, would be free from that connex
ion with the executive department. srhich at
present gires strong grounds Of APpREHENsloE
a'ad JEALoUsY on tie part q the people Nam
Lers, Instead Of being liable TO be tcithdrmca
from tegistGtpas on the great interests Of The
nation, through prospects of e1ecatire patron
age, would be more literally conGded in by
their constItnents-wbile their vigilance
would be less interrupted by party feelings
and party excltements. Calculations from in
trigue, or management, would fail; nor would
their deliberations, or their investigation Of
subjects, consume SO much time The me
rails of the country would be improved, and
virtue uniting with the iabours Of the repre-
sentatives and with the official ministers of
the law, would tend to perpetuate the honor
and glory of the government. But il this
change in the constitution should not be Oh
tanned, and Important appointments continue
to devslve on the representatives in Con-
gress, it requires no depth Of thought to be
convinced, that corruption will be the order
Of the day; and that, under the eorb Of con-
scicsltio,s sacrifices to establish preceae,.ts for
/ the public good, evils of serious importance
| to the freedom and prosperity of the repub-
| lie may arise. II is through THIS CHANNEL
that the people may expect to he attacked in
| their constitutional sovereignty, and where
! TYRANNY may be well apprehended to spring
up in some favorable emergency. Against
such nroads, every guard ought to be inter
posed, and none better occurs, than that OF