Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-04-27
p OIL III @ a u
w Ii ! G. A ID ID r L S S A..
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA
CONCLUDED.
Tie One-Isrm Princinle.

since avowed by the Wing party, uniior,ul Y
unanimously, and zealousIy maintained by them
and, at the same time, disregardcd repudiated
and sco1cd at by their adversaries: We refer 70
the doctrine that no President of tho United
States should be regarded as eligible for second
term Of Mat office.
! Whether this principle be introduced in the
form OF constitutional provision, Of custom
established by the popular will, is not very mate
mai The Wing party, in all its members, is too
ilrmly committed upon this question ever TO sup
port candidate for second term; and every in
dividual who now has the confidence of the party,
is openly pledged to maintain the doctrine, as
well in his own case, rs in the case of another
The Democratic party, on the contrary, by prac-
tice and avowai, maintain that their President
shall hold the oilic0 for two successive terms
at least and in the case of Andrew Jackson.
some of them seriously considered the expedency
of trampling under foot the prccept and example
Of the father of our country, by holding up their
idol for an election to third term of Office.
To those who have marked our political con-
tests for the last twenty years, and thus been en-
abled To trace 10 its true source that perricious
dogma, that the Offices Of the Government should
be bestowed by tho President with the leading in
tent to strengthen and lorlify his administration,
upon party grounds, no argument is necessary TO
shew the propriely and vital importance OF the
one term principle. Without the establishment
of this rule, we verify believe that our institutions
will continue to be perverted from their high aud
holy purpose, Of promoting and securing the liber-
ty and happiness OF great people, 10 the wretch
ed end OF subscribing the ambition of one man,
and the greediness for power and plumber of his
followers The President, when first elected,
must have some high or imposing claim TO the ia
your of the country: remove from him all strong
temptation TO beiray their confidence, by perveri
ing, to selfish ends the power entrusted him for
the public good, and his aim will be 10 build
m in, tl,fa .s,,A
country, by an honest and patriotic administra-
ton. But allow that President, honest if YOU
please, In the beginning, 10 be, during his first
term of Office, ono of the candidates iuf another
term, and what are you TO eXpect,--not from the
virtue of Washington, but from men of ordina-
ry, irail human nature,-what will be the proba-
ble nay, the almosner,ain course of The aspirant
Tor othce! VIII he,forget himself and his hopes
OF continuing his power, and the sweets of Office?
With sure means in his hands of securing the
prize-wil he hold the trust fund sacred TO the
use OF the people, and not to be touched by him
SELF All experience says, no: admittedly ir-
resistible is the temptation, that to yield is con-
sidered venial, even by the viruous: and by ma
ny is regarded as a virtue itself. In the pure and
early days of the republic. when the land had
been just purified by the fire of revolution, and
political proi'igacy almost unknown; when
Washington presided over, and, with our patriot
fathers, ruled the affairs OF the nation: even then
1t was considered and decided that Washington
himself ought not 10 be candidate for third
term. The ground of his refusal is, in principle,
the same which we now occupy that possession
OF the Office, with all its influence and patronage,
Is inconsistent with the position OF a candidate
is vantage ground over all opponents, and over
the people themselves. How UNNECESSARILY
greater has this influence and patronage become
In the progress of our affairs, and how much more
liable TO abuse The construction placed by ev-
cry administration, from Washington to Monroe
inclusive, upon the relative rights of the Pres-
dent and the heads Of departments, forbade any
direct control by the President, of the patronage
appcrtaning 10 the several departments. WashS
lngton complained in vain to Mr.. Jefferson of the
personal and vruent attacks of man who held
an Office in the State Department; and Monroe's
application, OF behalf of a friend, for an Office
made 10 one of his own secretaries, was fatty re-
Jected.--Now, the President is the exclusive al
moner of the Government; and the amount of
Government patronage has swollen and multiple
ed to so vast and fearful extent, seriously to
threaten, If indeed it has not already overtbrown,
the balance Of the Constitutional
We not left to speculative argument to
prove that this immense influence aud patronage
will be perverted by President, who is a can
didaie for re-olecton; that every proper consider
alton OF the public treasure, the public veal. of
decency and morality, will be sacrificed in the
pursuit of selfish and party endS.-The records of
congresslona! inquiry, which are to farnsh ma
iot HiSlOIy Oh our country, present
picture OF such Infamous corruption, in this res
pect, as TO make the cheek Of every true Virgin
ian, OF every homes, American. burn with shame
when he reads or recoilects them. Do YOU not
remember the correspondence in relation to the
land Offices, where men in office were reported as
shameless plunderers Of the public treasure, ac-
knowledged deiaulters and rogues, with Il rceom-
mendation that they should be continued in Office
because they and their friends had political inlu-
ence, which was at the service of the President,
upon condition that they were retained And
these recommendations were complied with in
every case, TO the letter. Here is written, in let
teIs c iire, warning to the country to eradicate
this evil OF an eiectloneering president.
The host ef 6efaulters in Office, which has ap-
PeaTed in the last ten years, DISGUSTING the hon
est, d!smaylng The patriotic and sapping the pub
TIC morals Is but the odious progeny of election
eerihg Chief Magistrates. All other dualifca-
lions Tor Office but political zeal and Influence
have been disregarded from the highest judicial
seat to the meanest post OF tde-waiter, all have
been used but as brides and rewards for par.izan-
snip; and the natural consequence has followed
IN the abuse and corruption which abounds in ev-
cry department. The facts are undeodblc, that
the patronage ofthe goyerumenthas been bestow-
cd upon party grounds, and that lamentable de-
gree OF Incapacity, unhtnesS, and dishonesty in
olhcc, has been exhibited within the last ten OF
hiteen years. Would this be done without, a mo-
1--WE! was ever President of the United States
SO base or foolish to sacrifice the interests Of
the country and his own fame, when no advan-
tage was to accrue to himself from the sacrifice
Never! Take away his interest in d second
election, and you purify tire fountain of patronage,
Is the party who would seal up for ever this
source OF corruption and abuse, or tat which, for
no good purpose, would keep it open, most the
friends OF the personal independence and virtue of
the cIIlzen-the best entitled TO the confidence
and support of the peoplc9