Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-01-23


furnished; that their regulations were as
sailed in all the various ways which cor
rupt but. fertile imaginations could invent;
and that long years of toll and anxiety,
and much expenditure of pecuniary means,
were necessary to disseminate and establish
the principles of true democracy, in oppo-
sition to the anti-social and agrarian doc
trines advanced by the Van Buren, leaders.
Let the new President remember that
these things were to be done, and that there
were men found who undertook and suffered
and performed them ALL until the final de-
liverance of the country crowned their
efforts with complete and glorious success.
Now, if men of this class ask, or exhibit
a willingness to accept office, under the
President whom their labors have given to
the American people, are we to be told by
stripping theorists and assuming Editors,
that they ought to be thrust aside, because,
forsootb, they have fought the good fight
Are we to question their motives, because
they have risked or suffered for their coun-
try? And is the country to be denied the
further use of their talents and experience,
because they have heretofore served her!
Or shall we be told, because this man or that
man possesses a giant intellect, that there
fore he is not honest? Or that if elevated
too high, his ambition may become danger
Gus Or that he is already above office!
Or that, if willing to take Office and wear
the peoples badge of honor, he is therefore
a "spoilsman?"
These questions, we think, involve mat
tiers of much Importance. If they are to
be answered affirmatively by future events,
we shall be grieved as well as disappointed;
and we shall feel that a political heresy has
been adopted as the rule of conduct, by the
new administration, which would exclude
all the most deserving men of the country
from office, and under which, to be con-
sistent, Gen. HARRISON himself should at
once decline to serve as President Of the
United States. For, if every man of tai
ents and activity who accepts public trust
is to be considered "spoilsman," what is
Gen. HARRISON? What was GEORGE WASH
1NGToN! What was BENJAMIN FRANKLIN?
What was THOMAS JEFFERSON? What was
JAMES MADIsoNl And SO on to the end Of
the list of greatlights which have illumina-
ted the armament of our country's glory.
According to the new-fangled political
twaddle, they were all--all "spoilsmen"
Let the advocates of the moderate men"
policy reflect moment upon this view of
the course they would advise, and see
where it would lead them.
Against the "spoils' system of the expir-
ing administration, none have been more
sincere in their hostility or more decided in
their acts, than ourselves. That admins
tration sought not to promote the public
veal. Party welfare and party success, as
a means of public plumber, were its only
objects. Men were elevated to Office solely
because they were active and Jealous par
tizans. No regard was had to the qualii-
cations which were always the touch-stone
r with Mr. JEFFERsoN-is he honest is he
capable! But party services, and not tai
ents and integrity, were made the test Of
fitness for office. This system, wicked in
itself and ruinous in its results, has already
been repudiatod signally and awfully by
the peoples; and woe to the man or the party
, who snail attempt to revive it. But we are
t much mistaken if the people intended to de.
y eide, that the services of their favorites in
the cause of reform-the exertion Of their
, talents and the expenditure of their time
p and means-are to be considered as bar.
2 riers to their preferment, or as evidence
$ that the men who have been foremost il
=: the work of reform, lack integrity or fit
0 ness. The people intended to and did de-
q eide, that party services alone, without ref
|. erence to fitness in other respects, should nc
n longer constitute a qualification and claim
e for office; but they did not decide that the
= men who have been for years devoted tC
the cause of correct principles, are there
: fore incapaciated to hold Office. On thu
: contrary, the public mind looks to the EN-
q ployment of the best talents to be found il
n the Union, however active the statesmen
a possessing them may have heen in the rank
t. of democracy.
r We sneak orr minds Mainly and freely