Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-09-04
{ Vol. VI--NO. 217.
{ Price $3.50 inAdvancc

The administration will attempt to plr-
chase no man by Office ;neithcr will altem-
pit to conciIiNte the friends of any man,
whether he or they be well or i'll affected
by casting to them official crumbs They
will not willingly distrust any man or his
| friend, and secure in the inyncibiity of
their principles, they arprehond no oppo-
sitlon from Democrats. II opposition
come it will not come from the enemies Of
the administration alone, but from the en-
emies Of Democracy"
Such policy we deem essential to the
dignity Of the government and the poIit
cal freedom ofthe party; else might the
influence Of official patronage be trans
milted from one administration to another,
to favor the aspiration and designs of
some selected individual and the part-
zans, by secret bargain aud compact;
thus forestalling the free and unbiased
choice OF the people, and lnsdlously con-
trolling it, before even suspicion of the
determining influence could be aroused.
The passive obedience and non-resistance
enforced by intolerant denunciation and
prescription, which an internal despotism
of party, thus erected, might temporarily
secure, would not only invest the subor-
dinate Offices Of the government with an
imputa,ion of political subseryiency and
degradation, and defeat.
While, therefore, VIC fully adopt the
maxim, as Ist and practical general
rule, that the civil Offices of an admins
istration, framed by a political party
should be occupied by its political friends
to the exclusion Of its political foes, and
consider it fair inference that in choos-
ing an executive principle they also indi-
rectly choose subordinatcs Of the same po-
Iitical faith, we also hold it to a violation
Of an obvious equity, most disastrous in
tcndence, that any exclusive section of
the ascendent party should be allowed to
nsurp and WELD the patronage Of those
Offices, as an instrument Of dictation for
prospective preference. As officers I'M
der an administration placed in power by
the aid of our citizen suifrageS and en-
ertions, we insist upon exercising as free
and untrammclled an independence in
our politics as Democratic Republicans,
as though we were private citizens merely
and even if this indeleasiblc right be now,
for the first time, thus boldly asserted,
we shall never be induced to retrace the
step or rclinquish the claim.
If because YOU firmly upheld this right,
as standard bearer in our midst, and we
cut down by falsehood, calumny and i'm
pIacable intolerance, whilst defending it
in our behalf, that we deem it duty to
ourselves as well as to the great principle
at issue, to present you with the accompa-
nyng memento OF our respect. 1t is the
Joint contribution Of about two hundred Of
the Democratic officers Of the department
over which you lately presided; and as
the Committee of Presentation, appointed
by the general body Of the donors, we are
requested TO assure you that it is sin
cere tribute OF respect and regard for the
high qualities of mind and heart which
their late relation towards you have ena-
blcA them to appreciate, and which they
doubt not You have displayed in each of
the previous public stations that you
have held,
We trc dear Sir,
Your fellow citizens
And brother Democrats
Henry Arcularlus, Sca'r
Jono. llillyer,
VIM. L. Van Xandt,
I'harlton b. Earle,
Richard b. Connolly,
b. NJ. Van Buren,,
GriAen Tompkins,
ID. Deuuyse,
Donald ID. Frazer,
Chas Baxter,
Jas. +. Hyde,
VIM. Francis.
To Hon. G.. p. VAN NESS
Several portions of this letter, especially
those which referred to the main principle
asserted, aud to the lirmness Of Gov. Van
Ness, in defending it, were loudly and fer
vently appIauded.
Gov, Van Ness then replied as follows,
his remarks being received throughout