Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-02-27
POLITICAL. PROSECUTION.

The present dominant party in this State came into
power under violent dennnciaiIons of the doctrine OF
the s'spo;ls.'' That doctrine, they nsisted-salsely so
was the governing maxim of the Democratic party,
its guide TO power, and its rule under an ascendency
which they, for this reason, described rs Robcspierr;an
and proscriptive. Give them the power, and principle,
not oiice-the public good, not personal or private re.
ward-the interests of the State, not the 'spollS,
should show TO the world how disinterestcd :hcir mo
tives were, and how patriotic were all their aspirations
for power and place.
The entire political power of the State has been in
their hands now fer some six weeks. And how have these
partisans, so lavish of their professions of Glsin.crest-
edness, and so vocifcrouS in their denunciat!ons OF the
"hatcd' doctrine Of the "spoils," fulfilled their pro-
misses and profession? We venture to say, that in al!
the history of parties in this country, or IN any coun-
try, so universal, indiscrininate and proscrlptive n re-
moval from office on party grounds, and from party
considerations alone, is not known, rs has been car
ried out, in the most savage manner, from the moment
they came partially into power last year to the present
time. Offices which have been heretofore exempt
from the mutations OF party, and the lncumbents OF
which, from their worth and fidelity, and the value
of their services, have remained untouched by either
party, have been swept out, Instantly, fcrocions-
iy, and their places filled by the dlsinterested 'braw-
lers'' who have heretofore manifested such an aver
sion TO the 'spoils,' and to the principle OF removals
from office for opinions sake. No place has been
beneath their appetite or their AMBITION, ana none,
however humble, has escaped the rapaclty of their
grasp.-It is only a few days since they removed the
WORTHY frc-makcr and attendant on the Senate cham
Der (whom no previous party thought OF d;splac'ng),
not because he was q partisan, for he was scarcely
known as such, but because a more greedy applicant OF
the d~nti-spoils party was IN waiting.
Not only are the removals from othce Tar more sweep
ing and proscriptive than has ever before been Known
in this State; but all decency and courtesy OF manner;
all regard for the condition of the lncumbent-are gross
" and ncedlessly violated. On Saturday Inst, Just at
the close of the Office hours of the day, Philip Phelps,
| the fiji ST deputy comptroller, and Prtnr Hasbrouck and
Elias Warner, clerks in the Comptroller office, receiv-
ed notes from the head of that department., couched in
10 rms that were calculated, if not designed, to increase
the unpleasant abruptness of the removal, informing
them that after that week, this was the last day of the
week at sun down. they must consider themselves dis.
missed from office.
MI. Phelps has discharged the duties of the first de.
putty comptrollership for several years, with an ability
that has been acknowledged by successive heads of The
Department. and with 4 fidelity and accuracy, and kind.
ness of manner, that have won for him the good will
and favorable Impressions of all who had transactions
WITH the Office. He may be said to be a man without
guile and without reproach: a citizen of well known
probity and responsibility. When the present head Of
the department was appointed a year since, Nj. +.
services were deemed to be ndispensabie-as they
then were-and he was formally re-appoInted. Noi
a hint had been thrown out, that his services wouio
not be required; nor the slightest warning gwen
| him for preparation, with a large and Gependant Ia
milv, before the moment Of his removal. 30 with
Messrs. Warner ard Hasbrouck. To Them also, not q
word or intination of the intended removal was gwen
until the ,sritsn missile eame. They are among our