The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-20

HE WING SYSTEM OF PRESCRIBING
PRESCRIPTION.

PRESCRIPTION.
We shall not again quote the exalted sentiments,
eloquent denuncistions, and fair promises OF the
wings against prescription, in the canvass OF lo4o
for General Harrison's speeches and letters, ana
those Of all who abored to elevate him. are well re-
membered by the people. When compared with
an official annunciation Of the line of policy to bel
pursued by the wing administration IN the distripu-
ton of Office which graced the editorial columns oil
the Intelgencer the 9th of April, lo4l, they all
ford truly striking illustration of the truth oil incl
homiy in Harrison's inaugural, IN which he points
out how prone men in power TO forget the pledges
of stern Justice and liberaiy given to secure their
places. On the day above mentioned, that journal
now railing SO magniloquently at what II Is pleased
to designate as COL Folks vindctive proscripuon,|
in unfolding the views of the cabinet, said!
1--WE are yet OF opinion that il is due TO con
sistency well the known wishes Of the popular ma
ory which brought the present administration into power
that the reform Of The abuses in he government should smo,aes
peH things; that the required change OF meas
ures should be accompanied oh such change eDees a.
will produce harmony OF action IN the dierent
than aud ordinary prudence require
q eroy pirate ie IN ne monaes@sn q as gDats
OF mandatory of mercantile house, or the command
Of aohip pouid in authority under him an overseer
foreman cashier mate, land also 81 INFERIOR en-
pioymeats) in whom he had lao confidence, &c, NC
This was indeed, hinsy and weak apology for
the unreenting bitterness with which those who
dared to think for themselves were then being per-
secuted; yet IL was uecueuy tile most plausible ex-
cuse put forth by their organ. Webster, Ewing,
Granger Bell, and Badger, in their thorough prac-
lice of the theory thus laid down, had neither the
leisure nor inclination TO justify their butchery.
Their victims were but honored with short official
note simply announcing The fact that they had been gull
oiined. And when asked why' the reply, if any
was deigned, was but frank acknowledgment of
prescription to make room for partisan
That the readers of the "Union" may see that
we do these gentlemen no injustice, we quote the
following card, published by victim in this city,
on the Sd of April, lS4l:
''To the publishers Of the Globe.
"wAsmSGToN, April L. lsil
"GEHrLEMEN, In common piih many Others of the Post
Office Department am madea practical illustration OF the
sagacy Of the Roman consul Whilst hundreds of better
Tor me to complain Of any peculiar hardship Mr. Granger
has had the kindness inform that my removal is in
cause my appointment pas made BY his political opponent
few months before he came into Office This assurance
moves from me the only possible source OF regret
Signed 'PHILIP HARVEY"
1t would be an easy task to fill the columns of the
n"Union" with similar frank acknowledgements on
the part of the whg secretaries, that with them, a
difference of opinion was then sufficient cause for
removal; but we must hasten with review of
the times.
So early as the 9th of March, they had already
Udecapitated almost every government officer in
Wisconsin, and Florida There double
reward INSCRIPTIONS partisans in the contest Just
ENDED; and next, to place men IN the management of
their public affairs, who were TO be depended on,
ready and fit instruments for the work Of federal
zing them preparatory to their admission States.
In this vain effort, by-the-by, it will be seen that
Mr. Clay evinced his want of Judgment, regards
the tone Of public sentiment displayed in previous
attempts; for it was not the first time that he had
vainly essayed to stop, by chicanery, the over
whelming current of democratic principles, which,
from the nature of things, always spread, strength
len, and increase most readily among agricultural
communtes The bad faith of Harrison and his
prominent supporters, as shown in their declaration
of intention to make the candidates character and
capabilities the only test of qualification for office,
was most effectively illustrated by their subsequent
action, in the selection of two such men as Bella
Badger and the brother of Simeon Draper, of the
Glentworth frauds, to fill two of the most import
ant offices under the government and the papers yet
REMAINING in the different official bureaus in this
lefty filed with thousands of successful applications
for office, damning proof that INSCRIPTIONS par
tisan efforts were the strest guaranty for
with each and every cabinet minister. IL was but
Unnecessary to show that one had adopted the ''sck-
Rat-nothing" creed of Curtis, Badger, Gentworth,
and Draper, to make "his election sure"
We will not multiply examples of the selection Of
Npartisans, merely because they were partisans, to
ill the places of the prescribed; ALL reflection,
will remember that flaming federalism was the
first requisite for offce-hoding under our opponents
We must, however, be allowed to direct particular
attention to the prescription Of the lnmened author
ofthe "Star-spangled Banner land to disappointment
in his stead. No man will deny that the phian-
thropic Francis S. Key was most competent and
worthy of the position he filed Nor can it be said
that his interference politics extended further
than manly, honest, and patriotic expression OF
Hopnion. Yet Webster's famous circular swept him
from public employment; while, by way of showing
how earnestly the wings were bent on breaking up
the bestowment of Office reward for partisan eff
forts one who had devoted his abilities and ener-
ges for long series of years to writing up the for
tunes of Henry Clay, appointed TO the district
atorneyship thus vacated. This appointment, how
6ever, reflected dscredit on the administration
AS the gentleman selected is an honorable and useful
citzen and able lawyer 1t is not to the selection that
demur but to the fact that one at least his equal
in all respects, should have been prescribed and the
act Of prescription attempted to be concealed under
the hypocrical plea that the removal was necessary
for the good of the country.
However much the Louisville Journal and other
federal presses may now deny that the proscriptive
conduct of the Harrison administration was in strict
accordance with the general sentiment INDUCED in
by their party at the time, the facts prove the con-
|trary. From one end of the country to the other,
they were crying aloud for the spoils Their rush
Nor office TO this city, where they had congregated
Uby thousands upon thousands to enforce their de-
mands, is forcbly described in wing paper pub
Hlshed in Savannah, Georgia. that spread the fol-
DclOrc feaucrS OF the ''Unon,
way Of illustration:
"The city (Washngton) is Overlooking with office.
seekerssay three applicants for every Office in the gift
the government-hoeis crowded. say three to Eve in
sma and sixty to eighty thousand expected
Next week. Sixty men came on yester.
day from New York city. This was Homes party 10.
Hday Aaron Clark and his party OF eighty expected
fwent three oy after and expecting the Office of col
Hector Of New York Had the general kissed the Virginia
Ngr before the late election he would have carried the
Hstate by thousand majority. Exquisite WHY Was it
this saluation of the girls or the persecution Of the office,
seekers which has wearied the generai We understand
The is almost tagged to death 1t said however that the
President is about to adopt rule which will relieve him
from Of the Of office. We do not speak
dom; for the assertion from of his cabinet
that he determined to deyolve most if not all the APP
pointmens upon the respective departments He win
The responsibility OF his ilustrious predeces
did, but turn IL at TO his ministers The
President to be in fair way of casing himself from
most of the responsibilities of his Office and bringing
nearer the British standard There, the King do no
wrong and his ministers alone responsible Now
eral Harrison Kidding himself of the duties OF
ing Of the exercise Of the veto Sc and the
French editor he will have ambition beyond