Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-09-01

oiJ"cl mas Oeen prevented. we WISH Ine
projectors of the enterprise every desirable
success, and we have no doubt they will re-
,ccivc liberal patronage from discrlmina-
ting public.
| Mr.. ATKINsON-Much has been said and
written about party prescription, and al
though the partizans Of this prudent admins
tration, and the supporters Of the n ominee for
succession, avow it to be their principle that
The spoiis belong 10 the rictors, and to remove
every man from Office who has not the quail
fcations and the will to support the party in
power, and to appoint none to office without
pledge to support that party whether they
approve or disapprovc of their measures--the
principle is so abhorent in ITSELF that those
who have the power of removal from, or ap-
pontment to Office, never assign it as a rca-
son for making the changc;but trump up t,co or
three "sine qua mons" in justification of it, for
eign from the truth, both as it regards the np-
pointed or removed. Transactions of this
sort are generally conducted with SO much
secrecy and caution by confidential comm,un-
cations, that but few well authenticated facts
of the procedure ever Gene to the know
ledge otthe public.
The Report of the Committee on Commerce
in the Senate of the United States to whom
was referred the Memorial of late officer of
the Customs, attached to the Custom House in
! this town, has been rcpublshed and is
/ inc o. In =
han, (see ndvertisement.) The following ex-
tract from the report is dcvelopement of the
true constitutional principle on the subject
and the whole mastcrly report is well deserv-
ing the perusal and serious consideration of
every honest man of every party, who has
wish to preserve our system Of government
uncorruptcd.
"The power which has been always
claimed by collectors, under the advise
ment and sanction of the Department,
of turning out subalern officers of the
customs at will, may be necessary
power; it may be, in its judicious and
proper exercise, essential to due ad
ministration Of the custom house con-
Germs. The committee are far from de-
mying the power, but they conceive that
it should only be used Gas it was inten-
ded) to preserve integrity, competency,
! fidelity, and good conduct in those who
are called, as subaltern officers, to the
discharge of duties in the custom house.
To exert this power for political patty
views, or to promote party ends, (as it
never was the design of the law which
gives the power of appointment,) SO it
can, in the opinion of the committee, be
as little justified as it can be tolerated in
an honest supervisorship of the Depart.
ment. All contracts or understandings
with pubic officer which make it a
condition OF his appointment to office that
he should use his official station TO null
tiply political partisans, or to further pol
itical party views, arc gross and mad
missiblc abuses. Offices are, by the
constitution, intended to be filled cxclu-
sively for the best discharge Of their du-
ties, so that the country may enjoy the
greatest advantage from the ablest full
flment of official trust. 10 exact, as
the condition Of appointment to Office,
any thing but what is properly official
and moral conduct, is illegal and wrong;
but to exnct political partisan services
as the condition Of Office, is fore ign to
our laws and our system, and leads TO
corruption. So, TO turn u man out of Of
flee merely because his known political
opinions prevent him from being po-
llical partisan Of those who turn him out,
is prescription for opinions sake, and
persecution for a correct assertion of his
constitutional rights. All active partic-
ipaiion in political party affairs by otli-
GERS of the Government is unfit and un-
seomly, bu, tho right Of opinion, and the
constitutional expression Of it, is sacredly
secured TO every freeman; it is the birth
right of every American citizen; the
constitution assures it, and the law de-
lends it. Whatever invades this right; !;
/, whatever robs q man Of it; whatever
panders to the appetite to seduce him
from the maintenance Of this right, must
be oppre ssion, or persecution, or cor
ruption."
"The case presented by the memori-
alist is one Of deep interest, and merits
the attention Of that power in the Gov
ernment whose prescribed duty it is "to
take care that the laws be faithfully
executed" The committee are well
aware that tho best laws may become
destructive Of the high interests of the
country, and the rights of the citizens ir
perverted and abused. Abuses are not
always arguments against the existe nee
Of laws. They, therefore, report the
facts as furnished 10 them In tbe Sena,a