The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-11-10
coyERNMENT PATRONAGE.

| telligencer, 10 waive, during the approaching
Presidential canvass, all reference to the great
measures of public policy with which the Wing
party is idenuhed-lest the growing POPULAR
"" of these measures should enable their enc
mics TO get into power by protesting 10 be their
frends.n If this whimsical proposition were
accepted, the result would be, of course, that
the only question Of National interest left TO be
determined would be who should have the dis
posal and management of the Government pa
ronage2 We have no doubt that this is, in
fact, considered the most important and momen;
tous question by the most active ASSISTANTS OF
the present Administration. They are not
welded either TO measures or men; but the
spoils have an irresistible attraction, against
which no consideration Of national welfare or
honor can induce them TO practice, or even pro-
Tess, any selfdenial.
10 the purer days of the Republic, when the
Government was administered by the sages and
patriots of the Revolution, the patronage of the
Government was scarcely heard OF, and neither
seen nor felt during elections. What would
have been The emotions of such men could they
have witnessed the disgracefu scenes-st
fresh in the minds of the People-which imme
dately followed the Inauguration of General
Harnson2 A President of the United States
literally hunted 10 deata, according TO the tesli-
mony of his own physicians, by applicants for
oilice-compeled, in order TO obtain an occasion
al respite from his tormentors, TO seek refuge
at the fresdes of his most prominent political
npD nj n nj last he fate of
Action, worried to death bv his own hounds
This fact, SO degrading to the nation, was pro-
claimed and commented on in The European
journals as a specimen Of the working of our
Republican institutions and as symptom OF
their approaching downfall.
The origin Of the introduction Of the disposal
4 Government patronage, as one of the impor-
ant questions 10 be decided by a Presidential
election, may be traced as far back as the coali-
lion between Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Clay Mr.
Clay, 1t is well known, publicly made the de-
claralon, " give Us patronage and we will make
ourselves POPULAR and his practice, as far as
his power extended, was in conformity with this
declaration. He never omitted an opportunity
to introduce an active and efficient partisan into
Office. He cast longing eye at the patronage
of the General Post Office Department, then
superintended by Mr.. Mclean, aud would most
willingly have got rid of that able and upright
officer. But Mr.. Adams was of more timid
and wary cast of character: he loved fish, but
as he had already caught larger one than he
could well digest, he was doubtful as TO the pro-
priely Of wetting hi, feet any further
After the accession Of General Jackson to the
Presidency many removals from Office took
place-so many that Mr.. Clay and his friends
pretended 10 be houor-suuck. They predicted
the downfall Of the Republic and the total ami
hllation of the power of the People. No charge
was so frequently and DANGEROUSLY urged
against the Administration as that of proscrip-
ton. The President it was urged, day after
day, was the President of party, and not Of the
Nation. This continued TO be one of the most
prominent and fertile topics Of defamation, up
TO the close of Mr.. Van Buren's Administration
In their electioneering harangues throughout
the country, during the canvass of 1910, the
Wing leaders promised the reform Of this abuse
above all others. Their President, they boast
ing more would be heard of prescription; party
discussions and anmosites would be healed,
and the nation, under Wing rule, would be like
family of brothers, and share the loaves and
fishes amcably.
But no sooner had the Inauguration OF Gen
Harrison taken place than the organs Of the
Wing party throughout the country simullane-
ousy changed their tune. They began TO speak
significantly Of the wrongs which the Wing
party had endured, of the coruptions of the re-
cent Administration, of the reform so loudly de-
manded by the People, and the impossibility Of
affecting that reform without thorough purga-
ton Of the public Offices and "opening a new
set of books
The National Intelligencer, one Of the mos
staid and decorous OF their presses, and pro-
Tossing peculiar regard for consistency, was
particularly busy in paving the way, and pre-
pairing the minds of the People, for the approach
ing scramble for offices. 1t hunted up and re-
published all that the other party had ever ad-
yanced in justification of the removals made
during their continuance in power and in their
editorial comments, among other arguments and
incentives the editors put forth what they no doubt
supposed would be an unanswerable plea in the
question, whether any individual coming into
the possession ofan estate or mlnuiactory would
think himself bound to retain the ovcrseers or
head workmen employed by the preceding pro-
pretorl
This plea, if admitted, would Of course have
covered the whole rround-and a very wide on,
it was-of contemplated operations. Tie pa
tronage Of the Government would have been
considered the private property, for the time
being at least, Of the person coming into the
possession Of it, and not trust for the public
Each head Of Department, or bureau, or even