Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-08-17
CANTON, MISSISSIPPI, SATURDAY, AuGusT IL, 1889.

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these officers as the enlisted soldiers oil
the President, and willing to do his bid
ding.
The present Attorney General said
they were most unsafe advisers IN cleo
tlons- because when advising. they were
thinking of their offices. and how to earn
bread on which TO live.
Mr.. Benton's report in 1926. and Mr..
Calhonn's in l834-5, tend 10 establish
the doctrine that this practice was a
source of great mischief, and ought 10
be corrected by legislation.
In 1929, the late Chief Magistrate
spoke of it in terms not 10 be misunder-
stood, as inscribed prominently on the
list of Executive duties TO prevent this
kind o! interference In elections. How
could he prevent it? As Mr.. Jefferson
did, by removing the offending officer2
How did he get the power? Congress
gave 1t TO him by statute. Why, then,
cannot Congress make it his duty TO ex-
ert this power whenever a case occurs,
and not leave Tito his discretion! 1t ap-
pears very clearly to me it can.
1t IS said this is Gag bill, '.twin bro
Their of the Alien and Sedition law"
Never was there greater mistake
The Sedition law prevented a man not IN
Office from speaking his sentiments res
pecting an office holder. This bill was
to prevent the o6Fce-h0lder from school
ing the common citizen, not in office, and
teaching how to vote.
Federal doctrines, then, sustained the
Alien and Sedilion laws, and thereby
gave the office-holder an ascendency
over the people; and upon the same doc
trines, and for the same reasons, they
oppose Mr.. Crittenden's bill.
If this be not so, why did they vote
against Rives' amendment, which was in
exact conformity with Mr.. Jeferson's
circularl
This is not alI-another distinguished
statesman, De Witt Clinton, in address
sing his Legislature, complained of Fede-
raj interference. At that day, no friends
of the then Administration, dared TO
come forward and avow they had so in
teriered, and attempt TO Justify the act.
In those purer days Of the Republic, all
they could do 10 save themselves from
public odium. was 10 deny the charge.
and put the Governor upon the proof,
and, as Mr.. Adams would say, because
the charge was not proveable 10 court,
they were acquitted in public opinion.
Now. strange as il really may appear.
the interference Of this class of officers
Is openly justified BY the Administrations,
and 1t is insisted, they not only have the
right, bat it is their duty to interfere and
teach the common people how to vote,
because, being in office, they are better
judges who ought to be elected This
doctrine consider moral treason against
democracy itself; yet these same per-
sons insist they are exclusively the de-
mocra of this favored country.
In another point of view, this bill, If
passed, would have been highly import
ant. 1t would have made this class of
ofice-hoders free men on the days of
election. Each one could have gone TO
the polls and voted according TO his own
Judgment, whereas now, he is not only
obliged TO vote as the President wishes.
but he must electioneer, and be taxed as
the party wishes, or be turned out of
office, and his family deprived of their
daily bread. wished these tools taken
out the hands of the executive. | wish
ed these men liberated and made free.
see lattery one of my friends, perhaps
myself also, has been charged with be-
ing an aboltionist. So far as this charge
may relate TO emancipating people of
color by Federal power. the charge is
utterly groundIess; but | am a decided
advocate for aboiishing that species of
slavery among the chites which now ex-
lists, and is imposed by party, which
furnishes the most intolerant and cruel
Masters in the name of Democrats.
Which of US in 1895, or 8. when we
were so loudly complaining OF the inter
ference of Executive officers in our cleo
lions, dreamed that he would live to see
the day when it would be advanced as
the Jackson Democratic creed, that such
conduct was not only Iustifiable, but that
these officers were in the discharge of
high duties to their more ignorant fellow
men? For myself, | must say, could
sooner have believed that would see the
elder Mr. Adams after a resurrection,
and hear him advocating such doctrine,
than to witness it coming from any man
protesting the Jackson creed.
| pass on to say something Of the Ex-
penditures of the Government.
When Mr. Adams went out Of office,
our dfiIOGDH IL OS4i ~ AtOt4s
twelve to thirteen millions Of dollars per
annum, and the whole party then cried
out waste and extravaganza we must
have retrenchment and reform; and now
we have, according to the message Of the
President at the last session. an expen-
diture of Forty Millions of Dollars.
How has this come to pass? | an
swer fearlessly, bv bad management in
our Federal Agents.
The party now in power deliver long
and wholesome lectures on the value and
necessity Of economy, and practice the
most shameful and extravagan; waste IN
their expenditures.
Ii is useless TO preach about the value
of refrenchment and reform, unless the
Administration viii specify some branch
of the Public service where reduction
can be made Has If ever been recon-
mended 10 reduce the number Of officers
in any of the departments. Or 10 reduce