Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-11-24

We are not without fear that the disgraceful
sc Tamble for office which was witnessed at the
commence ment Of Gen. Jackson's administration
may have been forgotten. The Wings will do
well to keep in mind the just Indignation which
was felt at the indscrimina,e proscrp tion of men
in office on the plea Of reform, and take heed that
they do not give the same occasion 10 the locos TO
speak reproachfully Of their doings. We are a.
ware that ifthe former rule "is he capable isl he
honest" is put in rigid execution, as we trust il
will be, there will be many vacant offices TO be
filed about tine 4.h of March next, but we hope
and believe that something more than mere par.
tizan services will be required as qualification for
such Offices during the next four years. If we
have formed the right estimate Of the character Of
William Henry Harrison, the mere name Of
Wing will not in itself be sufficient 10 supply
either the want of capacity or honesty in the up
plcant for Office. II will not, like the mantle of
the principle "that to the victors belong the
spoils' is not to be revived under the admnstra-
ton of our higpresident. The rule of reward
ing friends and furnishing enemies, has been put
in practice too long, too reckessly, and too wick
eddy by the late dynasty, to obtain favor with
party which has SO manfully contended agains, il
for the last twelve years, and which has been one
of the leading causes Of just complaint and well
grounded apprehenson-on which has made sad
havoc with the purity of our elections and which
alone, unrestra ned, must have sapped the very
foundations of our republic.
We have unwavcring confidence in the virtue
and honesty of the great body Of the wing party,
and we doubt not they will act consistently with
the principles which they have always sustained.
But this party also embraces many restless spirits
who stand ready to clutch the loaves and fishes,
and whose gree dy eyes are already fixed upon the
anticipated spoils. Such men may well be class
ed under the odious name Of office-seekers, and
whatever may be their pretensions they will need
to be looked after; and yet it will not be strange
II some of them should worm their way into inn
poriant Offices.
The Offices in the gin Of the people or the
President we consider open TO ia T and honorable
competition, but the competitors must expect that
the public will demand, as they have right TO
do, the character and qualifications Of the candid
ates. The people will discriminate and they will
require that the president shall discriminate a.
mong all the applicants, and bestow the place,
not upon the prior or most earnest OF the number,
but always upon the best qualified, The most hon
est and the most worthy. Very probably there
may be five candidates to every Office in the gif,
of the President, and four out Of five must of me-
cess,y be disappointed, hut let them not fret and
scold about the president, and every body else, OF
get angry at the success of applicants; all cannot
be fed at the public crib and in this country every
man may, dependent upon his own efforts, pick
up as sweet crumbs as those which fall from uncle
Sans table.
Whether in Office or out OF Office we trust all
will reap rich reward from the patriotism ane
faithful labors and toll Of the great wing party
of the United States in behalf Of the country q
gainst an interested combustion Of Office holder
who have faltened upon treasury pap.