The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-02-08

that department. So you may find hun
dreds in the custom-houses of the same po-
litcal faith, enjoying the favor of this ad-
minlstra,on. What becomes of the charge
then, that no one can hold office but n
democrat It. vanlshes before the sunlight
of truth, leaving not trace upon the SUR
face where it lately rested.
| The prescription of the minority en-
ndsse,. is subject have never been able
To comprehend. How are they prescribed
Do they not enjoy all the rights and immu-
mites guaranteed TO other citizens Have
they been DISTINGUISHED What privilege |
has been taken away Are not the courts
open TO them for redress of their gricvan-
ces + Are not their persons, regulations,
and property protected by law, like those
of other citizens? IL so, of what do they
complaint Why, they cannot get office!
! This brings me to the consideration of
the 100 900 office holders, who are said to
have been sustaining the administration for
some time past, and to have conducted the
campaign in favor of Mr.. Van Buien. !
can remember when believed there was
something in this story about the office
holders sustaining Mr.. Van Buren, and be-
ing his principal supporters. IL was as
serted in that bold and confident tone which
we SO frequently listen to here, and took
it for granted gentlemen would not say so
IN that manner, unless it was nell establish
ed. | have been deceived in TINT way
more than once. Gentlemen rise and tell
us that the South will do this, and the
North wont do that, in u tone of authority
that leads young mar inexperienced in
the ways of the Capitol, to believe they are
authorised to speak for The whole scope of
country indicated in their remarks. il is
not so. am older now, and understand
these things. have been behind the cur
tain here, wLhh excludes our doings from
the eyes of The American people ; and when
l hear and see these things, attach just so
much weight TO them as they deserve. Such
asseyerations are often made ly gentlemen,
who, no doubt, believe them TO be true, but
who know no more about it than ! do
Experience hus shown that, in more than
one instance, they were mistaken.
| Gentlemen seem to forget, that besides
these offices held under The Federal Gov
ernment, there are more than thousand
held under the State Governments. Indeed,
to make up The number of hundred thou
sand under the former, believe they count
the army and nary ofthc United States, and
all The pensioners by what authority are
they set down as friends of the adminisira-
ton 7 Who asserts that these men, who
receive the sums paid to them under the
law, and not by the favor of the Executive,
are less free than their feIow-ciizens
How are they dependent on the President
for support They are no more so than
any other citizen of the country. But sup
pose what is said of them to be true, we all
know that the State, county, city, town, and
township officers exercise much more in
fuence over the public mind than they do.
Who has most influence over his neighbors,
the sheriff of the county, the associate
judges, where there are such officers, or a
postmaster in some little town! The for
mcr, unques,ionably. Aud pray, who holds
these offices in all the States, counties, und
towns, in which the opposition have the
POLITICAL power, Ihru friends, in almost
every instance. In what places do they vote
for democrats in preference to inen of their
own partyi IN none that have come with
in the range of my observation. Have they
any right to complain, that we prefer our
friends to our enemies, land that is the pro-
scription Of which they complain,) when
they do the very snmc thing themselves
They vote against men, and thus "prOsc,iJc
them for opinions sake" They will not
allow them to hold Office; and the only
reason assigned is, that they do not like
Hen POLITICAL opinions. All parties do this.
II is in the nniurc Of man to sustain his
friends, and to rally aroucd those who agree
with him IN sentiment.
We are charged with being Influenced
by the SPOlLS," and with relying up
ON them to insure our success. by" "spoils"
they mean either office or money. ln re-
gard to the former, the opposition claim n
, remarkable share Of fdisinierestcd patriotism.
If we believe their accoun, of il, they have
a great aversion to office; and yet, when
did they ever let good one pass by, with
out grasping Mt itl can imagine almost
SEQ their mouths water" sometimes for
= taste Of the " Treasury pap J"
e Ifit had so happened that Mr.. Van Buren,
e had not received quite votes enough TO elect
n him, and the three highest candidates had
/: come before the House for our decision, we
i should have had great difficulty in arriving
,. ut n conclusion. There would have been
IS no intrigue or bargain, Of course 4! But
!. when all the difficulties had been surmoun-
is ted, as they no doubt would have been, aud
i nm opposition man elected, then we should
,r have seen the beginning Of troubles. What
!. would hnvs been the policy Of his admins
n fration no. man living can tell. His snp-
>, porters would hive been Of all political
e creeds and compilations under Heaven; al
: opposite to each other as the poles, ant
: wholly irreconciablc. lie could not have
: pleased one set Of them without displeasin!
4, the others and If he had compromised, ant
az gope sometimcs little with one side, an,