Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-03-21
Far The E'nguiyer.
TT ~ 'I"'I
WASHINGTON March rs. 1915

WASHINGTON, March lS, 1873.
Tie CeutM 10 be Pursned by he Republican
PGliu-1tc .Nclc AdmiaiSratiOn-1 The HOn.
Care .J0iASOn.
The new administration is now launched upon
the tempestnOus ocean OF public strife, and The
people are watching with cagerness The course OF
policy by which il will be guided. The greatest
difficulty that a new President has TO surmount,
is a proper distri ulion Of The patronage with
which he is clothed by the Constitution and laws,
50 as 10 satisfy The various interests combined,
and do equal justice 10 the People and country,
by a faithful adherence To these cardinal princi-
Piles which have been identified with the Repub-
lican party since The adoption OF the Federal
Constitution. From The beginning OF The Go
vcrnmcnt there have existed two parties antago-
MYSTICAL 10 each o:hcr, and all of our elections
have been made 10 Turn uncn tie known prlnci-
pies OF the various candidates who have been
presented, from time 10 Time, TO the people, for
their sutlrages. With these recorded facts, with
which the history of our country is replcte, II IS
hnt fair 10 inter, that the Government will be ad-
minIstered in such a manner as 10 carry out those
principles which were proclaimed by the people
in their recorded verdict through the ballol-box;
and, 10 enable The new President and his Cabinet
10 facilitate The action OF the people in this parti-
cular, they will. OF course, have 10 bring around
them some OF their personal and political friends.
The Democratic party went into The late canvass
inspired with the belief. That The ~iasT.nt injuries
inflicted upon the country by Granger, Ewing,
Bell ard Badger would be adjusted in that spiiii
consistent with The views and policy Of our pulili-
cal creed; and | have every reason 10 believe,
from general appearances. that they will not be
disappointed. The Republican party has ever
been distinguished for It's l~i5erallty: but | am Sur-
~ that ! caIno. say this much Tor our opponents.
In every instance, where they have had The as
- -. - ... .vor,:.I tbn fIi 49, =,
their power, thus attempting 10 carry out the pre-
diction OF Mr.. Clay, that, with "porcr and pat
,onogc he couM make himsaf p~opnlar;" and who
boldly proclaimed, in his Lexington letter, SO as 10
inspire new zeal and confidence in the ranks ofhis
friends. that, ri crttcd, he fcoHd Oaiy icarc one or
TIRE Dem0crais "a cGtc, as monuments Of his mntu."
With This bold and reckless declaration staring his
friends in the face, they have the e~frontery 10 de-
clare t. the world, that Inc President has been
guilty OF a proScriplive policy, because he has
appointed several OF his friends to Office where the
commissions OF their predecessors have expired
by the terms OF the law. What guarantee has
the President that the principles OF his admins
traiion will be adhered 10 ~ his opponents, should
he leave them all where h. found them. upon as
| slming the rcins Of Government! The history
Of Mr.. Van Buren's administration is OF itself a
commentary. That great and good man, with
tie best feelings of his nature, left his opponents
unmo!eslcd: and in sereral instances, the patron.
ace Of his administration was used as a means
10 defeat his election. Look q, Swauwout and
| olhcr dclaul,ers, who were his political enemies
Their acts brought ~ohlogny and rcproach npon
h. very man who had extended 10 them the libe-
raii;y oi his generous heart; and never shall |
forget the Icjoicings and Civilizations nat were
manifested by this class oi public agents ia the
Log Cabin oilhis city, when they asceriained lhat
he had been defeated. Yet am anyiou, 10 sec
The President ana his Cabinet act with ~becomin.
! masnanimity; but in doing this, they must not
forget the acts of tyranny that were inflicted up
ON their friends hy Mr.. Clay and his followers
in 1871. Look al The cruel dismissal Of such a
man as Gen. Mcneil, as Surveyor Of Boston,
who had served his country faithfully, and who
had distinguished himself upon the battle field
Look at The dismissal, also, of Colonel e. X.
