The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-07-01
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to the political community, TO witness the nconsist
ency practised by politicians in relation 10 Office
under the general government That there has been
an eternal contest for Office, between the rival par
ties since the formation Of the government none
can dispute; and, what is much more remarkable,
the federal party has managed, by perseverance and
importantly, to retain much larger number in of
ice than the democrats although the latter have en-
ljoyed the executive patronage much longer. The
extraordinary contest between Jefferson and the
elder Adams engendered all the bitterness of politi
cal and partisan warfare, which naturally resulted
upon the success of the latter, in the almost entire
exclusion of democrats from Office, and the appoint
ment of those Of the successful party. To so great
an extent did this prevail, that, upon the subsequent
defeat of Adams, and the accession of Jefferson TO
the presidency, loud complaint was made because
the latter appointed few friends to Office, and
this produced his celebrated reply to the New
Haven committee. at would have been to me,'
said Mr.. Jefferson, ga circumstance of great relief
had found moderate participation of Office in the
hands of the majority, (the democrats) But their
total exclusion calls for promper correctives." Du-
ring the twenty-four years. administration of Messrs
Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, the executive pa
tronage was with the democratic party, yet COM
plant was made of undue appointments of political
friends to Office; but upon the accession Of the
younger Adams, and during his term removals were
constant and exensve--so much so, that, upon the
old hero becoming President, he felt it necessary
to revive the rule adopted by Mr.. Jefferson
more than the fourth of century previous
| During, however, the twelve wears of General
Jackson and Mr.. Van Buren's administrations
nothing like an equal number Of democrats pre-
vailed in the subordinate departments OF the gov
eminent. In this Mr.. Van Buren, was most culpably
negligen and to this his best friends attributed in
great measure his overthrow, and the Waterloo
defeat of the democratic party in 1910. No party
can hope to succeed, that wiully and ungratefully
rewards enemies opponents, to the neglect of
warm, energetic, and attached friends; and great
responsibility rests upon that individual who, taken
from among the people, and raised by them to the
highest pinnacle of human greatness, looks down
with profound contempt upon the ladder by which
he was enabled to ascend, negects his friends who
bated for him in doubt and uncertainty and chooses
his national and political guard principally from
among his opponents, who sneered at and derided
him during the canvass, and most contemptuously
asked "Who is James X. Polk"
| Mankind actuated by rewards and punish
ments, and the best judges of human nature have
never neglected TO hold out suitable encourage
ment to great achievements the accomplishment of
which depends upon the union of all available re-
sources, and the degree of encouragement and re-
ward rendered to the actors There is in this coun-
try, undoubtedly, Majority Of the two political par
ties who are actuated by pure and patriotic motives
in endeavorng to advance those principles they be-
/ lieve to be correct but between these two parties
there is a floating and fuctuating mass of votes
which can always determine any election; and this
yacllating must have encouragement to action;
and no administration or party has ever continued
that has neglected it.
The quasi administration of Mr. Monroe du-
ring which more political opponents than friends
were employed, was succeeded by the defeat of the
democratic candidate, General Jackson;) but du-
ring his administration, some attention was paid to
ths important subject, of appointing friends in
stead of enemies and the democratic party prevail
ed until the subject was again treated with contempt
| by Mr. Van Buren,, and with him the democratic
l hp SOC uth thor mr.
not the present youthful and sagacious President
will permit his sympathy to be so wrought upon,
as wIfuly and knowingly to the party that elc-
waited HIM to power split and wreck upon the same
rock that Frustrated it with Mr.. Van Buren,
The reward Of friends by appointment to Office
has never been neglected by the federalss or wings
They have invariably practsed H. Whenever an OPP
IPorten,y rrusunrd. itfs true they denounced, IN
lunmeasured terms, the celebrated expression of
Governor Marcy, $40 the victors belong the spoils''
but they have never hestated to practise it, Upon
the elevation of General Harrison, they came into
power, and commenced course of prescription
that has never been equal!ed in this or any other
country. II far surpassed the reign of terror in
France; for upon the downfall of the leaders there,
the work Of decapitation suspended, but in the
United States, the death of Harrison did not stay
the work of prescription. Whilst he lay corpse
\ IN the executive mansion, II IS a fact well known,
that the dismissas from Office continued; and during
the five months Of whig administration, from the 4th
of March, 1910, more individuals removed from
Office than during the twelve years previous, al
though those twelve years included the eight years of
General Jackson, 'thc fthe iron rule,' the
wings termed him.
During the canvass of 1914, twas boldly and loud
ly proclaimed, even by Mr.Clay HIMSELF and whilst
the wings were perfectly confident of success, that
upon their succession to power again, only few
democrats, here and there, should be left monu-
ments Of whg clemency; and now ask any candid
whig if MIR. Clay had been elected, would Il single
democrat have been left in Officer No, certainly
not. And yet these wings, who, when confident Of
success, established the rule Of prescription them
selves TO operate upon their opponents now seek to
annul it, and, by whining and grooming, to excite
be retained in Office. Alas! for the weakness and
inconsistency of human nature, Cannot the wings
, be exhored to display more maniness, more fort,
tude, more dignity Of character If they are po.
cal opponents, and have been condemned by theii
own mouths, and subject to dsmission from office
by their rule Of action, surely they act like
men, and not be DRIVEN by the love Of Office, to seek
IN degrading manner, what they not entitled To
by their own decree-by their own mandate.
! Why should some men desire to retain office 70,
a long series of years. who no better qualified
for it than thousands of Others who are equally mer
itorious and equally in WANT 1t is not in accord
ance with the republican institutions of our country
that certain set of men should hold on to the pub
lie crib for the fourth of century and realize theil
thirty, forty, or fifty thousand dollars, to the entire
exclusion of others; and when rotation in Office is
spoken of to raise the hue-and-cry of prescription
prescription!
What would be thought of a President or Sec
rotary, he to seek to remain in Office fifteen OF
twenty years. The clerks in the public departments
are the only body of men in this country, except
the judiciary, who seem to have tenure for lfe and
indeed, in some respects they are above the judic
airy. The President is elected every four years,
and the members of the cabinet and foreign minis
tiers are changed with him. The members Of the
Senate are elected every six, and the members Of
Congress every two years The governors Of the
States, and the members of the State legislatures
chosen periodically; and the pay of these function
aries is no better than that of the clerks in proper
ton to their duties Why, then, should not all the
officers of the government be changed In many in
stances, so soon as clerk is appointed, he tc
5 imagine he is ushcred into a new existence, and
forthwith launches into all the extravaganza, ostcn
7 tation, and display of prince. He furnishes him