The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-20

language OF the department, and to say to the va
rious editors now employed, that they were not TO
expect continuation Of the favor of Government,
unless they would submit to support to the fullest
extent, the doctrines and wishes of the Department
OF State. But the effect Of such course of things
was calculated TO operate not only ON those who
now print the laws, but all those who might have
any desire to print them. II thus calculated
to operate, and did actually operate, ESQ far it
went to control the freedom of the press,) to enlist
throughout the country that powerful instrument in
behalf of the views Of the State Department. In
tis respect il much e6ectual and much
dangerous than he Jarfamed alien and sedition
iaiDs"
On the 9Th of February, 1927, Mr.. Hamilton, of
South Carolina while considering the same subject,
said:
"If an administration thus crcumstanced has
any patronage incident TO the PRESS il will be sure
TO use it in best calculated to render the
power of this mighty engine subservent to their pc
culiar and exclusive interest This, however, is n
matter Of great delicacy, and must be managed
with consummate caution. The lion must be muz-
zed before the moose is thrown round his neck. IL
will, therefore, be found that the process of subs-
dizing new converts, and of prescribing stubborn
and intractable incumbents, will be gradual, that
the public mind may not be alarmed by any sud-
den and violent changes--that in the good work
there may not be more haste than speed" **
"Sir, depend upon it," the press "would be put on
the diet ofa wholesome regimen, and in the course
Of a sautary discipline. The sturdy and independ-
ent would be turned out TO be fed such offals
should open in full and harmonious cry, in one
common note, from the sturdy mastf, that howls
at the door OF the treasury, to the most starveng
turnspit that barks in the furthest verge of
fronter-eyen TO the wilderness of our Indian soil
tudes."
Thus have shown that General jackson was
carried into and through the canvass Of 1928 with
the avowal Of the most liberal and generous senti
inents on his part as To the administration of pa
tronage, and with declarations of the utmost repug
nance and adherence ON the part Of his friends TO
the proscriptive policy. He was elected triumph
antly, and the eastern front of this Capitol, in
his inaugural address, threw before the country the
following just sentiment:
the recent demonstration of public sentiment
inscrbes the list of Executive duties in charac
ters too legible to be overlooked the task Of REFORM
which will require particularly the correction of
those abuses that have brought the patronage of the
Federal Government into conflict with the freedom
Of elections, and the counteraction of those
which have disturbed the rightful course Of ap-
pontment, and have placed or continued power in
tnfaithful or incompetent hands"
No doubt il was his duty To correct such abuses
had ''disturbed the rightu course of appointment,
and placed or continued power in unfaithful or in
competent hands," but this was To be done in such
way not to constitute another abuse, by bringing
''the patronage of the Government into conflict
with the freedom of elections" General Jackson
did not say, with the honorable Senator sit is not
the policy of making removals assai;' but he de-
nounced it as an abuse. No competent or faithful
officer to be turned out for opinions sake, but
he to act on the noble principle Of the Monroe
letter: "1hs Chief Magistrate Of great and poper
fl nation should indulge party feeling; his
conduct should be liberal and disnEsresied alioays
Gearing IN mind that he acts for the iohoe and not
part Of the community" In order 10 just appreci-
alton of what followed, il should be borne in mind
that the proscrptive policy was then entirely un-
known TO this Government.
l.. Itappears from House document No. l32, first
session Doth Congress, that General Washington.
in his administration Of eight years, removed (of
officers appointed by the President, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate) only ten to
wit two in 1892, two in '94, five in '95, and one
in '97.
2. That Mr. Adams, (the elder, } in his admins
traton Of four years, removed only eight, 10 wit;
three in 1877, one in '9s, two in '99, and two in
lS00-one Of the last being Timothy Pickering,
Secretary Of State, Also that be refused TO renom-
mate to the Senate at the expiration of their re-
spective commissions, three, TO wit; one in 1895
and two in 49,
3, That in the administration Of Mr.. jefferson,
Of eight years, there ffty-eight removals, To
wit thirty three in 1s02, twenty three in 1903,
and two in 1904; and that he did not renominate AT
the expiration Of their commissions, iour-two in
1902, one in 1903, and one n 1901.
These removals were made upon the principle Of
equalization.
In 1901, Mr. Jefferson appointed Samuel Bishop
collector Of the port Of New Haven. removing
Elizur Goodrich, revolutionary character, at
which the merchants OF that city took offence and
addressed him on the subject. He replied as fol-
lows:
''if due participation Of office il a matter Of
right, how arc vacancies TO be obtainedl Tbose
by death few-by resignation none. Can any
other mode than that Of removal be proposed T!
This is painful office; but il is made my duty,
and meet II as such"
In a speech delivered in the Senate, February 9,
1885, the honorable Senator from Missouri (Mr.
BEsTos) stated the principle upon which Mr.. JEFF
ierson acted, as follows;
"Thc elder Mr.. Adams appointed none but Fed
eralsts, and Mr.. Jefferson had 10 turn portion Of
them out in order 70 get in portion Of the Repub-
icans; and Mr. jefferson had told him (Mr. n. }
that he never carried changes far enough.-that he
had not done Justice 10 his own party"
May not President Taylor do justice to his own
friends' May he not act on the Old Jcfiersonian
principle Of equalizatiOns The honorable Senator
(Mr. b. seems 20 have forgotten that he received
his first commission at the hands Of Mr.. Jeffcr-
con, and was, ne he says in letter already cited,
"rearcd in his political creed"
4. II also appears. from the same document that
in Mr.. Madison's administration Of eight years
there were seventeen removals 10 wit: one in 1909
two in 1871 one in 1912, in 1874, three in 1915
one in 1916, and eight in 1871; and that he did
not rcnominate 70 the Senate two, 10 wit: one in
1871, and one in 1914
s. That in Mr.. Monrcc's administration Of eight
years there we're seventeen removals, 10 wit: four
in 1871, one in ISIS, ono iu 1919 two in ls2O two
an 1921, one in 1923, four in 1894. and one in isis
and that he declined TO rcnominate 10 the Senate
only one.
four year. there we're four removals. 10 wit two in
lS25, two in 1926, and one in 1925 and that nc did
not renominate TO the Senate eight. 10 wit one in
1877. four in ls2s. and three in 1879.
RkcAPrTULArIoS.
Washington removed 10 Not renominaied. 49,. o
Jefferson s.