Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1849-04-12
m. sBFFEasox o. nENovA1s.


The letter Of Mr. Jefferson containing bis yiews
on he subiee, Of removals from once was written
aler his accession 10 The PRESIDENCY So impcftanl
says he National Whis. did he deem il 70 have bis
principle Of action rightly understood ch ihis point
that he departed from the usual course 81 official
etiquette aud answered with bis own hand the letter
Of demonstrating committee in resrsnee o certain
spPoinments and removals We quote ft9m Mr.
Jrrscas answer one Of lis nost pregnant passages:
sThe removal, as il is called, Of Mr Good
rich, forms another subject Of complaint
Declarations By myself in favor Of political
toicxdAct, exhortations to kdrRoay and If,
fectien in social intercourse, and respect for
the egaal riglfs Of the minority have, on
certain occasions, been quoted ard miscon-
strued into assurances that the tenure Of Of
fees was to be nndisturled But could can
dor apply such ! constructions II Is not,
indeed, in the remonstrance that We and II
but it leads to the explanations which that
calls for. When II is considered that during
the late administration, those who were not
Of particular sect Of politics, were excluded
from all Office; when, By steady pursuit Of
this measure, nearly the whole Offices Of the
United States were monopolizcd BY that sect
when the public sentiment at length declared
itself, and burst open the doors Of honor and
confidence to those whose opinions they more
approved, was il to be imagined that this
monopoly Of Office was still TO be continued
in the hands Of the minority. Does il yio-
late their equal rights to assert some rights
in the majority alsol Is il political iaitoier-
aaoe to claim . proportionatc share in the
direction of the public affairs Can they
not harMoatse in society unless they have
everything in their own hands2 Ifthc viii
of the nation, manifested by their various
elections, calls for an administration Of gov
eminent according with the opinions of those
elected; if for the fulilment Of that viii,
displacements are necessary, with whom can
they so justly begin as with persons appoint
ed in the last moments Of an administration,
not for its own aid, but to begin a career at
the same time with their successors, by whom
they had never been approved, and who could
scarcely expect from them cordial co-opcra-
tionl Mr. Goodrich was oneof these. Was
it proper for him to place himself in Office,
I without knowing whether those whose agent
hclwas to be, would have confidence in his
agency Can the preference of another,
as the successor to Mr. AUSTIN be candidly
called a remova! Of Mr. Goodrieha If due
participation of Office is q matter Of right,
how are vacancies TO be obtained Those
by death are few. BY resignation neae -
Can any other mode than that oEEemoval Rt
! proposed2 This is painful Office. But il
is made my duty and meet it as such, -
I proceed insihc operation with dclibcration
and inquiry. tia! itsmay injure the best men
/ least, and effect the purposes Of justice and
public utility with the least private distress
that it may be thrown, as much as possible
on delinquency on oppression, on intolerance
on anti revolutionary adherence to our enc
mics"
The exclusion and monopoly 50 strongly depictet
above were distinguishing traits of the Jackson
Van Buicn and Polk ADMINISTRATORS.