Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-05-25

SlLAS BROWN.
rov AUDITOR OF PUBLIC
PHILIP DIXON.
OFFICIAL INTERFERENCE IN ELECTIONS
The Van Buren, party Of the present
LII themselves democrats, and style
r,b,g Dartv. FederaIists. With men
+, ;,,aIriq.nce and information, who
..:.l.,d Judge for themselves, upon all
.r.,.-,r o1estions, involving the rights
r,ba raoole. and pertainingto the per-
..,nifv Of our present form of govern
-, the name which either party bears
-,,a, H. matter of any moment.
So men onIv look to the principle pro-
c....d p-actised, and pursued, by each
---.r Whatever may, be its name, and
= ,5sv Be lovers of liberty, freedom and
the rights Of the many in opposition to
me few. they will side accordingly. To
them j., can but be a matter of indiffer-
ence what their opponents call them,
when they are conscious that they are
zoe advocates Of the equal rights Of the
rso2Ie. We propose to examine the
elaimof the Van Buren, party to the cog
romen Of democratic" in this article,
upon the principle of 'O6fciaI interfer-
sncs ia Elections" and the right they
have to style the Wing party Of the pre-
sen; day, Federalists, assunling-not that
We make the charge, or say that we be-
feve-that all Federalists are opposed
to the rights of the people, and in favor
Of concentrating all power in the hands
Of one person, or few.
The word, Democracy, has but one
meaning, and is easily understood, and
those who call themselves Democrats
claim to be followers in the footsteps
the professors Of the principles of JEFF
fersou Now let US see whether Jefferson
sanctioned the doctrine of "OGcial inter
ference in INSTRUMENTATION he could
have sanctioned this outrageous doctrine,
as declared BY the Globe, the organ of
the present Democratic party, when he
saws: NO man should be entrusted with
an office (under the Federal Govern
ment) who does not take an dctiUe inter
est in the success of the administration.
No doctrine is more directly in opposi.
ton to the principles of free government
more destructive of the purity of the
freedom of elections than this" No man
should be entrusted loith office rho doe'
not take an actiUe interest an the success o.
the Administration Is this not at once
the ban Of accommodation of all from
Office, until they have pledged themselves
to use every exertion for the success o.
The party, in opposition Of the rights o
tie people.
Does it not extend to the principle
that il the administration usurps all potc
sr--declares that its head or leader shall
wear the tiara-the insignia of royalty
still it is the duty of all office holder:
10 uphold IT, Where are the rights o
the people, when weighed in the balanct
with such demoralizing doctrine; they
are wantjng-or buried in the interest!
q party. What thoughts must instinc
lively arise when we see the sorry sigh
OF Federal officers, busy in the streets
the greg shop, and at the ballot box, sus
'aInng their party. Must not every one
Ieel that he IS paid for il, that he is paiC
Tor the services rendered. that his act
are the prompting of gain-that the
tenure Of Office depends upon his princi
Ples-that those principles are cut anc
cried TO his hand, and he bri6ed to main
tam them-that he is bougM--in short
that he IS a Stare. If this is one of tn,
principles Of Democracy, God prcserv,
The American people from its perniciou
influence.
But now let US see, what were tn,
opinions of Jefferson upon the subject o
Federal officers, interfering with tn
freedom of Elections:
Nj. Jefferson, in a letter to Governo
Mchean, Of Pennsylvania, dated the 2
u February, 1901, speaking of the ''Fe
oeFal officers obstructing the operation
% the State Governments" said '.tha
aS 70 the future, interierences with cleo
.lons' whether of the State or Genera
government, by officers of the latter
should De deemed cause of removal. be
cause the constitutional remedy by IN
elective principle becomes nothing, if ]
may De smothered by the enormous pa
ronage of the General Government"
In accordance with these doctrine.
and Tor the purpose of carrying ther
ou', Mr.. Jefferson, while President, iss,
Cd circular addressed to office-holder
under himself, from which the followin
is extracted:
"1'he President of the United State
mas seen with dissatisfaction officers {
tue General Government taking, on vi