Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-06-10
nur Now Constitution.


We say o,s for the adoption OF the "Constitutlon oil
the Confederate States Of North America now the su-
preme law Of seven States of the Consderscy, by Vir
gnia is thing as certain any event IN the future
That it may undergo amendment for which much moro
face method il provided than in the former .Constu-
ton is not improbable but all must be graed at the
careful avoidance exhibits Of some Of those teeming
sources of corruption in the discarded system, which
made it reproach to and scorn with the lovers OF
good government everywhere. Prominent among these
is the wholesome qualification of the power Of removal
from Office By the Executive. The principal officer in
each Executive Department and persons connected with
the Diplomatic service Of apparent necessity re-
movable at the pleasure of the President, but all
other officers, only when their services are unne-
c,ssary, or for dishonesty, incapaoity, inefcency,
misconduct or neglect of duty aud phsn so re-
p.opsd from otfee the removal shall be reported
g. The Senate, together wh the reasons therefor.
Here then the system of rewards and punishments" is
exrpated alta blow. The vile weed, which would have
poisoned all the flowers of Eden ITSELF is rooted up and
cast into the fire. Its existence not due to the fra
mers Of the former Government, but the work Of
construction that sapper and miner Of written consttu-
tons; and strange TO say under the favor and auspices
of Madison bimse in debate in the first Congress after
its inauguration Here fatal enlargement of ET-
ecutive power effected by the action Of the Representa-
ves of the people But then in that golden age it was
thought "there could never be President oil the United
States who would abuse the power Of removal. HIS
own responsibility for the conduct Of those whom he ap-
pointed supposed to be sufficient to make him care
ul to appoint the right men to the right places, and his
feelings as man and gentleman were deemed ade-
quae protection TO those right men in their right places
And hear the first of gentlemen, George Washington, in
the matter Of appointments "My friend, he says in
one of his letters 81 receive with cordial welcome. He
is welcome TO my house, and welcome to my heart but
with all his good qualities, he is not man Of business.
HIS opponent, with all bis politics so hostile to me, is
man Of business. Ny private feelings have nothing TO
d, in the case am not George Washington, but Pres
ident of the United States. As George Washington,
would render any kindness in my power-as President
OF the United States, can do nothing" And for long
time there was a conscientious and scrupuous in
welding this terrible power over the conscences aud
fortunes Of individuals and the happiness of families"
Honesty capacity and fidelity the tests of appoint
men to office and the tenure by which office was held.
But for how many dreary and dsgracefu years of ad-
ministrltion in the Government have cast off, has
the acknowledged passport to Office been aduation, SER
Witty, and INSCRIPTIONS service PARTISAN scru-
tiny into the conduct of its several successive Execu
tive heads has shown that Washington mad0 nine
removals. but none for opinions sake Jefferson made
thrty1ine, but his repeated declaration was, that
none were made because they belonged to the party
opposed 10 his own. Mr.. Madison made five removals;
Mr. Monroe ninel Mr.. John Quincy Adams two. Gen.
Jackson during the first year of his Presidency is said
to have removed "t0o thousand persons in the civil en-
ployment of the Government" and appointed two
thousand pr,isans of the President in their stead
COL Benton, who will hardly be suspected of any
statement. in this respect counts up six hundred and
ninety in the year 1922 but he omits the 'ttle army
of clerks and others" who at the disposal Of these
Lit u, hope we have escaped from under the shadow
of tbs disgrace. The founders Of Government
were not wanting in the wisdom to provide the means
of it, eGtirpatiOn. Be the virtue in the coming
years persistently aud faithfully to use them.