Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-04-15
no the Eeopge OF ghe United
states.

FEfLOW-LITILEAS BetOfe my ARRIVAL
at the Seat 81 Government, the painful
communication was made 10 you by the
officers presiding over the several Depart
ments Of the deeply regretted death 81
William HESRr HaRHizox, late Pfesi-
dent Of the United States. Upon bin you
had conferred your sDtIrages for The first
Office Ia your gift, and bad selected him
as your chosen instrument to correct and
reform all such errors and abuses as had
manifested themselves ffsa time TO time
IN The practical operation Of the Govern.
ment. While standing at The threshold Of
this great work, he his, by The DISPENSE
ton Of an all wise Providence, been re-
moved from amongst us, and by the pro-
visions Of the Constitution the efforts to
be directed 10 the accomplishing OF this
vitality important task have deYelyed upon
myself. This same occurrence Inns sub.
jected the wisdom and suificieucy Of our
institutions to a new test. For tic first
time in our history the person elected 70
the Vice Presidency Of the United States,
by The happening Of a contingency pio-
vide q for in the Constitution, has had de-
VOWED upon him the Presidential Office.
The spirit of faction, which is directly OPP
posed TO the spirit 81 a lofty patriotism,
may find in this occasion for assaults upon
my administration. Ana in succeeding,
under circumstances SO sudden and Gnex.
pected, and TO responsibilities 50 greatly
augmented, to the administration Of pub
lie affairs, shall place in The intelligence
and patriotism of the People my only sure
reliance. My earnest prayer shall BE-
constantly addressed 10 the all.wiso and
all-powerlbl Being who nude me, and by
whose dispensaton am called the high
office Of President ofthis Confederacy, un
derstandingly % carry out the principles Of
that Constitution which have sworn TO
protect, preserve, and defend"
The-usual opportunity which is afford
ed to a Chef Magistrate upon his iuduc-
ton into Office, Of presenting to bis coun-
trymen an exposition Of the policy which
would guide his administration, in the form
Of an inaugural ad dress, not having, un.
der the peculiar circumstances which
have brought me- to the discharge of the
high duties Of President of the United
States, been afforded to me, brief expo
Stlon of the principles which viii govern
me in the general course of my admins
ira.on Of public affairs would seem to be
due as well to myself as to you. In re.
gard to foreign nations, the groundwork
Of my policy will be justice on our part
to all, submitting to injustice from none.
Whilel shall sedulously cultivate the re.
lations Of peace and amity with one and
all, it will be my most imperative duty to
see that the honor Of the country shall
sustain no blemish. With view to this,
the condition Of our military dciences will
become a matter OF anxious solicItude.
The Army, which has in other days COY.
cred itself with renown, and the Navy,
not appropriately termed the right arm
OF the public defence, which has spread a
light of glory over the American standard
in all the waters Of the earth, should be
rendered replete with efficiency.
| In view of the fact, we'll avouched by
history, that the tendency Of all human in
situations is to concentrate power in the
hands Of single man, and that their ulti-
mate downfall has proceeded from this
cause, | deem it of the most essential i'm
por.ance that "a complete separation should
take place between the sword and the
purse. No matter where or how the pub
lie moneys shall be deposited, SO long as
the President can exert the power Of ap-
pointing and removing, at his pleasure,
the agents selected for their custody, the
Communicating chief of the Army and
Navy is N fact the Treasurer. A per.
manent and radical change should there
fore be decreed. The patronage incident
10 the Presidential Office, already great,
is constantly increasing. Such increase
is destined to keep pace with the growth
Of our population, until, without figure
Of speech, an army Of otficeholders may be
spread over the land. The unrestrainod
power exerted by selhshly ambitious
man, in order either to porpetuate his au-
thority or 10 hand it overto some fayorite
as his successor, may lead to the employ
ment of all the means within his control to
accomplish his object The right to re-
move from office, while subjected to no
Just restraint, is inevitably destined to
produce a spirit of crouching servilty
with the official corps, which, IN order to
uphold the hand which feeds them, would
lead to direct and active interference in
the elections, both State and Federal,
thereby sublecting the course Of State lie.
\ gisaton TO the diclation of the Chief Elk.
ecutiye Officer, and making the will Of
that officer absolute and supreme. will,
at proper time, invoke the action oil
Congress upon this subject, and shall
readily acquiesce in the adoption Of all
proper measures which are calculated TO
arrest these evils, so full Of danger in their
tendency. will remove no incumbent
from office who has faithfully and honest.
ly acquitted himself of the duties Of his
office, except in such oass where such
officer has been guilty Of an active parti-
zanship, or by secret means-the less
manly, and therefore the more obec-
tionable--hes given his official influence
to the purposes of party, thereby bringing
the patronage Of the Government in con-
4 flict with the freedom Of elections. M.
merous removals may become necessary
under this rule. These will be made by
me through no acerbity o. feeling.
have had no cause to cherish or indulge
unkind feelings toward any, but my con-
4