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Editorial
August 4, 1813
Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
Editorial from Alexandria criticizes Postmaster General for removing Revolutionary War veteran Ralph H. Bowles as postmaster in Machias, Maine, to install a political loyalist, decrying patronage and praising independent thought over subservience to the administration.
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ALEXANDRIA WEDNESDAY, August 4
THE VERY AGE & BODY OF THE TIME HIS FORM AND PRESSURE.
POSTMASTER GENERAL.
It would seem from the following communication, extracted from the Boston Centinel, with others of the same character, which we have lately seen, that the Postmaster General has ago commenced the honorable & praiseworthy work of removing the disciples of Washington from office, for no other reason than that they will not fall down and worship Baal, and introducing in their places men whose principles are more in unison with the powers that be, and who will in all probability enter more fully into the views of certain men by using their utmost exertions in suppressing the circulation of "the factious prints," as the Editor of the Court Gazette modestly styles those in opposition: or he may possibly think it necessary to give this evidence of his return to the true faith, which we have been told he was strongly suspected of having renounced, during the pendency of the last presidential election.
COMMUNICATION
REMOVAL. RALPH H. BOWLES, Esq. of Machias. (Me.) a distinguished officer in the revolutionary war, and upwards of twenty years Postmaster in the above town, has been removed from that office to make room for a "parasite of the administration." The only objection against the veteran officer, which could have arisen, must have been a suspicion that his suffrage had been always given agreeably to the dictates of his conscience, for men who have approved the principles and policy of the great WASHINGTON; under whom Mr. Bowles fought nearly seven years in different grades of office in defence of the rights of conscience & the freedom of suffrage, as his diploma and honorable discharge do amply testify. On the other hand, the qualification of MORSE his successor, has been a servile submission to the men who misguide the nation, and who have in their distribution, the crumbs and offal of the "loaves and fishes." But the independent man, dispossessed of office, has one consolation left him:
"I mean, a Liberty unsung
By poets, and by Senators unprais'd.
Which Emperors cannot grant nor all
The powers
Of earth and fiends confederate, take away!
A Liberty, which persecution, fraud,
Oppression, prison, have no power to bind,
Which, whoso tastes, can be enslaved no more;
I mean—The Liberty of Thinking."
THE VERY AGE & BODY OF THE TIME HIS FORM AND PRESSURE.
POSTMASTER GENERAL.
It would seem from the following communication, extracted from the Boston Centinel, with others of the same character, which we have lately seen, that the Postmaster General has ago commenced the honorable & praiseworthy work of removing the disciples of Washington from office, for no other reason than that they will not fall down and worship Baal, and introducing in their places men whose principles are more in unison with the powers that be, and who will in all probability enter more fully into the views of certain men by using their utmost exertions in suppressing the circulation of "the factious prints," as the Editor of the Court Gazette modestly styles those in opposition: or he may possibly think it necessary to give this evidence of his return to the true faith, which we have been told he was strongly suspected of having renounced, during the pendency of the last presidential election.
COMMUNICATION
REMOVAL. RALPH H. BOWLES, Esq. of Machias. (Me.) a distinguished officer in the revolutionary war, and upwards of twenty years Postmaster in the above town, has been removed from that office to make room for a "parasite of the administration." The only objection against the veteran officer, which could have arisen, must have been a suspicion that his suffrage had been always given agreeably to the dictates of his conscience, for men who have approved the principles and policy of the great WASHINGTON; under whom Mr. Bowles fought nearly seven years in different grades of office in defence of the rights of conscience & the freedom of suffrage, as his diploma and honorable discharge do amply testify. On the other hand, the qualification of MORSE his successor, has been a servile submission to the men who misguide the nation, and who have in their distribution, the crumbs and offal of the "loaves and fishes." But the independent man, dispossessed of office, has one consolation left him:
"I mean, a Liberty unsung
By poets, and by Senators unprais'd.
Which Emperors cannot grant nor all
The powers
Of earth and fiends confederate, take away!
A Liberty, which persecution, fraud,
Oppression, prison, have no power to bind,
Which, whoso tastes, can be enslaved no more;
I mean—The Liberty of Thinking."
What sub-type of article is it?
Partisan Politics
What keywords are associated?
Postmaster Removal
Political Patronage
Revolutionary Veteran
Federalist Principles
Liberty Of Thinking
What entities or persons were involved?
Postmaster General
Ralph H. Bowles
Washington
Morse
Boston Centinel
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Criticism Of Postmaster Removals For Political Reasons
Stance / Tone
Strongly Critical Of Administration Patronage
Key Figures
Postmaster General
Ralph H. Bowles
Washington
Morse
Boston Centinel
Key Arguments
Postmaster General Removing Washington Supporters From Office For Refusing To Support Current Administration
Replacement With Politically Aligned Individuals To Suppress Opposition Prints
Veteran Bowles Removed Despite Revolutionary Service And Independent Suffrage
Successor Morse Qualified Only By Servile Submission To Administration
Praise For The Liberty Of Independent Thinking Despite Persecution