troduce a principle of change or (p. 179)
rotation in office at the expiration of these commissions, which would
make the Government a perpetual and unintermitting scramble for
office. A more pernicious expedient could scarcely have been
devised.... I determined to renominate every person against whom there
was no complaint which would have warranted his removal." A notable
instance was that of Sterret, naval officer at New Orleans, "a noisy
and clamorous reviler of the Administration," and lately busy in a
project for insulting a Louisiana Representative who had voted for Mr.
Adams. Secretary Clay was urgent for the removal of this man,
plausibly saying that in the cases of persons holding office at the
pleasure of the Administration the proper course was to avoid on the
one hand political persecution, and on the other any appearance of
pusillanimity. Mr. Adams replied that if Sterret had been actually
engaged in insulting a representative for the honest and independent
discharge of duty, he would make the removal at once. But the design
had not been consummated, and an _intention_ never carried into effect
would scarcely justify removal.

"Besides [he added], should I remove this man for this cause it
must be upon some fixed principle, which would apply to others as
well as to him. And where was it possible to draw the line? (p. 180)
Of the custom-house officers throughout the Union, four fifths
in all probability were opposed to my election. Crawford,
Secretary of the Treasury, had distributed these positions among
his own supporters. I had been urged very earnestly and from
various quarters to sweep away my opponents and provide with
their places for my friends. I can justify the refusal to adopt
this policy only by the steadiness and consistency of my adhesion
to my own. If I depart from this in one instance I shall be
called upon by my friends to do the same in many. An invidious
and inquisitorial scrutiny into the personal dispositions of
public officers will creep through the whole Union, and the most
selfish and sordid passions will be kindled into activity to
distort the conduct and misrepresent the feelings of men whose
places may become the prize of slander upon them."

Mr. Clay was silenced, and Sterret retained his position, constituting
thereafter only a somewhat striking instance among many to show that
nothing was