The New Hampshire Gazette

COMMUNICATION.

The Constitution of the United States, Art. II. sect. 2, provides that "The President of the United States shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session." Dr. Johnson defines the word happen to mean "to fall by chance;" and its primitive "accident," "casual event," &c. Is it not then violently wresting "the Constitution from the safe and honest meaning contemplated by the plain understanding of the people of the United States at the time of its adoption,"* to remove from office worthy and faithful men, appointed with the consent of the Senate, for the sole purpose of creating vacancies, during the recess of the Senate, to be filled by the partizans of the Executive power, without the Senate's consent? If then, the framers of the Constitution contemplated the exercise of the power to fill up all vacancies only when they occurred by "casual events" or "accidents;" and Mr. Jefferson, by creating vacancies merely to fill them with his tools, has been guilty of violation of the "honest meaning" and spirit. of the Constitution, "the sheet-anchor of our union and peace at home and safety abroad?"-Is it proper he should enjoy the confidence or respect those who call themselves friends of the Constitution? Let the minute men of the present administration answer these things: not in their usual ranting, illiterate manner, but calmly, constitutionally, and as much as possible like gentlemen ;--let the eyes of the people be speedily opened to see the difference between promise and performance.

* President's answer to the Providence address.