Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-11-27
Eion az National Ga..ll1

The Post Master General has removed from
Office Nathaniel Mitchell, Post Master at Port
Land, Maine, and appointed in his place Thomas
Todd, alias q neral Todd. Ofthe successor we
knew nothing, bgt take il for granted that he is
a good jackson man. The case Is a most char
acteristic example Of mere party prescription,
and as sach we refer 10 il particularly.
Ia his oGieial letter TO Mr. Mitchell, the Post
Master General states that his removal had been
demanded BY public meeting held at Portland
On The l4ih uliiIro, Of which meeting the Port
iaad Courier says" The first notice the people
here had Of such meeting was through the let.
ter TO Mr.. Mitchell we never heard sFlla-
bic Of such meeting, and know a no enc who did
hear oft, til the news came from Washington"
The same paper afhrms that the people in Port
land and IFS vicinity all agreed that Mr. Mitch
ell was an excellent Post Master and conducted
the business Of the Office in satisfactory man
ner. But the Post Master General bears, him
self, the strongest testimony to the peculiar me-
rrs 81 his victim We proceed TO quote the
text Of his missiye dsmissive.
'fAs your official conduct has met with my de.
cided appreciation, not only in reference 10 the
discharge Of your ordinary duties, but also in
pect 10 the performance of difficult service that
had devolved on you as the special agent Of the
Department, and which you had attended 10 with
commendabls zeal and fidelity, have all along
cherished the hope that the circumstances Of the
y
But it is obvious that the public sentiment in
Maine, demands change in the Office. II is I'M
necessary 10 specify the evidence furnished Of
this state offeelng on this qaestion."
This allegation OF" public sentiment means
that the jackson party have prevailed in Maine,
and that every sacri. ce must be made TO what
the victors may be disposed to desire, however
great the positive disadvantage and risk 10 The
public service. Mr.. Mitchell is acknowledged
10 have been all that could be required for The
terests and business Of the government and eoun-
try, bnt his office was to be deemed part Of the
spoiis Of party victory and therefore TO be given
10 another "a partisan, who might prove to be
far inferior as Post Master.
Tne real purport Of Mr., Barry's apology, is
6 must CRAFTY p1rty Intolerance, however ~
consistent with personal justice ana me Pubiie
veal. | must make every officer oil the genei al
government duly sensible that he should be pri-
marily and unremittingly devoted TO the party
that his positive official desert is minor consld-
Grafton at Washington. Such was not theory of
the democracy Of the old school. q Ina letter of
Mr. Monroe TO the Secretary ofstate, dated Both
July 1891, he holds the following language =
''I forbear TO discuss again the solidi,y of that
principle which supposes that every public Off
Ger IN the United States is (thc Judges excep-
ted rnenial servant Of the President-a princi-
pie which, if established, banishes from the boz
som, every noble and patriotic sentiment, and
makes him dependant not upon the propriety and
integrity of his own conduct, but on the personal
favor OF his superior. If such were the case,
what confidence would the people of America
repose in any public functonary /; since after he
gets into office, whatever may have been his
character before, he sinks into machine, and
ceases to be watchfu sentinel over the public
rights and interests II such were the case the
principles and practice Of our free government
are departed from, aud the most slavsh prac'ises
Of the most slayish government introduced in
their stead"
The Post Master General is retained in office,
though notoriously incompetent and enormously
delinquent The Post Master at Portland is dis
missed, though confessedly qualified and merito-