The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-05


Deity constituted it, and to rise above the cir
cumslances and condition of things in the sphere
OF which Deity has ordained human nature to
move. that man who would, iii the Executive
chair, thus yield himself TO be not merely the
prey, but the sport and mockery also of his enc
mics, IN the expectation of adding thereby to
the purity of Government or of his Admnisira-
ton, would richly deserve the fate that would
most surely overwhelm him, and die, both OFF,
ciay and physically,
" Unwept, unhonord, and unsung."
True 1t is, the patronage of Government be-
longs to no one man, to be welded for his lndl-
vldual ACKNOWLEDGMENT. But, true il is, that the
patronage of the Government, IN the beginning,
progress, and ending Of its designs, const-
tutes the ways and means wherewith the princl-
pies and policy of the Government, imbodied
in its Administration for the time being, are TO
be sustained and defended and he who makes
that patronage in any degree subservient to
defeat or hindrance of the free operation and
full consummation of those principles and that
policy Of administration, is recreant 10 his Off
ment for the time being. If one in Office be
conscentlously an enemy-if, in the honesty
and patriotism of his heart, he is hostile to the
Government, as administered, he ought to retire
from office voluntarily, and manfuUy exert his in
fiuence in favor Of change IN the Administra-
ton. If he will not do this, neither from self
| respect, nor from respect to the great principle
| that every influence Of the Executive Govern
ment ought to harmonize IN carrying out the
policy Of the administration, for aotich the E.re
cutiUe is being held and is holding himself &C
countdble to the people, such one, and every
such one, ought, in justice, and upon the sound
est principles of policy, to be displaced. 1t is
| not for the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of the man in the
Executive chair, that such a line Of duty and
obligation arises for the perpetual observance of
men holding station under an Administration
| For only such paltry, narrow, personal ends, zoe
should scorn the doctrine. But 1t is for the
safety and success of the great principles of po-
| lily that are imbodied in the Administration
and which must stand or fall with the Admins
tration, that we assert the doctrine and fear
lessly maintain it., as every Administration
has done, in practice, from the day when our
Federal Constitution was first endowed with
motive power.
| Does any man think that the House of Re-
representatives. or Senate would justify them
selves, or stand justified before the country, were
they to keep subordinate officers, who should
make matter of every day effort to thwart and
bring into disrepute, were it in the power Of
such subordinates to do so, the legislation OF
those branches respectively, or should be inces-
sanity pouring forth invective and ISLANDERS upon
the acts, motives, and characters Of the indivi-
dual members?
| Does any man believe that the Judiciary de-
parment would feel itself justified in retaining
clerks, or other subordinates, known to be in
cessantly engaged, to the extent Of their oppor-
tunity, in perverting the ends Of justice, as adj
ministered by their courts, or in misrepresent-
ing and bringing into odium the judicial admin
| istrations of the members of the court?
And why then is such suicidal submissive
ness to be asked or expected of the Executive
branch of Government
| We desire not to see the patronage OF the
Government in the hands of any Executive
brought into conflict with the freedom o.! cleo
tons of the people. We have President who
disdains the thought of it. We would not up
hold any Executive in sending forth official
mnons to persuade, beguie or intimdate the
free suffrages of the people. The present EX-
ecutive has no such servile instruments. But
there is a marked difference between doing
this much on the one hand, and repelng on
the other, the assaults of the enemies OF the
Executive Adminstration-assaults that are
designed to destroy it. He who cannot, as
part of an Administration, conscientiously repel
assalants when approached by them, ought to
cease to be part of such Administration. He
who, on the other hand, as part Of an Admi-
nisration, is so regardless of the proper re-
strants Of official station as to become himself
an assailing party to coerce or cajole the people
to yield support to an Administration, of which
he is part offends no less the true line of official
obligation, and as the President has heretofore
admonished his subordinates, such will render
themselves no less obnoxious than the other
class TO removal from Office. Difficult as may
be the execution of even handed justice in all
these matters, we have confidence in the reso-
luton Of the present Executive, to accomplish it.
Mistakes, doubtlessly, may be made, in acting
upon scale SO extended as is the official pa
tronage and power of the National Government.
Deceptions, too, will be practised, under nu
merous guises. Nay, deceptions, gross, un-
princped, and base, have already been prac
Used upon the President, in instances within
our knowledge, through the fawning sycophan-
cy and office seeking mania that have actuated
some who now hold office. But, the cases OF
| H. |, he proparv vioit