Disappointed applicants for place are encouraged to persevere; being told, that continuance in office smacks of corruption; that all are competent to office; that industry and integrity are better secured by short and limited tenure; that no consideration will stay the removal of an officer, when the public benefit (read party interests) require it; and that rotation in office constituting a leading principle in the republican creed gives healthful action to the system. The writer of this portion of the Message knew, in the language of the orator of Roanoke, "that the power of conferring favors creates a crowd of dependants; that, when a savory morsel is held up to the eager eyes of the hungry hounds, it matters not, whether, the gift be bestowed on Towser, Sweetlips, Tray, Blanch or Sweetheart; while held in suspense, they are all governed by a nod, and when the morsel is cast, the expectation of the favours of to-morrow, keeps up the subjection of to-day."

157. A word, however, becomes necessary, here, upon the maxim of "rotation in office," much abused and misunderstood. A perpetual President, would, in this country, not only be a monarch, but, probably, speedily, a despot. A member of Congress, if not liable to frequent change, might become corrupt or negligent, and would not have that impress of the times, that intimate knowledge of the interests of the people and disposition to promote them, which he now possesses. But what injury can possibly accrue to the State from the continuance, of a faithful postmaster, collector or clerk, in office? It is as absurd, to suppose, danger in such cases, as in that of a tried, and faithful domestic servant. The attempt to extend the maxim to agents of this class, is but a measure of party tactics. The true spirit of the maxim is this: When the people find, that, an officer does not fulfil the purpose of his appointment, that they may put in his place one that will.

158. The broad manifestation of the Président's views, in relation to office, had become necessary, from his declarations, when a candidate for office; when, uninstructed by skilful advisers, he may have believed, that there was other discrimination between virtue and vice, than their adaptation to proposed ends. In his letter of October 7, 1825, addressed to the Legislature of Tennessee, when resigning his seat in the Senate of the United States, the General observed:

159. "With a view to sustain, more effectually in practice, the axiom which divides the three great classes of power into constitutional checks, I would impose a provision rendering

any member of Congress ineligible to office, under the General Government during the term for which he was elected, and two years thereafter, except in cases of judicial office, The effect of such a constitutional provision is obvious. By it, Congress, in a considerable degree, would be free from that connexion with the Executive Department, which at present gives strong ground of apprehension and jealousy on the part of the people. Members, instead of being liable to be withdrawn from legislating on the great interests of the nation, through prospects of Executive patronage, would be more liberally confided in by their constituents; whilst their vigilance would be less interrupted by party feelings and party excitements. Calculations from intrigues or management would fail; nor would their deliberations or investigations of subjects, consume so much time. The morals of the country would be improved, and virtue uniting with the labours of the representatives and with the official ministers of the law, would tend to perpetuate the honour and glory of the Government. But if this change in the Constitution be not made, and important appointments continue to devolve upon the representatives in Congress, it requires no depth of thought, to be convinced, that corruption will be the order of the day; and that, under the garb of conscientious sacrifice, to establish precedents for the public good, evils of serious importance to the freedom and prosperity of the republic may arise. It is through this channel, that, the people may expect to be attacked in their constitutional sovereignty; and where tyranny may expect to spring up in some favourable emergency." In the same letter, he observes, "it is due to myself to practice upon the maxim I recommend to others."

160. Now, was the General sincere when he wrote these sentiments? They are a severe, because just, reprehension of his conduct. Had he a presentiment of his own course in the Presidential office? Or has the prophecy, as in other cases, contributed to its fulfilment? Certain it is, that he appointed, during his administration, more members of Congress to office, than all his predecessors; having taken fifteen from the Senate and twenty-six from the House of Representatives; and it is not less certain, that, in the latter body he has found greater subservience, to say the least, than has been displayed towards any other President.

161. There are, it seems, in the service of the United States, between forty and fifty thousand officers, dependent, directly or indirectly, upon executive favour; all of whom

were, formerly, deemed responsible to the country for the faithful performance of their duty; but who, by the new theory, as above set forth, enlarged and explained, by the President's Protest to the Senate, have become the mere tools of the presidential will.

162. Let us take a case of illustration from Boston, which we might parallel in every seaport of the Union. Several inspectors of the customs were, there, removed by the newly appointed Collector, who had been an editor of a newspaper devoted to the President. The gentlemen dismissed were universally acknowledged to be faithful officers, good citizens, with large, dependent families. To one of them was addressed the following ungentle note.

BOSTON CUSTOM HOUSE, April 7, 1829. Sir-I have appointed another person to the office of Inspector, held by you. You will consider this your discharge from any further service in said office.

Mr. EBENEZER CLOUGH.

DAVID HENSHAW.

