The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-10-18

felt by the more eligible class Of political aspi
rants, and increasingly stronger than that of the
ordinary citizens, they devote themselves to tho
success of their man or men, with devotion and
an onscrupuousness as disproportoned as are their
merits 10 those of the other two classes The in
terest in these labors becomes reciprocal The
candidate may have tried in vain for fair nomi-
nation from the people he may lack some ele-
ment of character which is fatal to his legitimate
success; he consorts by instinct with his kind
ne promises everything that is necessary to beger
emclency in his hackers; he is chosen; and every
once over which he can exert any control is bill
le'ed with some Of his instruments. That this
Knd OF success is practicable, nay, is common, no
one with the experience of however short poll
teal life. can question. If it be practicable. IL
mus, he profitable Ifpruitable, i, will be prose-
cuted by every office waiter sufficiently easy in
MS morals to use the means. But the number of
unscrupulous men equal to the comprehension and
the prosecution of such schemes. il infiniteIv
greater than is that Of the Offices to be provided
tor. What is to be the consequence Ia il not
inevitable that the public mus. come to be served
oy less than firstrate officers ?-by men who will
consent to compromise their moral standard in
some degree, To compass ends which seem unat
tanabe by fair means against such Unfair compe-
ltion IL so, does it not follow that our standard
OF public men must depIecate rapdly2 No one
can fal To perceive this tendency manfeslinp it.
sell continually. both in the character of the an
pcan,s for official station and of those who are
selected to fill them. But upon this point we can
hardly speak so briefly our limits require with
gu" gu. mourning the risk of being Inexperienced.
We have word. however. TO sa v some day upon
the subject. and shall avail ourselves of an eary
opportunity to explain ourselves. We have stated
enough for the present TO give our readers an idea
"t the kind OF influence which patronage must
ever work upon the character Oft the public service,
by trusting It to men whose interests do not cor
! respond with those of the masses ID
There Is another consequence attending the
maintenance of this vast army of office holders in
the republic, of a kindred character, though per-
haps paramount in importance, to any we have
mentioned. We have alluded to their c,berence
which is maintained in spite of their very different
political aspiration by the common interest in the
success Of the party on whose fate they all depend
This, as we have shown, leads To a merger of all
local. or, as they are termed, secondary interests
IN the questions of common and universal marty
Interests. Regular nominations and party union
are at once the cry with which every menace of
local divisions is converted or subdued into ac-
quiescence. This species of party tyranny, with
which our readers are perfectly tamiliar-and
therefore we the less regret to have 80 very i'm
perfectly stated its character interferes in
irIghttul degree with that freedom of discussion
| and liberaty of opinion which is the most reliable
source OF general good sense aiming the people,
and the best security for their judging public
| measures with wisdom and fairness AS II ia.
they dare not debate question which has become
party issue. That would imply doubt of its
correctness and might lead 10 dsunion and defca,
and as mnlltndes of our citizens have not the
means OF resolving questions of public moment in
their closet. and are debared by the superior ac-
tiv'ty or sagacity Of professional politicians from
debating them before they are committed az a
party for or against them. They are obliged
either 10 incur the risk of being stipma,ized az
% unsound." or blindly 10 adopt opinions which
they lmperfectly understand or of which they dis
approve We wisely purpose in our law TO
guarantee the utmost freedom Of opinion and of
speech. hut ny the operation of our laws we mani
testify limit both to serious extent By estab-
fishing in our midst a band of men whose common
interest ia the success of the party rather than of
measures which would promote the public well
iare, we expose society TO the operation of an art-
hclal public opinion more ompulsory and nexnra-
bic than any law Of itself could possibly be made.
! But II is idle To multiply objections to the pre-
vaIling systems of appointment to office II will
be sufficiently conclusive upon all who esteem the
end OF government TO be the welfare of the gov
erned, that centrazing power by patronage in the
hands OF executive officers tends,
J. 10 interfere with and obstruct the fair repre-
seniation of the public will
L. Dy organizing and disposng an army of in
hueniial men about the country interested in per
Petnaling particular governmental poIicy from
other motives than the pnblic goud
| z by aggregaiing the people into large parties
upon lew questions Of common interest. by which
all minor and local interests are swallowed mn.
and IN the name Of party fidelity the citizen IL
sacrificed to the partisan
IL. That it leads to The selection of inconne,en,
and unsatisfactory public officers
/. Because ar Executive can have no adeouate
Opportunity or means to investigate the claims Of
the various applicants, and
2. he ls under continual temptation to seIec,
available instruments 10 serve his own politcaI
ends rather than competent officers TO serve those
Of the public
III. That IT creates a temptation to multiply
Offices tor the purpose Of creating or rewardipp
political or personal friends
Nv. That it tends to bring into dscredit the
character and reputation If men who have fairly
earned the confidence Of the people by their puri-
'y and capacity men and as statesmen, and
also
V. To lower the standard Of the public service
ny creating an interest favorable to the selection of
inscriptions officers.
| VI. That IL tends to interfere previously with
the liberty Of opinion and Of discussion by subject
ing The political sentiments of all classes to the