American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-09-01

OFFICE HuNrING. The American Of Satur-
day last contained an editorial article from
which we make the following extracts:
"The main s,imullnt which provokes politi.
cal cxcitcmont-what is it but the eager cray-
inv after the oliircsand emo!uments Of Govern
ment! The dustment of the claims Of con
tending asp.rants has become one of the great
est difficulties of administration, whether OF
national, state, or municipal affairs. The COM
munty is agtatcd by it; the friends OF the res
pectIve claimants are warm, rcstlessly active,
and often violent; and the appointing power Is
frequently left almost without discretion in the
exercise Of functions held, or designed to bel
held as sacred trust, under the responsibility
Of an official oath.
1t would at first view appear strange That the
great body oil the people should allow them
selves to be so dashed into excitement Tor the
benefit of the few leaders who crave the posses
sion Of place and salary. But the surprise
ceases when it is remembered that there are otll-
ces to suit every grade Of politicians, from the
Presidential aspiraut to the more humble seek
or who looks for an appointment as cross
road post master or city watchmun. And
among those who ardently press the claims of
a iavoritc applicant, how many are there who,
under the principle of rotation, expect to urge
their own claims al some future tune; Thus
the mania spreads throughout society, and Mul-
tltuGes are drawn of from the useful and sub
stanti2l pursuits Of industry to lose their time,
impair their prospects in life, and fret their
tcmpcrs, for the poor chance of temporary
prize in the lottery of politics.
This is all true to the letter. The people
have been kept in perpetual state Of excite
ment for many years past, chiefly for the pur-
pose of benelitng oificc-snckcrs such has
been the influence which these persons have exer-
ted, that, in tue language of the American, 'the
appointing power is frequently left almost with
out discretion in the exercise Of functions held, or
designed to be held, as a sacred trust, under the
responsibility of an official OATH Of this re-
suit of party strife the American justly COM
plains: but how is it to be prevented for the fl-
ture? How shall this overwhelming influence
of oliice-seekers be restricted within safe limits:
Surely not by perpetuatng the present state of
things; for that would perpetuate their power.
There is one way, and only one, of accom-
plishing the desirable object, and that is, 60 to
diminish salaries and incomes, that Offices shall
not be so desirable to aspirants. Let it be seen,
that an industrious man of any vocation can
earn as much or more at his business, than can
be obtained by holding Office, and the mad thirst
for Office which now prevails, will soon SUBJ
side, and party rancour will also cease to exist.
Let there be no large prizes Gin the lottery of
politics." and few will desire to have a chance.
BY the mode which we propose, Of rectfying
the abuses of which the American complains,
we shall "kill two birds with one stone'-for
we shall quiet the office seekers and replenish
the public trcasury--and these are precisely
the objects at which we aim.