Mr. Clough, a sturdy old patriot, commented upon this transaction, in a public journal, thus:

Messrs. Editors: I wish to ask, through the medium of your paper, if offices have been sold or bartered away for votes? Are officers to be turned out of office, to make room for these voters? And must even subordinate officers be removed, to give place to these subordinate voters. Gracious Heaven! (with reverence would I ask) what is our country coming to? Must a humble citizen, for only exercising the right of a freeman, which he is entitled to, by the laws of his country, be discarded for so doing? Is it possible, in a free country, like ours, that a man, for exercising the right of his conscience-which right his God and his country has enjoined on him, as a duty-is to be deprived of a living for so doing? If so, farewell Independence, and farewell LIBERTY! But let it be known to the whole world, if I die starving, I'll die a Yankee-that is to say, independent in principle, if not in purse. EBENEZER CLOUGH, Ward No. 1.

163. The above, comprehends a case of reward of a friend, of an editor, for services rendered. The following is one of the punishment of an enemy-of an editor, for opposing the apostle of reform.

CIRCLEVILLE, (Ohio) April 25, 1829.

"John Ludwig, Esq. has received the appointment of Post Master, in Circleville, vice W. B. Thrall, removed.

"The reader will perceive, that, the editor of this paper has been removed from the office of Post Master, at Circleville. In October last, he voted the ticket headed Jeremiah Morrow; for which heretical act his official services have been dispensed with, with just as little ceremony as were the lives of Arbuthnot and Ambrister.

"The recent demonstrations of the work of reform, most clearly evince the settled policy, on the part of those clothed with the vestment of authority, to exclude from the public service, all those who have not subscribed to the dominant faith. They illustrate, moreover, that the violent struggle which has agitated the nation, for five years past, disturbing the public confidence in the institutions of the country and interrupting social harmony throughout the land-has not been, on the part of the leaders and promoters of the unnatural experiment, a patriotic contest for principle; but a mercenary scrambling for office, and for pay. Powerful interests, in their nature uncongenial, were brought to a harmonious coalescence, in this comnion object. Professed at tachment to a man, and the assumption of a name, have been held paramount to principle, or a conscientious discharge of duty. The motive and common bond of those who embarked against the cause of their country, and in opposition to the light of their reason, were to possess themselves of the comfortable and lucrative places under the Government. The "task" is consummated; and the labourers are becoming clamorous for their wages."

164. The correctness of these remarks, by the Ohio editor, is confirmed by the following note, which we submit without comment.

WAR DEPARTMENT.

Major Nourse-The chief Clerk of a department should, to his principal, stand in the relation of a confidential friend. Under this belief, I have appointed Dr. Randolph, of Virginia. I take leave to say, that since I have been in this department, nothing in relation to you has transpired, to which I could take the slightest objection; nor have I any to suggest. Very respectfully, J. H. EATON.

May 2, 1829.

165. One case more from the papers of the day, will illus trate the sense of the office seekers relative to the task of reform.

From the Pittsburg Gazette, of April 24, 1829.

"A BARGAIN!-It is well known that Mr. -, of this city, and Capt. -, of Washington county, are candidates for the appointment of Marshal for the Western District of Pennsylvanía. Mr. being most industrious, had far outnumbered Capt, in recommendations, though it was thought, from General Jackson's treatment of the latter, while here, that he would confer the office upon him. It seems, however, that Captain

is willing

'To make assurance doubly sure

And take a bend of fate.'

For he has offered to purchase Mr.

-'s right, title, inter

est, and claim, and recommendation to the office, for a valuable consideration, in kind. This fact, and the manner of it, ́we find thus recorded in the last Statesman: .

"He (Capt. -) wrote to Mr.

stating, in substance, as follows Mr. if you will withdraw your claims to the office of Marshal, and transfer your interest to me, I'll make over my interest to you, and I'll put you on a track by which you shall get the appointment of Postmaster at Pittsburg.' Mr. -, it seems, was not ready for such a bargain, and treated the overture with the contempt it merited." 166. Yet another instance, to show the decency of the office seeker and office giver. Wm. F. Waterman gave as a toast, “Adams, Clay, and Co., may they be politically damned." Instead of sinking the political maniac, this toast gave him a passport to office, and he became Inspector of the Customs, at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in the place of Mr. Hunt, who was removed to make way for him. Mr. Hunt had held the office thirty years; one requiring peculiar ability, for which he was admirably fitted.

167. Upon this abuse of the appointing power, the justice of the following observations, from the Savannah Mercury, an administration journal, will, we think, be admitted by every disinterested and reflecting citizen:

"When the whole patronage of the Government shall be wielded, solely, with the view to reward the personal friends of the Executive, then may the patriot tremble for the safety of his country. When appointments to office shall be made, not for the purpose of rewarding public service, or engaging