The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-08-24
oFFICE-HoLDERs IN WASHINGTON

OFFICE-HOLDERS IN WASHINGTON.
IL was minated in the official paper in 1910,
that in the event of the success OF MIR. Van Blu
rem, new class of citizens, fresh from the
People," would be called to Washington 10 take
the places of the g drones" From forty 10 six
~ removals would have been made if Mr. Van
Buren, had been elected. And after his defeat
il is understood he regretted that il had been
done long before.
Wethink either before or after it would have
been right. There have been serious and we'll
grounded complaints in distant sections of the
country, for some years past that the g rotation
principle" which has been kept in operation by
both parties in other sections of the Republic,
has never been fairly applied in Washington
Hence, the People who have access 10 all the
other Offices of honor and profit every four or
eight years, as this or that party attans the as
tendency are beginning to raise the cry of ''mo-
nopoly" and I" aristocracy" against the Federal
city, under the impression that the incumbents
have, by some means, secured life estate in
the positions they hold under the Government.
They think the citizens at distance are enti-
tied TO fair proportion of The Offices at the
capital-and that for those bred in the atmos-
phere of the District to enjoy monopoly or a
life estate in official stations, savors too little
of the spirit of Democracy. They also believe
| that il nep incumbents '1iresh from the People"
are capable Of fully dischargng the duties of
their respective offices in the different States,
they would likewise be capable Of doing the
same in Washington.
| We have never been the advocate of "gene-
raj sweeps" in Washington or elsewhere; but
| nevertheless we think, in common with others,
| that among the six or eight hundred office
holders in this District, at least fourth Of the
number every four years might, with advantage
to the Government, give way for Others " fresh
from the People" Among such vast number
there must every four years be $ drones"-men
neither disposed nor qualified to discharge their
duties with benefit to the country.
too long possession Of office is apt to begel
an arstocratc haughtiness, and to produce ILL
treatment to the private citizen who ,ransacts
| business at the Departments, and disrespect fol-
| those at the head of the Government. Indeed
we have heard of many instances Of opprobious
epithets being applied 10 the head Of the Gov
eminent by those in office who were deluded
with the belief that those above them had not
the "nerUe' to dismiss them others ia their
zeal to infiict many injuries as possible on
the Administration, labor more assiduously in
the manufacture of false rumors for the press,
than in the discharge OF their duties for which
they are paid by the Government and others,
while utterly declining to aid in the dssemina-
ton of arguments and facts which falsify the
gross charges with which the unprincipled enc
mics of the President seek TO blacken his cha
racter, at the same time, under the plea Of
=" freedom of opinion" and as if to demonstrate
their excessive independence, contribute te
circulate the false charges. Yet, if these gen
tlemen have good reason to believe that their
improper conduct may subject them TO danger,
a majority of them will not hesitate TO present
themselves to those high in authority with many
earnest protesrations of duiifnl respect, friend
ship, &c. Such are the temptations TO dupli-
| city and profgacy to which too long continu-
ance in office is liable to expose mankind
1t has been suggested by many statesmen that
the offices at Washington ought to be filled pc
rodically, and the selections made from the Peo-
pie in equal ratio as possible, and upon the
recommendations Of their representatives in
Congress We know not how this plan has
been viewed by any Of the Presidents. But we
have been led 10 make the above remarks in
consequence OF a supposition, that it is conempa-
ted at no distant day to call number of citizens
" fresh from the People" to Washington.
DEMOCR OEEICE HQI DERS