Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-04-16
Freedom Of Elections f,om Executive Inter
ference.

tendency Of modern politics has brought Us The
interference Of the Executive. through IFS
numerous and supple officials. with the freedom
Of elections. The Norfolk papers furnish an op.
nor,uue illustration of this. in the conduct Of
certain oficers of the Navy Yara.st Portsmouth.
Al the recent municipal election vigilance com
m,tees. made up in great part of boss 'wortmen
and contractors. were appointed to operate among
the amyloyees and lsl,orers Of The Navy Yard.
and induce them. by he dread Of being dscharg
ed. 10 vote the Democratic ticket. A short time
AGO Portsmouth gave several hundred american
majority, bu, under the terror-systen introduced
a, the late election tina, majority vas reversed.
A. sequel 10 The plan. we learn from the Nor
folk Herald Il the ll,h that nineteen men who
had the Independence 10 vote the American tick
e, we're discharged ou the 10th. Thu. the spir-
it II prescription descend- from the President to
;hs u1~sn~s, ofsc;al under him. and every menial
cf ra~er eeeoaes petty ;yrant. to restrain the
independence Of ibe people and eoeree the tree
dom Il ID. papsiar wia.
The Washington Sentinel avows itself in favor
81 the one term principle FOR tie Presidency.
assigning ms IL reason The onase advantage The
incumbent b. IN controlling the action II the
people by the distribution Of The enoraoss pat
ronare with which he Is endowed A most
striking example 81 this. the Sentinel thinks. 10
furnished in the case Of the prsseni Executive.
who is a candidate for reelection, and whose
prefcntions. that journal alleges. nre only made
formidable hy the activity AZ ahass who receive
sheir daily brend from his hands
When suoh alarming abuses as this have crspi
into III. ndnipisii alton uf the government, IL 10
time for rosd mea 70 band tbems~lve. together
for reform II is time THAI a RECURRENCE should be
mao. 10 the Trnetioe. and principles Of hose who
framed and frs, administered the government
The Democratic party claim 10 be TOE Disciples
of JEFF. rson. bat heir COURSE IL this matter dem
on.,ra,es the hypocrisy of their professions, aud
their utter disregard Of the real principles Of that
great man. Whit were Mr.. Jcff,rson's views in
relation to The Interference with elections by of
fee holder, We quote his own language. in a
letter written previous 10 his election 10 the Pres.
idency One thing will say, ihet to the fu-
ture, interference with elections whether Of The
state or general government, by the officers of
the Inter should b detmsd cause Of remoroi.
because the constitutional remedy Ivy the elective
principle becomes nothing if il may be srloihered
by the enormous patronage of the general Govern
meni"
This was the language OF Mr. Jefferson before
his elevation TO the Presidency. In order to
show how important he regarded the matter
aud what steps he took to carry out his views,
we quote the following from circular which tho
heads Of departments issued by his order, after
he became President:
1.-THE President of the United States has seen
with dissatisfaction officers ofthe general govern
ment taking on various occasions, active parts in
elections Of public functionaries, whether of the
general or the State governments. Freedom Of
cleo tons being essential to The mutual indepen-
dence of governments, and Of different branches Of
the same government, SO vitality cherished by
most Of our constitutions, it is deemed improper
for officers depending on the Executive of tho L.
nion, TO attempt to control or influence the free
elective right. This, | am instructed, therefore
to notify all officers within my Department, hold
ing their appointment under the authority of the
President directly, and to desire them to notify
to all subordinate to them. The right Of any
officer to give his vote at elections as u qualified
citizen is not meant to be restrained, nor how
ever given, shall il have any effect to his preju-
dice; butt is expected that he will not attempt 10
influence the rotes Of others nor take any part in
the business cfeieetioneering, that being deem.
ed inconsistent with the spirit of the constitution
and his duties to it,
This circular had the desired effect and the
abuse which it was designed to correct was for a
long time afterwards unknown. When Gen
jackson became President, he charged by impl
cation. in his inaugural address. that Mr.. Ad
ans administration had brought the patronage OF
the government in conflict with the freedom OF
elections, and referred to ibis abuse as one which
he had been chosen to reform. This is HIS Ian
guage: THE recent demonstration of public
sentiment inscribes on the list Of Exec utive du
ties, in characters too legible to be overlooked
the task Of reform which will require particu
larry the correction Of those abuses That hav,
brought the patronage Of the Federal govern
ment into conflict oifh the freedom Of elections
Whether Gen. Jackson conformed in practice
to his precepts. we shall not stop to enquire. l,
is enough TO know that he recognized. at tina
early day. as calling for the hand Of REFORM the
FIRST approach to an abuse that has since become
appat]ing,y prevalent. But,notwith standing the
high authority of Jefferson and Jackson. those
who are wont to swear by those patron saint
Of Democracy now repudiate and tranple on tn
principles they inculcated. The enlisted soldier
of the administration, the Palace troops Of tn
Executive. are made the braves of party TO ter
riiy and subdue all who would act with the indie
pendence of AL.erican freemen. l. it wonderful
That Mr.. Donelson should have found himse
under the necessity of severing his connectio
WIN party whose practices are so antagonist
to the teachings Gifts founders, and SO incom
patble with that popular sovereignty which
tho most cherished idea of our neoplel