The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-07-30
THE SPOILs OF OFFICE.

The leaders of the federal party filsfy, and will
continue to isliy the declaration they made before
the Presidential election. Their patriotism aud
principles are Swallowed forth IN their struggles for
the spcils of Office .Now their motto is" to the
viciors belong the spOiis" Several hundred thou
sand proiessed democrats, supported the election
Of General Harrison under the belierlhai he would
carry ont the principles he publicly avowcd. In
the last public speech he made before his election,
he soomnly declared, that, if elected, he would
" make no removals from Office, except for coon
CAUSE" In thirty days after his inauguration he
was murdcrcd-not with arsenic but by that which
was equally fatal. Conlcndng against the cntrca-
Ties ola host Of oiiicescekers, surrounded by lead
ing fadcralists whose inccssant cSposiulations al
lowed him no rest, he fell upon bed of sickness.
II was his great misfortune not to have sufficient
nerve TO resist the Northern Fedora influence which
forced such man as Daniel Webster into his Cab-
net This appointment was the triumph Of the
Fcdera|isls-he is the door through which New
England lcdcrnsts are indicted into oiice-he is
the adversary Of Democratic principles and Of cy-
cry true Democrat in New England, BY his nfu-
cncc, every Northern leading Democrat either has
been or will be removed from office. The active
agents of the federal patty act in concert with him.
lie is their agent II. Washington.
The federal party, although minority Of the
people, by the aid referred to, has wormed itself
into power, and, without seasonable an,doies, will
prove 10 be a cancer upon the body polite. The
eyes Of the great body of the people, who turned
the scales in favor of Gen. iIarison's election can
no longer be blinded They now clearly see the
gross deception that has been praclsed upon them
and that the carr, ing out the principles ayOwcd
betOre the election, is after the election all moon
shine. Federalism has had but one short reign.
II will again soon fall; like Iucler, 10 rise no more
The proscriptiye system adopted by this Admins
ration is uneNampled in the history of our govern
ment. II is condemned even by many candid fed
eralis,s. In respect TO removals from office, the
inquiry is, not whether there be good cause for
removals." but whether the incumbent be De-
mocrat or rcderalist W. shall have future
occasion TO expose the sweeping system adopted in
other stalcs-nt present We refer to the removals
already made in this state. Have there been any
good causes for these removals Indeed we have
heard no cause assigned except that the incumbent
belonged 10 the Democratic party, and embraced
democratic principles. The faithful execution of
official duties integrity and good character have as
little weight as feather Who have been appoint
ed in this State, to drive out the late incunbenis
from their places What are the characters and
qualifications Of some of them viii they bear
the lHIt OI ln|csll1HtioH IOT lne present we VIII
not be personal-but submit the question TO an en-
lighlened and candid public, whether the charac-
tiers and qualifications of the new officers equal
to those of the late incunbents 1t is consistent
with the doctrines the "Tyler toos" preached be-
fore the Presidential election 10 appoint men 10
office Of depraved moral characters, or destitute of
the requisite qualifications, or who indulge in habits
oflnebridion, or who are gamblers and debauchers
or who are guilty of high offences, or who are so
incompetent as TO convert the office into a sine.
cure? Let the inquiry be made whether any Of
the new appointments have been made under full
knowledge of such matiers' Perhaps it may be
offered as an excnse, that the Administration made
snch appointments under the advice and influence
ofcertan ''agenis Of Tippecanoe clubs;'' that such
agents stationed themselves, for time, at Wash
ingon; and in concert with Daniel Webster, i'm
posed upon the Administration. Still we hold the
Administration responsible for not making proper
inquiries, as well as for removals from office for
better reason than an honest difference Of opinion
upon political subjects. Yos, the Federal party
violates the solemn pledges they gave, and the doc
irines they professed before the election. They