The Arkansas banner., 1846-03-18
For the .ArkanSaS Banner.
COL. ASHLEY AND DEMOCRACY

For the .ArkanSas Banner
 COL. ASHLEY AND DEMOCRACY.
 MR EDIToR-Although it has been rumored, for some time past, that Col Ashley had endeavored to defeat quite number of the appointments to office, made by President POLK, yet, never for moment supposed, when the President had actually made an appointment, and sent to the Senate, the name of an individual to fill any certain office, that Col. Ashley, as democratic United States Senator was throwing himself in the face of the Adminis traitor, by attempting to defeat the appointment.
 But find was mistaken. It is now certain that he exerted himself to the utmost of his power, to l prevent the confirmation of number of important appointments.
 1 Is it possible the people have been deceived in Col Ashley? Is it fact that he is reckless in all his pledges, political as well as persona2 Must we yield to the force of evidence before us, which de- clares he is not friend of the administration? As was said by Ga friend of Young Hickory" in the Banner of the 4th, who, with his vigilant eye, stern democracy, and masterly pen, was the first to present these truths in manner to attract the at tention of the country, sThathe (A) may have his preference for particular men for office, and should endeavor to procure their appointment, no one will question or complain;' yet it is well known, that when appointments are about to be made for any particular State the President calls to his advice the delegation from that State and in this consuta tion each Senator and Representative, has the prvi lege of presenting the claims of those of his per sona preference, and of urging their appointment upon the President. Now, this consultation is not official but private and individual, and is extended by the President as a courtesy to the delegates, in order to give them chance to present the claims of their friends, and that the President may be fully informed to the qualifications of all the applicants for office. But after this consultation is had, and the claims of all the parhes fully weighed, and the President makes his appointment the act is then an official one, it becomes part of his administra tion-it is link in the chain of operations upon which he bases his hope of future success; his po- litical friends acquiesce in the appointment, and all good democrats then unite to carry out the purposes for which the party had strugsled and any attempt afterwards, to defeat such appointments, is consid cred to be, upon political grounds merely and is an attack upon the administration.
 Will any democrat in Arkansas doubt that Gen. Jackson's opinion is not good authority upon this subject? Did he not always hold that any attempt to defeat his appointments must be regarded po- litical opposition and intended to nurc his admin istration' Who has forgotten the refusal of the Senate to confirm the appointment, by the Pres- dent of Mir Van Buren, Sam. Quinn, and Whorton Rector2 And who does not know that the Pres- dent so far regarded this opposition political, and to be an attack upon the policy he had adopted for the country, to determine upon their re-appont- ment and did re-appoint them to the same offices, so soon as the Senate adjourned?
 Then is it not certain wa have been deceived in the democracy of Col Ashley, when we find him disposed to cripple and harass the measures ofhe President? Is it not well known that if Col. Ash ley succeeds in defeating the appointments of the Presidentto at least half the offices in Arkansas, it is well calculated to prejudice the minds of the democracy against Mr. Polk, and to bring his ad- minisraton into disrepute?
 Now, Mr. Editor, in behalf of the principles of Jeferson-of the measures of Jackson, and the cause of Republican Freedom, would call upon the Democracy of Arkansas, to say whether in the political contest of Sl4, they fought for President Polk, or for Col. Ashley; whether they contended for administration that would establish its policy upon such broad ground of moral justice as to con tend for our rghs in the Texas, the Oregon and the Tariff questions and for all the great measures cal culated to maintain the perpetual ascendancy of the Democratic Faith; or whether they were c0ntendng for man that would throw himself in the face of that administration And now call upon them to decide which patty they will sustain.
 shall not attempt, Mir. Editor to speak of the results of the de6at of the various officers wkom Col. Ashley has attempted to make the victims of his power. viii only call your attention to one single case; and one perhaps whose defeat would give as little concern to himself injury to Presi- dent Polk, as any one amongst them. aude to the case of Ephram H, Dickson, as Register of the Land Office at Fayetteville. Dickson is well known to be man of mbendng integrity; unblemished in all his moral character; unwaverng in his de- mocracy as President Polk hiinsef and capacity to fill the office, and discharge the duties of it. in the most satisfactory manner. But this is not all it is notorious thai he acted the part of brave sol dier in defending his country with Jackson and Yell throughout the Greek war. And when, at New Or leans, our wives and our daughters had been pro- missed by Packenhm, as a prey to the outrage of the British soldery, where do we find our Dickson , We find him facing the cannons mouth, side by side with the immortal s'Old Hero," braving dan ger and riskng his life for the honor and rights of his country, and to punish the purposes of brutal outrage upon virtue and innocence! And now, ask in the name of Democracy; I as1 in the name of all that is sacred, what Col. Ashley can mean by attempting to defeat such an appointment? Let Col. Ashley answer, and the people will decide in favor of TRUTH
 For the Arkansas Bonner.
 MIR. EDIToR:-
 The Texas-or, perhaps, nigh. say