The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-02
THE SOLE ORGAN AND MIR. EWING.


lished it, that the allegation in its columns
that Mr.. EWING had 'plundered the wild
ows and orphans of revolutionary SOL
diers," was an allegation without sylla
BILE of truth in it.
The allegation that he had fitted out
a gold-mining expedition to California by
the plumber Of the treasury, or in any
other way, is still another shameless false
hood, and known to be such to the Union.
The motive of these attacks upon Mr..
EWING is obvious. He has been odious
to the Locofoco leaders ever since he ex-
posed their infamous robberies in the Post
Office Department. The peculators and
plunderers have abominated him, from the
days Of s'extra- allowance" down to the
days of commercial speculations. y
MIR. JEFFERSON ON REMOVALS FROM
OFFICE.
The position Of the present Administra-
ton in reference to removals from office
more nearly resembles that of the Admin
istration of Mr.. JEFFERSON than any other;
and it is equally true that the course Of
the opposition press in regard to General
TAYLOR very nearly resembles that Of the
FederaGsts towards Mr.. JEFFERSON.
There was, however, this vast differ
ence between the course of the opposition
of 1901 and that of 1849: the former were
never guilty of the excuses of the latter,
with the exception, perhaps, Of Mr.. JET
PERSONS own renegade protege, Calender;
for where could have been found the OPP
position editor Of those days capable of in
diting such articles as now fill the columns
Of the Locofoco journals; or the opposition
Office holder, so full of enmity and all Bit
terness, and SO tenacious of place, as to
put forth such scurrilous letters as those of
ENGLISH and THOMPSON And yet we
see that this Mr.. THOMPSON is now re-
garded as one of the " elite" of the Vir-
ginia Democracy, and worthy to be spoken
of as their Governor But to the points
of resemblance alluded to, and the proofs
/. When Mr.. JEFFERSON came into
power, nearly every officer Of Government
was Federalist and this was made
ground of removals. What says Mr..
Tucker, in his Life of jefferson
OF course, when Mr. jefferson came to the
chair of state, he found every man in Office, whe-
Their high low, opposed to him, and actlated by
bitter and determined opposition" (see English
and Thompsons letters, for their exertions in the
late presidential canvass. They were, therefore, not
likely to give the most efficient support TO the Adj
ministration they had opposed; and so long the
discounted party continued in the field, they'' (the
Office -holders) exposed to the temptation OF
acting as auxiliaries. The very apprehension or
supposed probability of this would create distrust,
and prevent that confidence and free intercourse be-
tween the higher and lower functionaries of the
Government, which was necessary 10 an harmo-
NOUS and efficient action. Public policy, then,
seemed against giving the whole influence Of Office
the adversares Of the Administration and the OPP
ponents of the popular will. Nor was it consonant
to natural justice that all the Offices of emolument
and distinction should belong TO a party which
constituted minority of the nation, and whose
principles the nation had disavowed Besides, LOUD
the friends of General TAyLoR) were raised by
Of the successful party for the removal of their
opponents, both for the sake Of Furnishing political
heresy and for REGARDING De faithful"
This, remember, is the picture Of the
so much Wanted Democratic anti-pro-
scription, drawn by historian entirely ia
vorable to Mr.. JEFFERsoN's administra-
ton. 1t may be true that there were many
who took less guillotining view Of this
subject; and Mr.. JEFFERSON himself af-
fected greater liberality and tolerance.
But his supporters, " ardent as southern
sun could make them," thought that
" something was due from the chief to
the party who had elevated him, even at
some sacrifice of his own opinion of erpe-
diency TO their wishes" This sacrifice
Mr.. JEFFERSON was compelled to make.
However, his own "opinion of expe-
diency" afforded range enough for thou
sand fold more removals than would now
be sufficient to raise the Locofoco howl
and cry of prescription In letter to
Mr.. GILES, he expresses his determine
ton, LIST, to remove all who had been APP
pointed by Mr.. ADAMS after the result Of
the presidential election was known; I'd,
all who had been guilty of misconduct I;
Sd, not to remove any for mere political
opinion, ercept marshnls and attorneys Of
the federal courts. Surely here is room
and verge enough, and his views were
thus circumscribed solely by expediency;
for fear, as he said in letter to Mr.. Mon
ROE, that " deprivations Of office, if made
on the ground of political principles alone,
would revolt new converts, and give a
body to leaders who stand alone"
But we shall soon see that the views Of
his ardent supporters were those which
mainly prevailed. Mr.. JEFFERSON him
self found the process he most approved
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