Columbus Democrat., 1841-05-01
OFFICIAL.
no THE PEOPLE OF TMEESTATES

deut of the United States. Upon hlm YOU had
conferred your sutipges for the first office m
your gll, and had selected hum as your chosen
instrument to correct and reform all such errors
and abuses as had manifested themselves from
time to time IN the practical operation Of the
Government While standing at the threshold Of
this great work, he has, by the dlspeasalton Of an
all-wlse Providence, been removed from amongst
Us, and hy the provisions of the Constitution, the
efforts 10 be directed TO the accomplishing OF his
vla,iy important task hays devolyed upon myself
This same occurrence has subjected the wisdom
and suficiency OF our institutions TO a new test.
For the first time in our history, the person elect.
ed to The Vice Presidency of the United Slales
by the happening OF a contingency provided Tor
IN the Constitution, has had devoyed upon hun
the Presidential Office. The sput OF actlon
which is directly opposed to the spirit OF a lofty
patriotism, may find IN this occasion for assaults
upon my administration. And IN succeeding, un-
der circumstances so sudden and unexpected,and
to responsibilities so greatly augmented, 10 the
administration of public affairs, shall place u
the intelligence and patriotism of the people my
only sure reliance. My earnest prayer shall be
constantly addressed to the a-NRe and al-pow.
erfuI Being who made the, and by whose dtspen'
saton am called to the high office Of President
olthIs Contederacy, undersandlngly to carry ou'
the principles of that Constitution which have
sworn "to protect, preserve, aud defend
The usual opportunity which IS afforded to a
Chief Magistrate upon his induction into office Of
presenting TO his countymen an exposition OF the
policy which would guide bis administration, N
the form of an inaugural address, not having, IN.
der the peculiar circumstances which have bronght
me to the discharge Of the high duties Of Ptesr
dent of the United States, been afforded to me,
brief exposition Of the principles which will gov
ern me IN the general course of my administration
of public affairs would seem to be due as well 10
myself as TO you.
In regard to foreign nations, the groundwork
Of my policy will be justice Oh our part to all,
submitting TO injustice from none While shull
seduously cultivate the relations Of peace and am
Ily with one and all, 1t will be my most imperative
duty 10 see that the honor Of the country shall
sustain no bIemlsh. With view to this, the con.
don Of Our military delences will become
matter of anxious solicItude The Army, which
has IN other days covered itself with renown, and
the Navy, not lnapproprIatey termed the right
arm OF the public defence, which has spread
! light Of glory over the American standard in all
the waters Of the earth, should be rendered replee
with efficiency
In view Of the fact well ayouched by history,
that the tendency OF all human Institutions Is 10
concentrated power IN the hands Of a single man,
aud that their ultimate downfall has proceeded
from this cause, deem 1t Of lhe most essential
importance tna1 complete separation should lake
place between the sword and the purse. No mat.
ter where or how the public moneys shall be de-
posted so long as the President can exert the
power Of appointing and removing, at his pleas.
ure, the agents selected for their custody, the
Commandern.chlef OF the Army and Navy is in
fact the Treasurer 4 permanen, and radical
change should therefore be decreed The pat.
ronage incident 20 the Presidential office, already
! great is constantly increasing. Such'mcrease is
destined to keep pace with the growth OF our pop
uaton, until, without figure Of speech an army
| Of oiilce-holders may be spread over the land, -
! The unresraned power exered by sellishly
ambitious man, in order to either perpeuate his
authority or TO hand it over to some avorite as
his successor may lead to the employment Of
all the means within his control to accomplish bls
| object The right to remove from Office while
subjected to no Just restraint is inevitably desti-
ned to produce spirit OF crouching seryllty with
the official corps winch, IN order to uphold the
hand which feeds them, would lead 10 direct aud
active interference IN tho elections, both ltale and
Fedra, thereby subjecIng the course Of State Ie-
gisaton TO the dIctaton Of the Chef Executive
Officer, and making the will Of that officer absc-
lutte and supreme. will, at proper lime, IN
woke the action Of Cong ress upon this subject
and shall readily acquesce in the adoption OF all
proper measures which are calculated 10 arrest
these evils, SO full Of danger n their tendency
| will remove no incumbent from Office who has
faithfully and honestly acquitted himself Of the
duties Of his office, except IN such cases whore
such officer has been guilty Of an active partisan
ship, or by secret means-the less manly,--and
therefore the more oblectonoble--ha gwen bis
official influence 10 the purpose Of party, thereby
bringing the patronage of the Government IN CON
tllct with the freedom OF elections. Numerous
removals NAV become necessary under this rule.
These will be made by me through no acerbity Of
feeling. have had no cause to cheersn or in
duge unkind feelings towards any, bu, my cen
duct will be regulated by profound sense Of
what IS due to the country and lis usluons;uor
shall neglect to apply the same unbendng rule
TO those OF my own appointment. Freedom Of
opinion will be tolerated, the full enjoyment Of |
the suffrage will be maintained, az the brthrght |
OF American citizens, but ! say emphauc4lly TO
the official corps, "lhus far and no farther" ]
have dweII the longer upon this subject because
removals from office likely often TO arise, and
would have my countrymen 10 understand the
principle Of the Executive action.
In all public expenditures The most rigid econ
omy should be resorted to, and as one Of its re-
suits, public debt in time Of peace should be Sc
dulousy avoided. A wise and patriotic consuiu-
ency will nevea object to the imposition OF neces' |
H. i