Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-08-17


demn me.".-yob ix, Xxx.
ROTATION IN OFFICE:
The true "Democratsc RepuJH-
can' doctrine.
II must be recollected by most of our
political friends, that twelve years ago
Dutee }. Pearce superseded the Hon.
Job Durfee, as Representative in Con-
gress, after two trials. II will also be
remembered that Judge Durfee filed
that station FOUR YEARS with ability and
faithfulness (; and sustained on all occa-
sions-in the halls Of Congress, in pri-
vaie life, and in his intercourse with all
men, and all parties the character of a
gentleman, an independent and honest po-
litici"n, and an intelligent and useful leg
islator. During the period Judge Du,fee
was in Congress, Dutee J. Pearcs was
anxious to obtain the Office Of United
States Attorney for Rhode leland Dis.
trict, and it was owing mainly to the in.
fuence and. exertions of Mr.. Durfee,
that he succeeded in getting the appoint
ment from President Monroe, whose ad-
ministration was at that time supported
both by Pearce and Durfee. These in
dividuals also supported the pretensions
of John Q. Adams to the Presidency
But Mr.. Durfee was Of that cast of char
acter that forbid his descending to the
low and despicabIe intrigues Of political
shutters and demagogues-he supported
MIR. Adams from principle, whilst Pearce
supported him for what he could make
by The business. At that very time, Pearce
viewed Judge Durfee as a rival and su-
perior, and Immediately set himself to
work to supplant him in his Office, and to
place him in the back ground with the
people. Judge Durfee, honest himself,
could not believe that man pretending
to be his friend, and who had SO recent
Iy solicited and received his friendly aid
in procuring a valuable Office for him,
could have boen guilty Of such mean du.
phchy as Pearce was subsequently con-
victed of. Mr.. Pearce at that time de-
vised a great variety Of schemes to in
duce the National Republican freemen
sha - bot \
greatly subserve the interest Of Rhode
Island, If he should be elected to Con-
gress. He was untiring in his efforts to
inculcate in the minds Of all, the justice
and erpediency Of practising upon the
great Republican principie-"RorArIoS
IN OFFICE" Every commune alton he
wrote for the papers Of that day, support
ing his own pretensions to seat in Con-
gress, was more or less sprinkled with
"rotaiion in office" He pressed home
upon the recollection Of the freemeu, on
all occasions, the fact that Mr.. Durfee
had been LONG ENOUGH in Congress
that it was unsafe and contrary to sound
democratic principles and usage, to con-
tinue Judge Durfee or any other man in
Congress for period beyond FOUR YEARS.
We do not write unadvisedly in relation
to the opinions entertained and published
by Mr.. Pearce upon this subject, twelve
years ago. The files Of the Republican
Of that day, published by us, are now on
our table, and we can put our finger up
on many an electione ering piece, written
by or under the direction Of A1r. Pearce,
in which "roiation in office" is urged with
great earnestness-especially would we
refer to the following extract from an ar
ticle written under the eye and at the
earnest solicitation Of Pearce in answer
to communication, made by Judge Dur
fee himself, replying to some Of the ar
guments Of Pearce and his friends on the
subject Of "roiat;on in Office" In order
to give a clearer view Of the argument
Of Mr.. Pearce on that subject, we sub
join an extract from Judge Durfee's Ad-
dress to the people, and the answer Of
Pearce and his friends. Judge Durfee
says
"It is believed, fellow citizens, TO be
truth to which the political history Of
this State bears testimony, that from the
adoption Of the Constitution to the pres
ent time, no one Of your Representatives
has been succeeded by another unless