American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1844-12-23

Party MovEMENTs---PUBLIc OTFIcERs'
There will be great party movements III Mary
land, during the first quarter OF the year winch
is about to commence and no little shifting OF
place among the public officers There will
be no proscripton-not the least-as each par
ty abhors prescription, if their organs are to be
believed hut there will be a great deal OF what
goes by the more gentle term of rotation III Of
fee. First, the wings will open with gener-
al sweep of their advcrsares from the State
offices-then will follow the removal of wings
from city otficcs-and lastly the general govern
ment will use the broom to clear out what few
ooponents may be found in the enjoyment OF
the public pap. State Offices being the most
numerous and valuable, Especially as Clerks
and Registers are to be appointed for the next
seven years the wings will have the adVan-
tage in this flrccal game of "turn out"
We complain of the instability of legislation,
as producing uncertainty, confusion and INJURY
but we think that the frequent and CAPRI
cious removal of public officers, without Just
cause of complaint, is an evil of greater mag
nitude; for it reduces our political controver-
sizes, which should be conducted upon honorable
and patriotic principles, TO mere scramble tor
Office. The most vociGrous party brawler is
the first TO claim and receive Office as com
pcnsaton for services, and these appointments
are too frequently made by both parties, with
IL. oil in,t finn. ho
natural consequence Of which is, that we too
often have inefficient or dishonest public Off
GERS. The system is radically wrong as applied
to the General, State, or City governmens,-
We should prefer that public officers should be
made in reality officers of the law-that is,
that they should be appointed as the clerks and
registers of this State now are, for term of
wears, irremovable excepting for incompatency
or uisbehayiour. This would give them the OPP
portunty OF properly qualifying themselves for
their situations. Our first move would be, to
render the president ineligible to immediate re-
election. This would take from him one great
inducement to prescribe public otficers-then
we would divest him of the power to remove
except for cause.
Incorporation of the present partysystcm will
produce great confusion in this State, without
compcnsating public benefit, which should be
the main object with all parties We have al
ways held, and expressed the opinion, that mere
difference in political opinion does not consti-
tate instifable ground for the removal of men
from public Office. Freedom of opinion is the
very essence of our republican system, and is
recounized as such theoretically, by wings,
democrats, and all citizens; and yet the prac-
tice is precisely the reverse. We grant the
right to every man 10 think, to speak, and ia
act. rs his Judgment or conscience may dictate
but punish him if he presumes to differ from
ourselves. And this is what is called liberty
Such is our inconsistency. When will politi'
cans learn to be tolerant? When will they
make their practices conform to their proies
sions? Never whilst they sustain the Infamous
doctrine. that sto the victors belong the spoils
Never, until they shall become "Amercan Re'
publicans" in notwithstanding their vision
beyond the mere confines of party, to the great
interests of their common country.