The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-10-18
From the Democratic Review for seD,,mbor
POLITICAL PATRONAGE.
Continued J.

Neither Is this perverson OF the appointing
power limited to the abusive disposition of Offices
already created. The strength and influence
which they furnish form appetite which grows
by what it feeds on, and temptation perprtually
beseis the government to multiply offices for the
single purpose of rewarding and purchasing parti-
sans. Ii was the great maxim of Bcntham, which
was never absent from his mind when specializing
upon the science of government. neither To create
or permit any sinister interest To bear upon the
legislative power directly or indirectly. That
the one we have last suggested belongs to that
category We have unfortunately no occasion to
make proof of. II has betrayed itself SD frequent
y IN the political history of country that il
need but be stated To revive in the minds of our
readers sufficiently distinct impressions of the dis
graceful consequences TO which it may sometimes
lead.
We do not speak %: these things to grumble
that men will use lhe. influence as abusing it,
for we affect never To complain Of what we es-
TEEN inevitable. 1t is always to be presumed in
government that every man will consult his own
interest without reference to any rights which the
law has not provided protection for The State
always contains men enough willing to misuse
discretionary powers and ready to use any means
to possess them. to make this principle canon Of
political science. The only protection which the
people have is to limit those powers by law, and
then the exercise of them cannot be used.
But of this we will speak presently. We wish
TO say word first of the influence wrought upon
the character of public men as individuals
and as class by the exercise of this enormous
power.
The political patron differs very materially from
the private benelactor. He has offices To confer,
but the favor does not consist in giving an office
but in preferring the apPoIntee To every one else.
The places or honUrs are his TO give but not to
withhold. He cannot if he would enter in and
enjuy them himself. They must be filled by his
ieow-cltizens, and he must choose to fill them
Every man, therefore, feels that he has certain
equitable interest or property in any vacant office
exactly equal 10 his own opinion of his capacity
for dscharging its duties. IL any other than him
self be selected. and no candidate, he feels that
he has been defrauded to that extent. and the Ex-
ecutive is the offender. Now man has been de-
fined a reasoning animal, but not, 50 far as we
have read, reasonable one. He is so constituted
as to forgive an injury more easily than neglect.
| He would sooner he mlsjudged Than overlooked.
In nine cases out of ten, therefore, the candidate
will be just unreasonable enough to ascrbe his
failure If such fate attend his application, to the
ignorance or dizziness, and probably, also, To the
corruption OF the government which has passed
him by. The chances then are that he will i'm
medlately become pregnant with prophecy about
the impotence and insufficiency and folly of the
administration. He will discover before any one
else, by virtue of that superior sagacty which he
| offered To prevent il, that the destines uf the
country committed To dangerous hands, and
that every man who is half patriot will see the
imminent necessity of rescuing her at once from
their control. Most men when they have strong
conviction are not long in finding facts to sustain
1t; especially If it pertain TO questions of personal
character and capacity. Every act of the offend
ing government is msrepresented. every motive is
lmpeached. apparent virtues are attributed to art
fulness the friendly word Of appreciation which
| falls IN their hearing is imputed to corruption
Everything they hear. everything they see ema-
mating from that hateful is distorted before
| it has traversed the troubled medium of their
wounded vanity and inconslderale selfishness
The consequences is that reputation which has
been acquired by a life spent in the exercise of
brilliant taleuts. an unrepr0achabe moral purity,
and the most devoted industry, may in the shor,
space of six months be Frustrated by an unsuccess-
FIJI effort 10 dispense the patronage of general
or Of State governments TO the satisfaction of all
whom it may concern. Whatever gratiGcat ion
human ambition may derive from the exercise of
such powers, must be painfully nentralized by
these unhappy consequences which it is so certain
to entail. 1t will be the Office Of history TO Illus
trae this view from the experience Of the present
generation.
Thus much of the influence of patronage upon
| the INDIVIDUAL character ana Tepnte Ot MIN who
dispenses it. A word now of its influence upon
his class-upon the general character of those who
are called through it To the public service. We
take leave TO remind our readers again of the vast
number of persons ever aspiring to official favors
in our country. Sumo commit their hopes to the
chances of municipal election, some to state
election, some to a national election, and some
entirely to the success Of some individual candi
date. All that excess Of zeal which the office
seeker feels the sing lie. minded citizen voter
will be expected for the success of some man or
set of men from whom he has hope. Any candi-
date whose preference would interfere with his
success, ne would Of course, oppose, directly or
indirectly. He would likewise oppose any man
whose opinions on any subject might lead to such
an interference. His assistance he must make a
market Of in sUlne wise. He will devote himself,
therefore, TO such person persons only he can
most securely rely upon in the day of accounting
Upon this principle Of reciprocity Of interest, it
may be assumed that very considerable proper
ton Of our professional politicians embark in spec
uatiOns for office. Now it is not too much to
say. in general terms, that those who have fewest
claims for political rewards will be- least likely to
receive them, unless they have thus contracted
for them in advance. either directly or by impl.
cation IT the superior officer have no interest
bu. those Of the public to serve. he will select
such men for the public offices as will most 70