Gardner, who was a distinguished officer during
the late war with Great Britain Should such
men as lhese be ~reinsiaied BY the President, ii will
be responded 10 in a spi!i, worthy OF The Amerl-
can people. They look t. III Tor the faithful adj
minis;ration Of The Government, and his exer-
tions in such a glorious undertaking will be acce.
!era.ed liz a warm and generous support. They
book alone toihc triumph Of their principles as Tie
natural result for the honor and glory q The toun-
,ry, which canno, he accomplished without those
hy whom he is surrounded shall lake an interest
in the success Of his administration You may
RELY uron il. that the President will be governed
hv principles OF Justice and liberality in beslow-
ing The patronage of the Government, and no
man will be appointed who is not both honest and
eqpoAr.
The Wings Of his city have al last discovered
ario < .J,mss X. RON" They say he will make
an excellent President. Whatdoes all this mean?
Are they sincere or are they governed by mo-
lives Of cupidi,y Z | have no doubt whatever,
that he will make an excellent President accord
ing 10 the standard vi Repubiicanisin; but that
has never been considered a test for Federalism.
However. The signs oi the times are pregnant
with events, which aic now being developed IN
The North, thai will compel sofLe ui them 10
seek new political localities; and perhaps they
intend this acknowledgment 10 be a sidiag-scaie
from Federalism 10 Democracy: hence their any
irty TO know 'chfre they arc 10 GO" the next four
years. The abOli;ionists arc calling npon the
Wings 10 raise their Mack banner Of treason
against the compromises Of the Constitution, for
tie purpose Of dissolving The Union; but the
New York Courier and Enquirer denounces the
reasonable plot, which. in my opinion, is the
funeral dirge of Whiggery. With these alarm
ing and disorganizing signs, il will perhaps, be-
come the duty OF The President to exercise his
constitutional authority, 10 enforce the laws and
maintain The Union; in which event it will be the
duty of every lover of his country 10 give him a
warm ard generous support. The question 10 be
decided AT the next election is, whether the Con-
sritution shall exist rs it is, or whether the black
banner OF the Abolitioni>ts shall float over The
dome of The Capitol. This will be the issue
and the New York Tribune and The Albany
Evening Journal have proclaimed it TO the world,
but this reasonable declaration has been met in
a spirit Of frankness By The Courier and Enqui-
rer. which deserves commentator.
The people OF Virginia should bear in mind
,bat H.. nayt potSlafurp will have m plpct n
Senator in the place of MIR. Rives and that
Senator should be a man who will stand by the
President, the Constitution and the laws. Then
it behooves every Republican 10 be on the alert
so as 10 return 4 majority TO that body who will
select a man whose feelings are in unison with
their own. If this shonld be done. the admins
tralion Of President Polk will be iriumPhanlly
successful, and the fell spirit OF abo!itionism will
be swallowed up in the vortex OF It's reasonable
purposes.
efficient head: but | have not the pleasure Of the
acquaintance OF any Of them, except The Hon.
Cave Johnson, whom | have remembered with
pride and pleasure ever since the palmy days of
General Jackson. Well do | remember the ele-
waited position which The present President occu-
pied on the floor Of Congress, in defending the
motives Of the gallant old Hero, whose race is
nearly run, in removing The Deposies, and the
warm and generous support given by The pre-
sen, Postmaster Genera, 10 his illustrious and
talented colleague, whilst discharging The arduous
duties of Speaker OF The House Of Representa-
tives. These ale pleasant retrospeclions for one
OF my warm and ardent temperament, and whose
aim has ever been to defend the best interests OF
nv country. No man ever occupied a more
conspicuous position in Congress, for honesty and
6deli,yto his constituents, than Cave johnson -
His object was always 10 be Just, before he was