The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-10
THE DAILY UNION.

in the State from which appointed, how long he has
been IN office, the aggregate amount received by
him, &c. How many additional clerks would you
have to keep this register-this biography OF
clerks IL would increase the number nearly one
third.
So he might go on with each item of the bill,
and It would be found budget Of absurdities from
beginning TO end.
Mr.: SfARkWEATHER interposed with some
remark which was not heard by the reporter.
Mr.. DOUGLASS TN conclusion) said he was as
much opposed as anybody 10 taking all these OFF,
GERS from one quarter Of the Union. He might say,
with great truth, that that part of the country from
which he came had been treated worse than any
other part He knew that some of them who were
applicants for office, felt little sore al what they
believed TO be this flyoritism. These were fair
considerations perhaps TO urge upon the heads OF
departments when they presented men to them who
were qualified for Office But this attempt To take
this up grayely a subject of legislation exhibited
IN his mind the spectacle to the world, seeming to
show that It considered that the spoils Of Of
nee 10 the object for which this government IN
sututed lie was opposed 10 any tayontsm or
abuses IN the appointing power; but this bill would
create more confusion and more difficulty than the
evils Of which 1t was complained amounted to;
and he trusted, unless il was put into some shape
in which it would be practicable, would not occupy
their time, and show 10 the world that they were
legisatlng merely for the spois of office, without
any reference to the public interest.
Mr.. RATHBUN (who reported this bill from
the Committee on the Judiciary said he was aware
there were some subjects not well adapted the
paeity and understandings Of particular men; and
he knew very well there was now and then genius
towering so high that he could hardly descend so
low as 70 investigate n simple Transaction. But
while we had that species Of intellect IL should be
remembered that we he had also plain, common
sense mstter-of fact persons who underslood things
OF general character, and were able 10 comprehend
simple subjects.
Now, in regard To the practcabity and feasibili-
ty Of this bill, which had been ridculed so much,
and concerning which they were told that the sci.
ence Of arithmetic, aided by algebra would not be
sufficient TO working out It's problems, and to solving
the grand scheme OF distributing 700 Offices among
the different States Of this Union. Why, they
might call on any boy to divide TOO by 226 or 225
II that could not be DONE he admitted that this was
difficult and lmpracticable scheme.
But when we were called upon for taxation for
the purpose OF carrying on war, division in
every tate IN the Union not found so difficult
and there was no point in the Union which was
not written down for the purpose Of raising men TO
60 and fight Even his State had been called upon
TO the extent OF $500 men, while the officers 10
command these men, which were taken from his
State were raised TO the enormous aggregate Of a
second lieutenant and that man who ough not 10
have been appointed-not because he was not COM
petent, but for other good reasons.
MIR. s. ADAMS made a remark to Mr.. r., which
was not heard by the reporter.
Mr.. RATHBUN (conunuing) said, while thirty.
six or forty officers raised for the offering oil
new regiments, and while New York was at least
as much entitled TO receive fair share any other
State from the present administration, she had re-
celyed one-a second lieutenant He did not com.
plain; he had candidate to offer to the President
or TO anybody else. But while they had this one
M Ilsu fnr - .lIoh 70
their full share Of men to be raised, and Of
money.
But this was a small matter, he was told. A
| small matter! The distribution Of 700 officers al
the seat Of government They were paid by the
people for the discharge Of duues assigned them for
the people at large and Mr.. K. alluded to some oil
the reasons why they should be taken, not from
the seat Of government, and the States Immediately
adjoining, but from the whole Union; the beneficial
effects which would result from bringing together
persons from every congressional district in the
Union, who would become acquainted with each
others notions feelings, habits, reudices, &c, and
returning home, would explain, and, il need be-
apologize for them, and remove the prejudices ex
lstlng IN the North, South, East and West, anc
thereby tend to cement the great body of the confed
eracy by this little matter OF Offices.
As a mere matter Of dollars aud cents il was
small, he admitted; but if it was desirable to ont
portion II was desirable TO all portions Of the Union
ton IN regard 10 the mode in which public business
| is done, how frauds were committed, by what men
how they can be reached, and the abuses corrected
J &c. This might be small matter to gentlemen
who look above and soar aloft beyond the ordinary
reach Of mind; but there were a thousand reasons
lrlrkIng IN every branch Of the departments which
dcate that the correction of these abuses lies IN
bringing here men honest and fresh from the
PEG ole, and sending them back TO the people al
proper intervals. Why there were men here
The imputed no want of proper motives to them
who came with the government from Philadel-
pha! He asked gentlemen if they believed that
men who had been in Office forty or fifty years
were fit longer TO remain there? They were told
yesterday if man could remain about this House
ten or fifteen years and remain honest he must be a
saint indeed; tried by this rule he thought the de-
partments would furnish but few saints of those
who had remained so long in Office.
Although some slight difficulties might arise from
80 frequent changes, yet he contended that they
were counterbaanced by the safety, the prevention
Of fraud, the equalization of labor, and the reduc-
ton Of clerks to proper number which would
result.
There were other reasons: the very moment a
resolution passed this House and the Judiciary
Committee in obedience to it drew and reported this
bill, not only that committee attacked in
rous pamphlets, but in anonymous, abusive, black
guard letters from these miserable miscreants that
have fallen unworthily upon the public treasury,
and are sapping and mining it without rendering
any benefit to the government. He desired to
these miserable, degraded vermn driven out, and
wholesome, sound men-men who still retained
the impress Of the image of their Maker from the
different portions ofhe Union substituted for them
He wished the offices no longer to be filled by those
who 60 from the grogshop and the gamblers shop
only at irregular times to their Offices, but he wished
to there from different portions of the Union
who come recommended as qualified for their sta
tons by strctness honesty, integrity, and industry
This he wanted them for; not with their black
gloves, canes, &c, to be lying about gambling
mot for the purpose of insulting members Of this
House for doing what the House direct them to do
not for the purpose of turning censors of public
opinon--not for assaing the Secretary Of War, of
the Navy, and every other secretary who dares lisp
a word about economy. No; we wanted laborers,
not lecturers--servants, not superiors. Not those
who should superintend M. Cs. and secretaries but
those who would do the work for which they were
employed and paid And honest, faithful men had
reason TO fear an unjust application of the doc
trne of prescription. The honest, industrious men,
who performed their duty faithfully, were not the
men who complained, but the miserable scum who,