Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-03-11
RICHM ON d, V A
Tuesday Morning, March H.
THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATIONS.

i
are on board. We wish her favorable gales anu
a fortunate voyage We feel every inteies. N
her success Mr.. Polk has every claim 70 consl-
deralon which pure man, with The besI lno.lses,
can possibly possess. He has obtained lnal sisa'
power, which he neither expected nor soncueu.
and il is our honest conviction, that no fresioeh'
was ever more sincerely DESTROYS oil exercising
his clear understanding and strong sense, 10 .ne
best advantage, and OF doing ms GUY ~ ; ny
country which has invested him win lhe hsh-
est honor in The world.
In his hands, indeed, is placed the greatest pos-
sible responsibility. Not only are The true prih-
cpes Of. the constitution involved in his admins,
ration, but the unity OF The Republican parry anu
OF course the prosperity OF his counlry-anG whas
is sill more the purity Of future elections ior 'e
Presidential office.
In his hands, is placed the result OF one OF lhe
neutrality-suspicious. We have ever mace upon oui
Republican institutions. We, Tor our own paris,
have done all The LitAc which we could contribute
TO his election. We reJoiced in his triumph, De-
cause the Republicans had not only defeated
the bold and dangerous politician, VINO oi,
posed him-not only because we expected
him 10 carry out The political principles OF
The Republican States Rights Party of 9S-99-
but because of the great moroi lesson which was
inculcaed By his election. Ours ought 10 be
in practise, as it really is in theory, popu-
lar Government Il belongs TO the people Of
The several States in this great Confederacy, 10
give and 10 take away The highest oiices.-
In the nomination of Mr.. Polk, this feature was
signaly exhibited. He had been taken, BY The
immediate delegates of The people, IRON lhe
ranks-iIom The bosom OF retirement, and from
the great body of the people-and placed over the
heads of the mos, distinguished men in The ma
ton. 1t was scornfully asked "Who IS James
h. Polk Z" and The people responded atlh Dailo'
box, "He is our man. and II IS our right anu our
pleasure to place him al the head Of IN. Govern
inent." No moral lesson could be more sublime;
none more congenial 10 The true character OF our
Government. The moral which il is calculated
10 teach is, hencetorh that any aspirant, who
is ambitious of The Office. should be induced 10
bile his time, and wait the will Of The people
1t is calculated 10 teach ambition, which proved
the bane of the ancient Republics, 10 repress lis
100 ardent aspiraions-to avoid all restless IN
lricues-and 10 look more 10 the country, lhan lo
itself
But il has been well remarked, that the moral
lesson is mol vet complete. II the administration
of MIR. Polk succeeds, then shall we have entire
confidence in The manner OF the selection. we
shall rest thoroughly satisfied with the bold eXper,
imeni which has been made By the people; and
we shall take care 10 practice II in future times
II il fails i; will spread doubt over the whole,
and make our highest honor The football OF fac
iious cliques and of aspiring ambition. This
/ great issue is now NJ Stake. We state the pro-
blem freely aud boldly, without cquivocation
and reserve And we tell Mr.. Polk, with all
possible respect and Kindness, upon him rests the
great, the awful responsibility OF lis solWlon.-
| He has taken the first step in his administration.
