The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-09
ITO the editor Of the Union.]

PHILADELPHIA, June 4, l845.
DEAR SIR: Though not your regular correspond
position Defined" in the Union of the 9th Of
May, relating to removals from Office, awakened in
me some reflections. The wings are strange par
ty, after all. l wish we had Tacitus to give
good analysis of them, aside from all feeling of party
spirit in his PEN 1t had seemed to me that Presi-
dent Polk had been eminently forbearing in reno
walls; and especially it had seemed to me that the
wings would desire to be silent on this head. All
will remember the celebrated declaration of Mr..
Granger, wing Postmaster General under General
Harrison for brief month so; declaration made,
not in corner, but to the nation from the floor Of
the House of Representatives, that not only had he
removed some fifteen hundred Of his subordinates,
but that he lamented not having been long enough
in Office to double the number. Did the wings OBJ
ject to this' Ifthey did, have not heard oft.
am no advocate for prescription, and honor Mr..
Polk for his forbearance 1t augurs well, and looks
like the days of Jefferson and Madison; but re-
member that remarkable declaration as Mr..
Granger's caused even the gentlemanly and classic
DIR. Martin, then editor of the Washington Specta-
tor, and now secretary of our legation in Paris, to
say oft, that it was "redolent Of the giotine."
think these were his words.
Here, in the city where am writing, Mr. Jona-
than Roberts, when appointed wing collector of the
port by Gen. Harrison, made a universal sweep.
As have heard he left but three four in the whole
custom-house, of those whom he had the power of
removing, out of some forty or fifty more or less,
attached to that establishment All went by one sud-
den, merciless, blow. Such wholesale prescription
was without precedent in the annals Of our repub-
lie. II even transcribed Mr.. Granger, for the scale
of operation. Did the wings Of Philadelphia com.
plain of it, or any whigR Did those respectable,
experienced and well-informed gentlemen, the edi-
tors of the National lntegencer, ever hear of III
But, as with Sterhe and his captive, let me quit
whole groups, and take a single case.
Among the best men our country has produced,
was Francis Scott Key author of the "Star. spaDged
Banner" He was a lawyer of the first class, a
patriot, phlanthropist man whose life was as
pure and useful as his genius rich and various.
Even that man wing prescription could not spare;
even he was inundated. dislike hard words; but
the "Goths and Vandalsn when they got possession
of the capital in 1910, could not spare the accom-
plshed Key. He had been of the democratic side,
conquerors, from the Office Of United States attorney
for The District of Columbia, which he had confess
eddy filed with advantage to the public and honor
10 himself.
If could write in the spirit of philosophy, as
Bancroft, were gifted with the power of historic
reflection should be much inclined to say dwell
ing upon the fame which genius and letters give
over the short-lved eminence of politicians, how
ever prominent and powerful for their day upon the
frefu STACEY that ages hence the name of Key will
be likely to survive in this great republic, when il
may come TO be asked who was Henry Clay, In
the humble sphere of common citizen, / will lust
venture however, to remark that IL war should ere
long be forced upon US in defence of our necessary
rights and honor, that soul-strring national song,
the "StarSpangled Banner" WILL at the head of our
legons, and amidst vast assemblages of the people
from our plains, mountains, valleys, and cites be
of force to exat the patrotism fire the hearts, and
nerve the arms Of American freemen to battle and
victory, thousand times more than all the legisla-
tive and stump speeches Henry Clay has made in
his whole lite; and this say in no intended dis
paragement Of Mr.. Clay but deeming highly of his
talents. Yet the immortal author Of that song,
whom Americans Of all parties ought to have been
proud to honor, was among the earliest objects Of
wing prescription!