Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-10-13

-. Wing Convention of this City, Mr. Webster vir-
tuollv admits that there were some questions of Ma
tnnal policy and Constitutional power which he
sar,d with the Wings of Virginia. This virtual nd.
s<ion was unnecessary, for every body knew that
r, whv did Mr.. Webster say what those questions
cre and whether Gen. Harrison, if elected, would
-, an them or not We know Mr. Webster TO be a
= i,ra)s,--we know he is in favor of Bank of the
! S-of Tariff 10 protect his constituents at the
:. ,snsa OF the Snn;h-of splendid scheme for In
,rpal improvements 10 spend the money, Nc. Then,
,,e Mr. Webster had been sent for FIVE hundred miles
;, come from Massachusetts to enlishen NIrginans,
a did he discuss the great constitutional ques
:, ns which have deeply concerned the country for
~, last ten wears, and whether General Harrison
,,nld carry out this that system of policy? No;
n. was not the game Mr. Webster sent for to
nby His was to act another part. The discussion of
s,ons ike these would have been susceptible Of de-
S,,,ion by the intelligent Democracy Of Virginia
Hence was determined to enter upon the boundess
Gid of Executive Remuneration, and seem to prove by
,e varuest generaltes in the world that the power of
H., President was too great for Republic. This has
b.en The ncessant and unmeaning cry of the Wing
Inrwhancers in this State for years back, and well
Al Mr. Webster say, 81 know something of the
unity amds, which stand and its disposition for poll.
,,ll dsqusiton; and here Mr. w. commences TO prove
,h,, the Executive is too strong and Yields power
dangerous II liberty To do so, he has first assume
what is false that for several years decisive majority
If the whole people OF the United States have been
orposed TO the administration, and that they have not
bssn able to effect removal from office of the PresI
den,-tlris sounds very much like fooshness to our
mind If there be any truth in such statement as
ms WHY could not J. q Adams retain his seat in spite
Of the public will, and sustained as he was by Mr.
Wehs,er-since then the people have voted three times
sr President and has retired from office if not re.
moved vet they have not been able to effect removal
Of their PRESIDENT Does Mr. Webster wish Mr. an
Buren to retire from office at his and the bidding OF the
Wings because he and they may assume that MAORI
* of the people opposed 10 him? Cannot Mr..
Webster prove his accusations against the President
without assuming what is false: II seems not-then
the premises being wrongs the supers'ruct1re cannon
stand But he proceeds TO argue from the growth OF
the country involving multiplication of offices and
an increase Of expenditures, that the power OF the
President is too large, but fails TO point out remedy
fo-rettnc that if General Harrison is elected, the
ssme patronage will be welded by him, and part of
il no doubt for the benefit of Webster himself But
Mr. Webster ought to know that the patronage he
speaks of is disadvantage in Republic like ours
10 him who possesses it. Offices under all Governments
must he bestowed on some one, let who will be the
Executiye-there always will be more applicants
than Offices. He who confers the appointments will
always have his partalitles and preJudces These
things are Unavoidable they belong TO the nature o.
man. and spring from the nature OF Government
When therefore the appointing power coniers office
on one gives offence to perhaps ten or more oice-
seekers The bestowment of Office them so far from
brnefttng him Who confers il, is disadvantage But,
supposing be otherwise for argument can 1t be eX-
pccted that danger would accrue TO the Republic when,
to say the least, these Offices sought after by an
equal number of oiceseekers OF each political party,
and whose motives, # not honest It may be presumed,
are LIABLE equal degree, 20 the same susPIcIons:-
B II again this patronage Is disadvantage, because
the moment appointment IS made ot an indi-
yidua who has taken part political questions, he IS
drawn away from the community IN whlchhe resIoeo,
and never fails part with large share OF his moral
and political influence. And indeed, II must be conceded
10 b. true that whenever any such take an active par,
IN political matters in behalf of him who conferred the
oice, his efforts always attended with injurious
th.C N fnpy
against the power which appoints them they are 'nVa-
ribly listened to with confidence and respect because
is presumed that they speak knowingly what they
saw and their testimony does not lie under the same
suspicion, as they generally make the people believe
they are testyng against themselves and at the hazard
their Office. These positions are incontesthty true.
Yet this subject Of patronage has been made the
burden Of Mr.. Webstrr's song in Richmond and mag
nifed by him into something exceedingly dreadful, IN
order to alarm the people with the President 10
prove that this patronage has been thus disastrous TO
those who have welded it, reference might be made to
tie flor; of Messrs Adams and Clay, TO hold on to the
Presidency in ISIS, and 10 the late history OF Nfork,
aid nearly all the States in New England.
The power Of removal from Office also relied on by
Mr. Webster 10 prove that the Executive has too much
influence If the reasoning We have made use OF IN tue
b nent of Office be correct tins at once fas 10 the
ground for President ever would turn man out OF
Office for using exertions to promote his aims
they we're not avail him any thing. Such require
nent would be the of desposm: would out
either Nero or Satgula, IN tnelr y
RAINY. But this power of removal has been conferred
on tic President BY the trainers Of the Constitution for
purposes and however it may have heretofore been
exercised By other Presidents Mr. Van Buren, - alto
gc,her hlameess for the removals made since ms cleo
ton There is evidence that this power mas been
exercised by him in even single instance, that II
demanded by the public interest, and even IN
many instances the sacrifice Of political friend; yet
tbs mild and saluary exercise Of the power OF reno
val has been tortured into hobgoblin for political
purposes aud that too by Mr.. Webster who has uni.
fo-mly been the friend Of as much power, as can be
conferred the President, either directly or by con-
strucon Mr.. Webster says that IN some instances
this ''power has been exercised remorselessly. IN
bringing so grave accusation against MIR. Van
Buren,, ought not Mr.. Webster to have specified the
instances He ought TO have done So Did he al,
lude 10 MIR. Van Rensselaer, II so, that removal
justifabe beyond all doubt, because he was old
and incompetent discharge the duties of Post-Nlas-
Albany-bui had he Seen removed solely to make
way for Mr. Flagg, it was but an act OF retrbuve JUS
tice for not only he but thousand other Democrats
have been removed lust before from Office by the Wing
Governor (Seward1 Of New York In all these re-
m ,yas for opinions sake VIGOROUSLY, and we might
say avowedly, Mr. Webster could see nothing ere
inorseessy' done; but because Mr.. Van Buren, Tor
cause, made single removal in New ork, 1t was re
morseess" Did he alude to Mr.. Campbell? The habits
and ncompetency Of this gentleman are too notorious
require any defence of the President for this
In breath the President abused Tor not turning Out
worthless and incompetent officers, and when ne does
g. is abused for that in 1t that the abuse
in the first instance IS poured out upon him. that N The
second capital may be made of it. 1t IS right tor the
President to discard an incompetent fahess officer;
must it not be wrong for the Wings to keep him com
pany, and any thing lie would say against the Pre-
sidcnt be worthy of credence:
Another means, in the opinion of MIR. Webster by
which the Executive power has reached its present
alarming height, is patronzed press. patron'zed
press Wretched expedient, Mr.. Webster this is
branch Of Executive power easily cut of, that we
are surprised Mr. Webster has not made effort, in
his capacity as Senator, to effect its dlmnuton We
are well convinced, had such step been proposed no
opposition would have been made by the President
But he says "Have you not, men OF Virginia been
mortified to witness the impe which attached
a, Washington to the election Of public printer: we
would ask Mr. Webster, if by this inquiry he meant to
assert that the election of public printer TO do the
printing for Congress had any thing TO do with the