Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-07-30
PRESCRIPTION.

Thou shalt have justice, than thou lesIres,."
Prescription is now the war cry of the
Tory papers, throughout the Union. At ev-
cry new appointment we hear the plaintivc
voice of some long faced Locofoco bewaiIng
in most pi,eous tones, the sad fate of his
brother. One would suppose from the man
ner in which they whine and scold at every
removal from and appointment to office, by
the present Administration, that the Tories
were most tolerant party; that they abhor-
red prescription that they never did such
thing in all their lives as TO remove politi-
cal opponent, but that on the contrary, they
would have been shocked most awtully at
any such unparalleled proceeding. But what
are the facts! Who introduced the policy
of ''proscriplion" into our national politics
Let the Washington Globe formerly the
organ of Andrew Jackson and Martin Van
Buren,, and now the leading Tory paper Of
the Union-answcr these questions.
From the Globe of May &c 1870.
"The changes that il has been found necessary to
an opportunity 10 discharge some venom and cry out
prescriptions; Ut the one Il nnocuous and the other
passes like the idle wind. No man was silly enough
to suppose that the most unprnclped among the tools
and agents of the defeated actlon-Ihc calummlators
of the President and the sanderCrs of the people who
supported him, should be continued their Sc wants,
paid out of their pockets, an entrusted with the man
that there should be change, they meant that II
should be Morouch aad complete nor did they ever
contemplate, willie they removed the principle offend,
from their places Of trust that confidence should
be continued to those who though less in the public
eye had been first step out of their places 10 oppose
the pub c voice. and turn the very power AMI iniiu-
derived from the situations held from the pc pie
against them and their dearest wishes: Its no argu-
ment that these persons are Insignificant and that,
therefore, they should be overlooked The most ven
omous reptiles are not always the largest, and tho
bite of the musqmo is not IN proportion 10 the sH. OF
the insect To argue, then, that suci men snoniu 1e
continued in places OF trust and confidence altoseth
or ridiculous"
On the 9th of the following March, the
Globe said:
Wewonder il the editors canbe serious inexpectng
the President TO be able to work that efficient reform
which the people look for at his hands, if he retains
in Office the exclusion of his friends and advocates
Of reform, those political enemies, famiarzcd TO the
abuse and corruption otthe preceding administration!
In the Globe of the 9th of January, 1929,
may be found he following
"Ir THERE DE ASY MAN IN OFFICE WHO WOULD
sTARvE IF TURNED OUT, 1T Is AT ONCE AN ARGUMENT
FOR HIS REMovAL No one should be continued III
Office who, in a country like this, cannot make IN
homes, living; and, if we know any thing OF pub &c
sentiment the time has come when public men vii! be
required to work for the living as well as others"
Such was the language of the Washington
Globe in 1929.
Perhaps, however, it may urged by those
who Join in the senscless clamor against the
present Administration, that the acts and
doctrines of their own party, when in the ze-
NTH of its power, were in hard party times,
and therefore ought not to be held up TO
them reproachfully as proving against them a
general rule of action. Allow them the ben
eft of this plea, the only one behind which
they can possibly take refuge from the charge
of gross hypocrisy or inconsistency, and let
us see to what extent it will be of any advan-
tage to them. Let us come down to the Ad-
ministration of Mr.. Van Buren,. What has
been the doctrine avowed by that Admins
tralion, when it felt some confidence in re-
tanning its power for second term of four
years, and was not afraid to avow IFS senti-
ments! We quote from the recognized Off
cial paper the following passage, being the
only one that we have time to select:
From the Globe of October ., 1898.
FThe opinion of WAsHINeToN, that to employ in
HIGH offices men opposed 10 The Government is poIh.
cal suicide is EMiNEsrLy JUST. An administration
which practses this principle finds ITSELF as il were
in a hostile camp. Those who are to carry out its
measures throw every obstacle in the way of their ex
ecurion Nay more they are ever in confidential
communication with the enemy TO whom they revea |
It's purpo es in advance and whom they furnish with
distorted Interpretations instead of correct nfor
nation to be used against ho.e by whom they are
employed. They turn the facilities and advantages
Of Official position into instruments against the Gov.
eminent which they should sustain with cordial and
energetic, not CRED gang, discharge of their official du
,ics