Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-21
NUMBER 1856.
FOR THE AMERICAN ORGAN
Question of Impeachment, and Eternal
Vigilance

should like to see the "question of impeach
ment," and the principle of eternal vigilance,
discussed at large in the Organ, in regard to thc
offence OF bringing the Executive patronage in
conflict with the freedom of elections
You correctly say, In your paper of Monday, that
the right Of suffrage lies at the foundation OF our
republican system of government both State and
Federal"
| You refer to General Jackson's inaugural nd
dress, in which he denounces those abuses which
| have brought the patronage OF the Federal Gov.
ernment into conflict with the freedom of cleo.
| tons, (and) "causes which have disturbed the
rightful course of appointments, and have placed
| or continued power in unaithful or incompetent
| hands,"
You quote Mr.. Jefferson's declaration to Gov.
Mexican, that " the constitutional remedy, (n cor.
recting official abuses, of course by the elective
principle becomes nothing, if it may be smothered
by the enormous patronageof the General Govern
ment.' Also the circular Of his Cabinet saying
The President Of the United States has seen with
dissatisfaction, officers of the General Government
taking, OH various occasions active part in elec.
tions of public functionaries, whether Of the Gen
eral or State governments"
You also quote the circular of General Harrison's
Cabinet, to the same purport of Mr.. Jefferson.
viz:
"The President is of opinion that II is great
abuse to bring the patronage OF the General Gov
and that this abuse ought to be corrected where
ever it has been permitted to exist, and to be pre-
vented for the future" &c.
Notwithstanding the above dena,.ciations and
endedpors, by Presidents and their Cabinets. to
correct those abuses, perpetratcd by subordinate
federal officers, for whose acts the Executive was
responsible, we find the same evil not only in.
creased in the subordinate officers but both coun-
tenanced and put in practice to great extent by
the high executive officers themselves, thereby
taking upon themselves the responsibility Of this
intracton of vital provision of the constitution,
80 as to involve, at last, question of impeach-
ment for IT it be not violation of the very letter
OF the constitution, it is violation of the intent
and spirit of positive provision Of that fnndanen
tai law, IN establishing the elective franchise"
When that constitutional franchise "5eeo,acs
noMsag,'" smothered by the enormous patronage
OF the General Government" what are all the
other guarantees and guards of the constitution
worth Echo says, not the ''s,ap of your finger p
For such violation of the constitutional rights of
popular sovereignty" which is the very basis and
foundation of all our systems of government, can
be regarded in no other light than the violation of
the most vital principle and provision of the con.
sttutlon, and therefore is IMPEAcHABLE ms one of
the highest offences of treason against the funda.
mental law OF the land, which they have sworn to
obey and protect
1t is but too manifest that If the abuses by mi
nor officers called for correction by removal at thu
hands of the EXECUTIVE the same abuses by the
call for correction at the hands of Con.
sress-there being no other power to arrest their
progress and their consummation in the subver-
'on OF the government, and the establishment of
/ should like to see this ~e~.s-
,ussed in the Oryan and at the ratification meeting
his evening A SUBSCRIBER.