Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-06-24
PROSCRlPTION-A GLIMPSE OF HIS.
TORY

1Ok1.
In popular government. which isdcsigned
20 exist only for the good OF the people, and
not for tho emolum mt Of class or a party. il
might be expected that the principle would
be held sacred, that every office should be con-
f2rred with a single eye to the capacity and
fidelity OF the officer, and his fitness for the
particular trust. So the trainers of our gov
mcnts intended that IL should be administered
and for long time such was the principle
almost universally observed is remarked
however as matter of boas,ing BY recent
writer i'm the "UNIoN,' that a different prac-
ticc was introduced by Mr.. JEFF .rson. and re-
vived with more extensive application by
Gen. jackson. That distinguished States
man, Gen. Jackson. however, deemed il his
duty to exercise wholesome Gciiuity," saws,
this writer Gin the cause Of reform and the
porer Of remooGi." That which may have
been under him the result of vigorous passions.
became under his successor an organized sys-
tenn OF corruption. practiccd in every depart
ment OF government, for the sole purpose of
continuing powcrin the hands ofits possessors
AT length il Is openly and shanelessly ayowcd
as the established maxim of a party, which
has again 'Plaquemmed" itself into the pos
session of the government, that all public
trusts, from the highest TO the lowest, are to
be bestowed as rewards to those who contrib
ute most efficiently to the success of the party.
We have not been surprised to hear the mere
penny-whistles of faction such as the Vince
ling Argus, recently call upon the administra-
ton to leave not wing in Office but to expel all
without respect TO their fitness, merely to make
room Tor Democrats, with as little respect 10
their fitness for public trusts. But we might
well be shocked to hear the same outcry from
the highest authorities Of the party Not to
name all, the u. s. Journal has been clamor
Gus for greater ''activity," in the ..powcr of
removal" Several grave writer's for the
Union have sounded the same key i'm the
organ, without rcbuke. He who avowcd the
dctestablc maxim, that ''to the victors belong
the spoils, on the very floor of the Senate, is
promoted to high place in the Cabinet: and
everywhere the practice of the administration
too much conforms to the doctrine.
In defence of the practice, a writer whom
we have already quoted, refers to the debates
III the first Congress, Ia prove that in the opin
ION oil that body the Constitution confcrs upon
the Presi lent the power to remove officers
That conclusion is not denied. but the impor-
tant consideration for the people of the present
day, Is not 80 much where the power of reno
val is lodged, but, hOD IL is erercised. And
IN order, that those who pcrvert and abuse this
power Tor corrupt purposes, may not shield
themselves under the authority of illustrious
anu venerable names, we shall refer our rea.
ders to some passages in the debate on That
momentous occasion, when the House of Rep.
resentatives declared the power of removal
to reside in the President
IL has been justly remarked, that the me
qualled character of that man, on whom all
expected the first Presidency TO devolve. as in
Tact II did, led his compatriots who framed the.
constitution To confer in that instrument pres,-
crpowers upon the Executive than their prn-
dence would otherwise have granted. I'm like
manner, the influence of that character ,,,,,.
DC perceived, i'll the debate which took place
under his administration, upon the or .s,ion
before us Indeed one OF the Reprcsant,t;vss
lMr. Smith. remarked in this deb,te---..ner.
baps, gentlemen arr 90 much daz.l.d with tho
spiendor OF the virtues of the present President.
washington, as not to b. alb, Ia see into
tuturity' We cannot decide how far tb;s
admiration for that illustrious man. uncon.
scio"sly Influenced those who hch tina, ,be
power oil removal belonged to the Executive
bH' u'"y have left a record Of the high expcc-
'aiions. which they entertained in regard ibis
successors, aud that very rccod.is the sterncst
"bukc OF those Who invoke their names a.
authority Tor tie practices now so prryalcu,
lhls dee1te aros' upon proposition TO es.
'apIish department OF Foreign Affairs Of
winch The Chief officer should Oh, removable
by thc President The authors of ,,,. colo
b1ted writings over tic signature or .P..-
Illus had expressed The opinion. that u,d..
the Constitution, "tbc consent Of The Sc,s,.
would b. necessary 20 displacc as we'll q.
appoint" Some Of the m,inbers Of Como.
held the sam doctrine, and it was ,o,,.cJ .,
strike out the claus giving the President now
trto remove the head Of The Department .,
Foreign Affairs. Upon Ibis motion the ,cLoI
question OF ia" power Of the Executive alone
iodisplacc lfi5h Officers. was discussed co..
i'.Ily. and with an ability seldom surpassed
even IN that boly.
I'd constitutional ground on which +, ,.s.
o. length d"ci ted tlat. tie President +, ioves
ted wiih this authority, was clearly stated r..
W. Madison several times in TIE debate
A. wr bay NJ intention her 10 disou,o IL,