The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-27
For the Union.
PRESCRIPTION.

Mr.. EDITOR During the first two or three weeks
of the present session Of Congress, being among the
letter writers, myself wrote some letters for the
public as well as for private eyes. Having now
lying before me one Of those letters which was not
published, the statements Of which true now
if not new they were then--and believing that
the following extract will minister TO the edifcation
Of some Of your readers, copy it for you;
"WAsnNGroN, 9Th Dec, ls45
"The debate between Messrs. Davis, of Ken
lucky, aad Bayly, Of Virginia, which was begun on
Tuesday, p. m, and continued on Wednesday, on
the subject of the public printing, waxed warmer
and warmer ill its close Mr.. d. being sorely
wounded by the proofs exhibited and referred
to by Mr.. B., which fixed upon him ga ne,p-
born ZEAL" for the public good, in offering and
pressing his amendment to Mr.. BIS resolution, took
occasion to arraign the latter as not having always
been a true and consistent politician himself; and
threw out some hints and insinuations against his
party, the spoiis party, &c. Mr.. g. responded
to the satisfaction of the lobby and gallery MEM
bers--or to the democrats among them, at least,
if not to the ,ohigs. In the of his remarks,
he observed: 1--WE are not the spoils pariyj we do
not proscribe Now for the proof During the whole
adminstration-of Van Buren,, Of four years, fewer
changes were made in turning out wings and sub
stitutmg democrats in the public Offices Of the differ
ent departments of the general government, than
during months time of the administration Of
William Henry Harrison. And now, even now
out democrats by Captain Tyler, and all the chan
ges made in their favor uuder the present i'd
ministration for the last nine months, the majority
of ofice-hoders here at the seat Of government,
still remains phig' We point to these, said Mr..
b., 'tohig monuments Of democratic cienency.' AZ
ter hearing this debate took occasion to inquire Of
one Of the clerks concerning the truth of this last
statement He answered, yes, the Wings still out
number US nearly two to one.'"
"STRANGE.
"Tbere are, we understand in Washington, 100
officers of the general government Of which number
800 are democrats and 400 are opponents. What a
proscrptve administration we have!"
The above is copied from the United States Jour-
nat Of this city, of November 29th ultimo. What
proscripiipe administration truly No: democrats,
as such, are not proscrpve: democratic adminisra-
tons are not retalaory or unjust. as he competent?
Is he honesty" are the first questions; and next to
these, ais he temperate? Is he mora'?v IL these
be answered in the affirmative and it can be further
stated of the holder Of any office, under a demo-
ratio administration "H is punctuai and faithful In
The discharge Of all his official duties he has little
TO fear being removed while that administration
lasts. But should one hundred Of such good, hon
est temperate moral, and faithful wings (if so many
such here are to be found,) who have been fatten-
ing the oaves and fishes Of public patronage for
ten dozen, and some even for twenty years, be po
litey asked just to step aside and give place to as
many equally competent, honest, temperate, moral
,oihi"l, anu WouIu DC punctuhi, uuty-ulscharglng,
but lean, gaunt democrats-ths administration then
even, would not be proscriptive; for why should
The majority Of officehoders, under any admnstru-
ton OF the government, be its political opponents
We go against prescription, and against monop-
oily. We go for rotation in office. And when the
tables are turned upon us, and the Almighty
on account Of our sins, shall, in judgment, cause
sceptre to be transferred to other hands, lei the
same sup which we have filed for others, be filed
for us again
The policy Of this administration is rsirsnch-
eni; but il is retrenc hment only in unnecessary ex-
pendtures Of the public money--in looping off ex-
crescences and dead weights, &C., &c. For every
thing useful, ornamental, and honorable to us as a
great ard growing people, its policy is srisnsion and
srpansions
Qhery now. IL this irue--aH hu7 Are there
not at the present time, in the public Offices here
some rampant whgs whose character for sobrety and