Constitutional Whig

TUESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 4, 1829.

Post Office Removals and Appointments.--Among the cases of rigor every day occurring--of men dismissed from the public service without notice, or any complaint against their official conduct--that of Mr. Hunt, late Postmaster at Pensacola, seems as inexcusable as any other. This gentleman had been Postmaster for some years, and possessed in a high degree, the confidence of the late Postmaster General, Mr. M'Lean, and written testimonials of that confidence. Without fault alleged, but on the contrary his capacity and services admitted by Mr. Barry, Mr. Hunt has been dismissed and his place given to a Mr. Fitzgerald, late one of the conductors of the Nashville Republican. After publishing various letters and extracts of letters from Mr. M'Lean, in a high degree complimentary of his official capacity and fidelity, Mr. Hunt closes an appeal to the public with the following striking observations:

"Possessing such testimonials as these in my favor, I cannot say that I regret my dismissal from Office--for though the patronage which the situation afforded was the principal part of the support of my young and growing family, yet I am myself in the prime of life: I gave indefatigable and (as Mr. McLean believed) valuable services for the profits of the Office, and industry and perseverance will, with the blessings of Providence, procure me a living in some other way. I had rather earn my bread by the sweat of my brow as a free man, than to be in a state of official surveillance to the "Powers that be." When "capacity and faithfulness in the public service," without regard to thoughts, words, or actions, on other matters or subjects: or to political opinions, secured to me the "entire approbation" of my respected and esteemed superior, and called from him an "expression of regret" at the prospect of a loss of my services, I was proud to hold an office. But now, alas (I mourn for my country when I say it) it is but too true, that no man holding an office in the United States, and dependent on its proceeds for the support of himself and family, is free. If he but breathe a whisper of a doubt of the infallibility of any one in power, his office is taken from him, and he is turned upon the world--to starve or to beg;--The fact is melancholy, but nevertheless it is a fact."

I acknowledge that heretofore, since the commencement of the reign of proscription, I have not been free. I held an Office, and such is the weakness and sophistry of human nature, that I persuaded myself that it was my duty to pass over unnoticed those acts of the Government which I could not approve, rather than to risk the bread of my wife & little ones. I thank the reformers, from Jackson, Barry, and Green, down to their boot-licking, sycophantic, followers in our City & Territory, I am now free; and Verite sans Peur shall be the strict course of the Gazette, now unshackled, so long as I continue to conduct it.

W. BASSETT HUNT.

Pensacola, 9th July, 1829.

Mr. Hunt ascribes his proscription to his having been a neutral in the Presidential election. He refused to fill his paper with abuse against the late administration, and he has been required, in consequence, to give way to one who did. The effect of the proscriptive system in destroying the independence of persons connected with the Government and at the mercy of Gen. Jackson, is as Mr. Hunt describes it. The most independent men are unwilling, for the sake of freely expressing their opinions, to take the bread out of the mouths of their wives and children. Washington exhibits all the signs of despotism. Freedom of conversation is banished. Those connected with the Government and disapproving any of its measures, observe profound silence, or if they speak, do so only after imposing strict confidence. All suspected of disaffection to the ruling dynasty, are closely watched by office holders. Expression of disapprobation is speedily reported, and proscription ever follows the imprudence. We have seen letters from various persons dependent on the Government, imploring silence on the subject matter of their letters, subject matter too, which required no such scruple from its character.

A gentleman dependent on the Government, writing of affairs at Washington to one in this place, for forty years his intimate friend, took the precaution not to sign his name. Opposition to the Government, on the part of citizens who hold office, is not tolerated. If they do not approve, they must at least seal their lips hermetically. At Washington, no man who is in any shape dependent on the Government, can be prevailed upon to speak upon politics in a mixed company. These things are indications of despotism. They are evil presages which this country never before exhibited. Opposition to the administration for the time being, under former administrations, was ever unreserved, because unattended with danger. For the first time, the freedom of opinion is punished by Executive authority. This Republican administration allows not its officers to express opinion unfavorable to itself. It is plain what the effect of all this is to be.

Still Another!--Samuel Philips, Esq. Editor of the Republican Watchman, is appointed P. Master at Sag Harbour (Long Island) in place of Henry Thomas Derning removed. (The Removed was against Jackson--quite sufficient cause for his punishment.)

Thus three days have brought intelligence of the appointment of two more Editors in different parts of the Union, & a third (Fitzgerald appointed P. M. at Pensacola) who earned his reward in that capacity--making in the aggregate thirty-two Editors appointed to office in rather less than five months! The joint compensation of these thirty two officers, paid out of the Public Coffers cannot be much under $120,000 per annum. This sum annually expended upon proprietors and conductors of the Public Press will unquestionably secure a numerous band of devoted editors, ready to support the Hero in all his wishes and conduct.--More editors are in expectation of pap.
At least we have heard of some who have been watering at the mouth in long and we fear, heart sickening expectation. We are grieved that so low an estimate should be put upon their patriotic services in favor of the hero. Perhaps the old gentleman has heard of the "first love" for Henry Clay, and thinks that as Clay was deserted for a more flourishing competitor, he himself may chance to be served with the same sauce. We do not mean to be officious in obtruding our advice, but perhaps a line from Mr. Ritchie, who has been so consistent in his opinions of the Hero, might remove the difficulty. One thing is certain that we really should be pleased, as the President is ladling out pap so liberally among the craft, if he would deal a spoon full to our brother of Petersburg. We affirm another thing, that he has appointed many less deserving men, and some not superior in talents. If a letter from us would avail any thing, it is at the service of our brother. Cannot Mr. Ritchie be brought to speak a word upon this subject of appointing editors? He disapproves indeed--but where is his ancient zeal for the purity and independence of the press? Where sleeps the spirit which hurled anathemas at Mr. Clay for the change of Kendall and Hill? "If Gen. Jackson does these things in the green tree, (we ask the country reader to look at the communication from Albemarle on 1st page,) what will he not do in the dry?" If these high handed measures are dared during the four years of his first, what will he not do, "when firmly fixed in the saddle for a second term?" We should be indebted to Mr. Ritchie if he would be so condescending as to answer his own questions-- and tell us if it was alarming for Mr. Clay to take the printing of the laws from the editor of the Louisiana Courier and give it to another paper, what degree of alarm, he ought now to experience at the fact of General Jackson's bringing more than thirty Editors, and five and twenty presses, under the direct pay of the Treasury of the U. States? Surely he ought to feel thirty times as much alarm as he experienced when the Louisiana case occurred. But the gentleman's nerves seem to be newly strung. He is no longer subject to the vapors. Things which achieved by Mr. Adams or Mr. Clay threw him into syncope, have no terrors when perpetrated by the hero, under circumstances of tenfold enormity. We congratulate the Editor of the Enquirer upon the restoration of his nervous system to pristine vigor.