II was his duty 10 surround himself with The
purcs,. ablcst, best councillors Gin every sense OF
the wori) whom he could command for The pub
| lie service. He has made up his Cabinet-and
now he has called them 10 his SIDE il is in their
power 10 contriJutc 10 ihwart or TO advance
The great principles on which he was elected
10 redeem the solemn pledges under whlch
| he was nomina,ed-to fulfil or 10 dlssipate
The moral lesson which is sought 10 be es-
| iahlished-to make it the government OIL inc
people, or the instrument for gratifying The
| ambition OF aspiring citizens. Mr.. Polk will,
Of course, consult them on all great coca
| sionS-but he will also advise with his other
friends If there BE- any particular man who IS
bis Mentor, next 10 James X. Polk, that man is
the most important man in this country. lie
ought TO be the wssst the pnrest The irankest the
boldeS patriot, who breaihcs throughout these
broad lands Blu, further Mr.. Polk shonld listen
occasionally TO the connses OF his ablest friends
who are around him. as Thomas Jefferson did
otherwise The President may not only be deprived
OF many valuable suggestions, but is in danger OF
otTendinsvaluable men, who may complain oil not
being consulted by the Government, and (therc-
fure) not in its confidence" owe quote letter
from Washington now before us)
Ii is the Cabinet, however, who are his most
constant, because they are his Constitutional adj
ysers and they have now consented 10 paIllci-
pate in the responsibility Of The Executive func-
tons. They will permit us 10 tell them, that
thew now stand in most responsible situation.
They have pledged themselves, BY The very
Offices they hold, and by The relation which
they thus form TO the moral lesson OF the
last campaign, and by the immense influence
which il is destined 10 produce on after times,
to devote themselves honestly, faithfully, per-
severingly with their whole soul, TO the pub
lie service They must dsabuse their minds
as far as possible. not only Of all eager ambition,
but Of ali low grovelling and selfish vews-to
put behind them all petty intrigues, al contempt
lille cabals of party sections or of political cllques
to keen back from Office all graspng rela-
lions or incompetent persons-to advise The Presi-
dent 10 adopt no measure which is not for the
good of the country, and appoint no man
10 office who is not amply qualified to dis
! charge i,s duties "Shall we have angels then.
in The share Of men, 10 govern rs = as
Mr. Jefferson asked in his inaugural.-No
but we expect the Cabinet, III these Try
ing times. 10 he made up OF high.minded men,
acting upon the highest prnciples-almost Their
whole lives devoted 10 The public service, with a
disinterestedness, an industry patience and per
severance, which nothing can suhluc-n word
men of the true stamp patriots of the dcrnea SIN
bold, prompt energetic, uninching in their du-
lies, scorning everything that is lille and
vle-and who will boldly tell Mr.. Polk The
ruth, al The hazard even of offending hm-and
who will never stoop TO deceive him, 10 intrigue
bin out OF offices for their friends. or burn in
cense % any mans pride With such men, the great
experiment we are making upon the strength oil
popular Government, will succeed. and We shall
live 10 bless the day which elevated ]. H. Polk 10
the highest office inihe Republic.
We mus, expect at the commencement oil eve
~ new administration rush for office. We
understand thai there is considerable lhrons
at Washington for that purpose; Mr.. POLK
is, in all probability, already harrassed by
their opportunities We should suppose, that
he ought to adopt some general rule for his gui-
dance-olherwise, his steps may be haunted, as
were those of Gen. Harrison-his spirits dis
lurbcd, his health affected, and he will not be al
lowed sufficient time 10 devote himself 10 other
pressing concerns oil public importance. We ad-
nit the right OF every man TO put in his claims
for The offices of his country. But is il necessary
for The President To receive all these personal ap-
| plicaion>2 How indeed can he recollect whatthc
multitude Of applicants may say to him on one
day. Is il not sufficient that their applications
should be made in writing, without any personal
applicalion?-lhat he should request those who
wan, commissions in the Navy, War, &c, 10 hand
over their papers 10 those Departments-and 10
receive, himself, the papers OF more miscella-
neous character or hand them over to his private
Secretary? Then to direct the heads ofdeparments
TO overlook them with care-endorse them-send
them 10 him for examination, if he. desires 10
make the appointments, with the necessary me-
.moranda 10 assist his decision, &c. &c. The
highest offices, OF course, will come personally and
directly under his own cognizance. Is il neces-
saIy that The various applicants should remain
at Washington 10 avail. their issue? Would it
not be better 10 let j, be understood, that no man,
who remains in the city, would receive the Of