The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-06-16

PRESCRIPTION we ind in the Huntington Union
he accredited organ Of the government, the follow
ng extraordinary article, which we do not hesitaf'
10 characterize the most disgraceful and unblush
ing defence Of detestable principle, that we have
ever seen in any public journal. Honorable ant
rightmnded men, Of every party, read it CAREFUL,
and mark every word
REMovALs.-We exposed last evening, the monstrou
misrepresentation which has just appeared in the Nor
folk Herald viz that in two days thirty
ais had been made in this city We stated that IL the
Washington correspondent had confined himself to
| cases he would have come much nearer the truth.
We have since specific statement from Of tho
correspondents Of the New York Herald, viz that oil
'thc removals from Office in Washington city since the
amount only to fifty including six messengers and watch
men, three or four who have resigned ?" two whose
commissions had expired by law; two, whose services
necessarily dispensed with under the law reducing
the number Of clerks to be hereafter employed in the
General Land Office; and one temporary clerk in the
Patent Office, for whom the commissioner could find
nothing more to do For what causes these fifty auditors
clerks, postmasters, &c. were removcd-how many fol
absolute ncapacityhow many for their brawng, indie
cent and improper partizanshpand how many because
they wings who had taken the place of the worthy
appear from the record but confident that not
many have been superseded for opinions sake in these
three months at ributed in the Norfolk Herald
Postmasters and other officers have been removed Of
course, at oher places; but how many and for what
causes, will not profess to enumerate; but we will
ing the corresponding period Of the Granger administers
ton Upon this subject however we find in the Detroit
Free Press of the 9th instant the following article
which saves us from the necessity Of any elaborate sta
tistics -
State are talking about the prescription Of whg postmas
tiers, we make the following extract from debate in
Congress, between Mr. Granger, Harrson's Postmaster
General and Mr.. Weller Of Ohio -
1.-The gentleman from New York INF. Grangerl
stands BY his principles9 What were the principles
Harrison1 Did no stand pledged put down proscrp
ton He, too talks about the spos' Will he be SO
good as to tell me how many victims were guiiotlned
whilst he stood at the head of the Post Office Depart
ment?
"'Mr. Granger.--Does the gentleman from Ohio de.
"'Mr. Weller.-Certainly do, and will be very much
obliged to him if he will give it.
"'Mr. Granger said he would respond with pleasure
There had been about 700.
"'Ar. Weller.-seventeen hundred And how many
would have been turned out If the gentleman had
remained in Office two weeks longer!
"'Mr. Granger said he would answer that too. If he
had remained in Office little longer he would have
Here then. is the acknowisdrment from member of
Gen. Harrsons cabinet that four thousand and seven
hundred postmasers were marked for prescription by
party who pledged to prescribe prescription OF
this number seventeen hundred were hurled from oce
in tho short space Of six months for the crime OF being
democrats. We find fault with Granger; but we
complain that now. when the work goes on slow but
sure, they should mourn"
There are occasions when il is difficult to restrain
ones indignant feelings. We are sure that every
man whose soul has not been utterly tainted by po-
litica corruption,w will after reading this article find
himself in such predicament. But let US calmly
look at t-let cooily examine this extraordinary
avowal of principles which are regarded with un-
mingled disgust by the intelligence and enlightened
patriotism of the whole country. In the first place,
we would remark that the sneaking and contempt
bic manner in which the Union refuses to apollo
gize for its laundering or designed msrepresenta-
ton of this journal, is altogether unworthy Of pa
per pretending to responsibility. Can this really be
Mr. Ritchie-thc honorable and candid Mr.
Ritche-he Mr.. Richie whom we have been SO
long accustomed to regard person entirely above
the ordinary run Of party journalists Why not
manfuIy and honorably acknowledge that you were
you had committed a bundcr-that
you untruey represented the Ne,e York Herald as
publishing false statement respectngthe number Of
removals at Washington Indeed, indeed, Mr.
Richie, this ritfu and paltry sneaking out of this
retractation is not at all calculated to elevate you or
the organ in the estimation of men of honor ard
probity.
But we have still more serious fault to find with
Mr.. Richie His defence of the abominable and
demoralizing principle Of prescription for the
sake of opinion, is as reckless IL IL absurd.
We confess we could not have supposed that
Mr. Richie would have had the hardihood thus to
avow and defend in the face of the whole country.
such principle. 1t is really an act of no ordinary
boldness Let us tell Mr.. Richie that the violence
of parzan feeling has subsided-that the fierce po-
htical excitement, which some months ago swept
over the land, has abated. Intelligent men of all
parties are now in their right mind. They look or
A. l.
not so much partzans patriots. Is it possible
that Mr. Richie is so foolish as to imagine that calm
thoughtful men, be they democrats wings, willre
gard his defence of this inlquitous principle
with any other feeling than indignant dis
appreciation Mr.. Richie, we must confess, wal
very blind on the Texas question. Is his case real
" so bad that he cannot on any other subject
Surely, if his eyes had been open-if his common
sense had not deserted him-Mr. Richie woult
not have ventured on such an extraordinary avowal
such an extraordinary defence of an unpopular ane
wicked principle!
What is this principle? Ii is the principle that al
the officials and employees of the govemment--nt
matter how capabe-no matter how faithful-nt
matter how valuable as public servants, are to b.
regarded as disqualified if they entertain certain
political opinions and that they accordingly
be prescribed. A more absurd-a more ubiquitous
"a more demoralizing principle could not be pro
pounded 1t is this accused principle which hal
spread corruption and political pronigacy through
out the length and breadth Of the land. It is thi.
which has created that fierce and unhnllowed parti
zanshp which blasts and wthers every blossom anc
fruit of patriotism and virtue. II is this which has
covered the administration of our free government
with disgrace-impeded its action-and most wo
fully mpeded the progress and triumph of repub
canism. And yet this is the principle that Mr. Rit
chic avows and defends! And what defence
Because the wings prescribed, Mr.. Folks admins
tration must proscrbe-because the wings were
corrupt, Mr.. Folks administration must wallow in
corruption! And Mr.. Richie appears determined
to carry out his principles. He seems determined
to say to the charlottesville wings "chastisee
Won with whips but we will chastise you with scor