The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-27
POSITION DEFINEp.n

authorized 10 Hidht COHcCtonS iOt TIC ofVOt.
POSITION DEFINED"
We owe many thanks to the intelligent cores
bondent of the Baltimore Republican, who has
addressed a letter to the editor ofths paper "upon
he subject Of rotation in Office" for the handsome
Terms in which he has spoken of ourselves. He pays
LIS many more compliments than we deserve, and APP
kreciatcs much too highly the influence which he
IS pleased to attribute TO u.s. In reply to his calm
md dignifed appeal, we can assure him, with the
most perfect sincerity, that we never interfere with
line removals and appointments of the administra-
ion. They perfectly understand the position which
70 have assumed; as we chcerfully leave all these
uestions in the hands Of those to whom the consti
Uution has committed this delicate, difficult, and
Responsible power. In this same connection, may
I've again take the liberty of reminding all our
Friends, in whatever quarter of the country
they may happen to reside, that we cannot,
bn any manner whatsoever, interfere with the
Idispensadons OF the executive patronage Not
that we are not attached to our friends;
mot that we have no wish TO serve them; not
that we are unwilling to oblge any Of our fell
Iow-citizens, far we can; but because this hap
pens to be the rule which have adopted for sixteen
years; and time has rather confirmed than weaken
ed the force of the considerations which impeled
Originally, as the editor of a newspaper, to decline
any interference with any such questions.
We feel the force of one remark indeed,
which The author of "Truthn presents in his
second letter in the Baltimore Republican y
lie reminds of 'the political executions
which were made during the short reign of Gen
eral Harrison. Yet there was manliness Che SAYS
even with all the indecency of this vindctive haste
1t was the ful6lment of pledge which carried
them into power. Their party was united by the
indulgence Of "a common and general will. Let me
ask you how would every democrat have Jared in
the event of Mr. Clay's election to the presidency
Sir, it would have been slaughter worse than the
'Alamo;' not solitary man would have been lefi
to tell the tae.'" eve are compelled to subscribe
TO this declaration) "On the contrary, is there any
who doubts but what there are federaliss ,,o,c
in office, under democratic Administrations ,plo
you'd haze been promptly removed, had the elections
resulted in favor of the ichgs the naiipcs or the ado
ltonists' Yes hundreds, who insulted by symbol,
and illiminaiions-(an instance in this cty)--who
trod with presumptuous arrogance upon honest and
unprecedented political integrity, virtue, and patriot
ism, are now protected in official stations tina,
would never have received their first quarters pay
under the dynasty Of the great embodiment him.
self"
"Sr, their rancor and prescription dees not stor
here. None knows this better than yourself Was
there not a formal proposition made by federal
paper in your own city Of Richmond, to patronize
those only who avowcd federal doctrines, And
why was il Abandoned Not from any pure and
proper motive, but simply because they would have
lost by the game. Your State was thoroughly dem.
ocratic, your farmers held the wealth and the pa
tronage They were the Independent men, off whom
these vampires accumulated their fortunes and they
shrunk with dismay at the contemplation of arousins
such power But, sir, do you suppose that there
or any where else, they do not carry this proscrp
tive policy into the social system, where they car
do it with impunityi II you have such doubts, in
vesgatc work shops before an election; 60 into
all the factories; hear the mechanic tell his tale o.
wrong. Even the daily laborer is not too humble
to be struck at by the money kings clothed .ir
purple and robed in white lincn' All this is MOI
only wrong, but Infamous II not only cxc,es an.
cry passion but sinks the love of country and Jus
tice, far below the dignity Of civilized society. Ye
this is the party 10 conciliate These are the mer
to subdue by magnanmty
"And who arc the recipients Of such favor
class Of men ,rho hare been distinguished 70,
their services in such ,cartare Men whose frs
claims to Office were predicated upon their
hostility to free principles Partsans more
Jealous than fanatics, more vindctive than q
Huron savage. These are not the public servants
which democratic administration should have in
their confidence. Tied to their idols they watch
only to strike. They have no affinity, no interest
no feeling in common with the people whom they
serve. Welded to federalism, their prompting,
would be to pull down, not build up, and if they had
the power, no sun would set, before they would
vote their present superiors out of office to make
way for Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, Ewing, and
the whole tribe of bank making bankrupts.n
Yet the wing papers are raising huc-and-cry
against the administration for the proscriptive
spirit which they have ascribed to them. The
Lexington Observer clamors about Mr. Folks
"decapiations." So far, however, there is
little, if any, cause for complaint. The re-
movals already made fall considerably shor
f'hosc which were made during the corresponding
period of the last administration. The contrast in
the Post Office is singuarly great. Mr. Polk is no
butcher" He says freely, that, of all his pub
lie duties, this is the most painful to a man Of
any sensbility. But removals must be made
The number Of democrats who have been s'push-
Cd from their stools" by wings, Of itself opens
The road to new removals. Yet the administra-
uon has pursued a calm and comparatively mod
crate course. They are taking time to look around
and removing such as the public interest requires
70 DC substituted by others. The number is OF
course, not yet complete. As time shows the pro-
prey OF further removals, MIR. Polk win act from
sense ofpublic duty, however it may conflict with
ms own private feelings. Even Mr.. Jefferson had to
CallS of.. IL