Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1855-12-13
The Prescription of ur. Il. ID. Farms
worth.

WOrtns
rE- The communication of Mr.. E. D. FARMS
WORTH, in the Patriot, so far as it complains OF
prescription for opinions sake, comes with very
poor grace from one who is U''der oath to pro-
scribe a certain class OF American citizens from
Office if blessed with the opportunity. 1.-The poi
soned chalce" has been commended to his own
lips" Why should he complain that the measure
meted BY him to others is measured to himsef?-
| Union and american
| Such remarks as the above, it strikes US,
come with "poor grace from the organ Of
party whose clamor about the prescription of
/ foreigners has made the country for months
( past very Bedam.
! The Union and american need not expect
to shield the Administration, by endeavorirg
to divert public attention from the aggravated
nature OF the removal Of Mr.. FarnswOrth.
II has never been denied, in ny quarter, that
Mr. F. discharged the duties of the Office from
which he was removed in such q manner as to
render complete satisfaction. Indeed, so high
" were his services estimated by the Board of
Supervisors, that they parted with him most
reluctantly, aGd had the matter been left to
them he would never have been dismissed. His
only offeuse was that he had embraced the
American faith, and declined to take part in
getting mp Democratic Club. Any one &C
Gaain.ed with the policy of the Democratic
party, knows well enough that he might have
sworn a thousand "horrid oaths to "pro-
scribe a certain class of American citizens from
Office" and no notice would have been taken
of it to his prejudice, had lie continued to sup
port the Administration and to work for the
party. But this, he did not DO, and the order
went forth "off with his head ~ And in such
hot haste was the bloody executioner who
wields the axe of the Treasury Department,
to make a victim of him, he did not even stop
to ascertain what office he filled, but removed
him from the office of Inspector of Boilers"
whereas he held the office Of "lnSpector of
HulLsr A beautiful specimen Of Cabinet
work that, neighbor of the Union and Ameri-
can! The act of dismissal was oppressive and
tyrannical; and was made mole so, by the
subsequent refusal of Mr.. Guthrie to inform
( Mr. F. whether his removal was based upon
charges affecting his honor and integrity.
This is point in the case, which the Union
and AmericGn would gladly avoid, as there is
serious danger of being impaled upon it. But
it is one which the people will scrutnize with
"a Jealous eye. They are deeply interested in
knowing whether it is correct policy in a gov
ermnent like ours, to condemn and crush
subordinate officer without hearing lest his
L. 4
of justifyIng lis acts" The acknowledgment
of claim like this, is to make the Cabinet
petty despots, clothed with power to trample
upon individual rights, and to render our in
situations a curse rather than blessing.
/ We are of the opinion that the removal Of
Mr.. Farnsw0rth, under the circumstances, was
gross usurpation of power. The law Great
/ ing the office does not limit the term; neither
does ii confer on the Secretary of the Treasury
the power to remove except for neglect Of
duty proceed upon Investigation. No charge
of neglect of duty has been brought against
Mr.. F.; and in the absence of such a charge
made, and proved, for the law provides that
the offending officer shall have hearing,-to
remove him for political reasons, was, we re-
peat, gross, aud We may add, tyranncal
usurpatlon of power. But we need not be
surprised at any encroach ment on the rights
of individuals that the administration may
make In its "wid hunt" after the sweet
voices of foreigners, it cannot brook the
spirit that dares TO protest against beStowing
American offices on. the hordes of ignorant
and servie subjects of European Monarchs
who come here TO defie our temple of liberty