The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-11

striking and remarkable likeness between this
Administration, its principles and practices, and
the upholders and patrons Of that infamous tri-
bunal in Spain. Both profess TO be orthodox in
their creed, and claim that they alone are ortho-
dox-the one in religion, and the other in poll
tics. Both denounce all who oppose them, either
| IN faith or practice, as heretics and apostates
and both pursue those who dare 10 think for
themselves with memorable prescription! But
with what reason or propriety can il be said that
bill which proposes to restrain the impertnent
intermeddling Of the high priests Of the political
church in the elections instituted to control them
is like Spanish Inquisition2 II is expressly
designed TO defeat and counteract practice es-
| tablished by an insoent and selfish body Of ma
gistrates and ofice-hoders for the purpose of
maintaining their power by official corruption
| and intimidation.
| In this report of Mr.. Wall of the Senate, an
other objection is stated, very like the one have
just noticed II was commended that the bill of
the Senate would give rise TO an odious class of
vexatious and Infamous informers and spies up
on the offceholders. Take it for granted that
such would have heen the result Of the Senates
bill could any description of informers have
| sprung up under the operation Of that bill more
odious and infamous than the swarm of spies
upon the public officers and public men o. every
class, which for years has afflicted this country
| II what have said is not so well known among
the people, they have at least felt the full mea-
sure Of the evil in the blighted interests and
prosperity OF the country; and the wretches who
live, crafty their bad passions, and get employ
ment by the arts of the informer are not known,
because their information is given in secret, con-
sidered in secret, and promulged only in appoint
ments and removals from Office But this sys-
! TEN Of espionage is not confined to the office
| holders only I; the conduct, the language, and in
many intances the very looks of men, both in
public and private, have been noted by these
miscreants, either with view to expel them
from employment, or bring down upon them the
dispeasure Of the President and his myrmidon
followers In fact if any one desires to see ex-
hibited the practices Of the Spanish Inquisition,
in matters Of State and party politics, let him
seek admission into the appointing and removing
Offices of the present Administration of this free
Government!
| Let US see now how widely different, both in
principle and in its results, would be the prac-
tice of informers under the law prohibiting the
intermeddling Of public officers with elections
From the very nature Of the case, every thing
they do is open and public-the charge, the
proof, and the decision upon it. The inform
er stakes his character upon the truth of his
information; and jury of the countrymen of
the accused sit upon the charge in open day,
and deliver their verdict under the sanction Of
a Federal Judge. know need not say another
word in answer to this objection.
But it is said, that to provide for the punish
ment of public officer for intermeddling with
elections would deprive him Of rights and priv
leges secured to him by the Constitution which
in this case, would be to say and do Just wha,
he pleases in elections, provided he discharges
the duties Of his Office properly and faithfully. -
The argument is, first, that the Constitution will
allow no restraint on the officeholder in abridging
any privilege to which, as citizen, he would have
been entitled. Yet we have restrained their privi-
leges, in repeated instances, by laws still standing
on our statute books as for instance in the laws
relating TO the establishment of the Treasury De
partment, and prescribing the duties of the Of
| fcers employed in it. In these laws it will be
| found that Congress has exercised the power 10
prohibit them from the exercise of any of those
| rights and privileges of citizen which would
interfere with the faithful discharge of their of.
fetal duties. And can there be greater induce
ment for warm political partisan to neglect or
violate his trust, than the privilege of taking an
active part in elections2 In truth, it is one of
| the greatest temptations that can be placed in
his path so great that we know many very
many, have not been able to Withstand it, The
people Of this country never can be reconciled
to the idea that we cannot pass laws to make Of
| ficeholders mind their own business, and NEEDLE
| not in things which necessarily disqualify them
! for the offices they hold These reasons will
apply with increased weight to the large class of
officers in the employment of the Post Office
Department. And especially, if the principle of
Jefferson be well founded--f it be good cause
of removal from Office, for public officer to in
termeddie in elections, what principle of reason
or common sense forbids Congress to enforce
the observance of il by law?
But il is objected that this bill proposes TO
reduce the large and respectable portion of our
citizens who fill the public offices to the conl-
| nE FL, r. al.
privilege Of speech, and that freedom of action
which the constitution secures to every citizen
] am astonished at the cool mpudence-the bold
disingenuousness Of this argument, considering
the source from whence il comes. Who are
they who put it forward, and gravey ask the
people TO consider it? The very men who open
ly maintain and justify the doctrine that the
President may and ought to remove every one
of those free citizens from office who will not
or does not give his cordial support TO the Pre-
sidcnt, his measures and policy! II is this de-
basing, corrupting, and proscriptve rolicy-the
policy upheld by these directors, that would re-
duce the freedom citizens who fill the public
offices to a condition Of severity which no high
minded and spirited man can or will endure
None, but such as are fiji to be slaves will ere long
be found in the public Offices under this system.
Instead of depressing or tyranniZng over the
public officers, this bill proposes to strike the
manacles from their hands-to set them free !
When they shall be placed, by the permission of
the Executive, upon that footing of independ
encc and freedom Of which it is said this bill
will deprive them, there will be no necessity for
the remedy which l propose. 1t is precisely
because those who hold the power in their hands
will not permit the public officers to think and
act as they please in elections, that propose
that Congress shall interpose in their behalf
The voluntary interference Of public officers in
ecctions--their free and unbiased intermed-
ding will never be an object of alarm or appre-
hension to the friends of the constitution. Il is