The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-19
For the Union.
REPLY TO "AMICUS.n
To James x. Polk, President of The United States:

To James X. Polk, President Of the United Sfaes:
In the "Union" of Saturday there is communi-
cation addressed to you the signature of "Ami-
GUS" which seems to demand response; and, in
1.-THE respectful exercise of the right of freeman,
propose to offer it.
After paying Just tribute to your worth as a
3ctizen, your consistency politician, and your
3sagacity statesman, your correspondent PRIV
3ceeds, most energetcaly, to denounce the doctrine
lof removal from Office because of difference in po-
}itical opinion Perhaps an abstract question; the
principle might admit of but one decision in all
minds but whether it would not, do not now
propose to determine. The question for you. sir,
Ito answer, by your administration, is this Shall
those who, following the lead of their arrogant and
ltyrannca chief denominated the republicans of the
country pirates, and who have uniformly treated
them as if they were so in fact, be allowed to enjoy
The patronage confded to your charge, whilst your
real friends of the countryare to re-
main under the proscrptive ban OF the federal par
Ity not only in regard to the dispensation of polt
|ca honors, (where it is in its power TO confer them
but to be prescribed by Incorporated and associated
wealth. and in the social circle, because of their at
achment to the plain and honest truths of democra-
1cyi This, Mr.. President, respectfully suggest is
the true question for your solution Theorisers
lmay, Aippanty enough, discourse on the harshness
and impocy of the doctrine which seeks the re-
mova Of adversaries from office; but to the minds
|of men Of practical and sound sense, such disqusi.
tons give evidence either of the ignorance of their
authors of the demands of the people, their
1cessive amiability of character. Your correspond
lent, living, perhaps, in comparative ease on his
i farm plantation, unused to meet in severe con-
Ifict the grinding expressions of bloaed aristoc-
tracy unaccustomed to the denial of the pleasures of
1.-The social circle unaware Of the trials which
political virtue is subjected in whstandng the cur
rent of the sefcreated nabobs of the land by the aid
jof that almost almighty engine money put in mo-
llon, to the modification Of pride, the persecution
and the deep suffering to which manly and honest
of republican principles rarely fails to
determine the policy, in my humble Judgment,
(which you ought TO adopt in this regard.
BY the same number of the "Unon,n we are in
formed that twothirds Of the clerks and heads of
bureaus are wings Your correspondent "Amicus''
]woud have you continue this state of things Sir,
the confidence have in your good sense, and your
honesty and frmness of purpose forbids the posi-
Ibiiiy Of the belief on my part that it will receive
1your approval. No, sir; unless as during the adj
|ministration of MIR. Van Buren,, the policy be to
keep, at the expense Of The nation host of officers at
the seat of government to furnish wing editors and
! wing members of Congress with false and SANDER
GUS matter to be used to the injury of the democ-
Tracy, these gentry will be handed over TO the char
lily of their political friends.
The democratic party has never done itself Justice
when possessed Of patronage. Look to the army
and navy, and see the politics no,O of those who,
uitll ueY SOk pldCe, are now f0und the
1bitterest reviers of those who lifted them over the
heads ofdemocrats into their present position The
fact is, sir, that one of the greatest difficulties the
democracy have had TO contend WITH in times past,
has been to reconcile the conduct of secretaries with
!good faith, when their impotence to get office was
$50 obvious. II has been, unfortunately for their
character, their wont TO pursue the President until
They were provided for, and then to be suddenly
|seized with the idea that it was cruel and anti-repu6-
lean to remove from office others. Il has been
such evidences Of political reachery to the party.
land such sefshness on the part Of those who have
been honored by them in times gone by, that have
|disgusted the democracy. We want no more terms
|of good feeling" such as Mr.. Monroe brought
about when he conciliated federalism We have no
longer the man of iron nerve' to bring back things
TO the republican track, if they should again deviae
from it. What the republicans want is justice to
themselves, and TO their country. With but rare
exceptions, modern whigsm is nothing more nor
less than the defence of England against this coun-
try. This feeling is shown in all their aciions the
praises of that modern Babylon are constantly sung
10y them, whilst the virtues and merits of every
honest defender of his country laughed at, and
their motives impugned.
need not point you, sir, TO the history Of the
|short reign Of Gen. Harrison, during which 20
many hundreds were driven from Office; nor need |
invite your attention to every State in which the
lfederallsts held the power TO convince you, hope