Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-03-20
RICHMOND, VA.
Monday Morning, March 10, ls49.
"THE SPOILS."

= "THE SPOlLS."
. Wehave given the new administration pro
}. per credit for re-apponlng lew officers OF Tho
ne.ty, capacity and fidelity" and have expressed
our hope that many similar acts may be record
ed 10 which We promise 10 do full justice. Or
q The other hand, itcau not be doubted that So y
# very capable officers have been removed and sup
planted by individuals OF opposite political SEMI
menls. Thus far, however, no, many change:
have been made-and doubt i'll hangs over The
probable general policy on this subject.
, In The present doubtful condition of the cues
lion the organs of the Wing press, are various
: ly affected. While the Republican in this city
says, "Now, as before The election, our cry is
'Oown with the infamous system OF the spoils;'
other and more "ultra" Wing journals advocate
an entire sweep OF The ofice.holders. OF this
class one OF The most sanguinary is Washing
ton correspondent of The Baltimore Patriot We
give his letter in full, as marked specimen of
shallow special pleading 10 justify in tacI, "the
infamous system OF The spoils:"
1.-THE Union and other Locofoco prints and
writers, are making The most strenuous e1eItlons
TO induce the people 10 believe, and al The same
time work upon The sympahies OF the admins
tration, that removals from Office will be lew and
far between No doubt The eminent patriots OF
the Locofuco party who have served their coun-
try 50 long and 50 disinterestedly, would like 10
continue their efficient services, and il The mere
"spois" of Office were only 10 be considered, the
Wings might afford, however unjust 10 them
selves, TO permit The party who have had control
OF the Government until il cannot imagine that
there is any other party or men who have equal
rights 10 remain in possession oil their sinecures;
but where would The HAig party be in years
time il this policy was admilled2 Every post
master is in some sort spy for his parry, and
every letter and newspaper in his power for a
certain time. The mere Change of heads of Gov
eminent goes very linle way towards poiiti-
cal revolution. The change must BE- general u
a,eo measures arc 10 be carried out To lei our po-
liical opponents hold the offices over The country,
would be TO commit party suicide, and change
is not prescription blu. the cay and means toes
tab ISL principles. II this be no, admitted and
sustained, and an election for new rulers be bur
a scramble Tor office on The part Of political lea
ders, then lei US cease our boasts about princi-
piles and measures, and merge into one body al
once.
"For the very next State elections The Locos
are bringing out their strong men, coercing them
10 run for fices considered beneath Them, TO Sc
cure victory, and get possession Of the federal go
vernment again as they have done lhrt ugh The |
same means beiore-while We are 10 stand by |
satisfied with having elected President and |
Vice President Of our own complexion, and leave |
Them in possession u The power 10 work our own !
overthrow. Let not The people be deceived. II
a radical change is not made and by midsummer,
The Wing purity DN no longer haze ratalaty, and |
The Rule or Ruin party will sway The des,inies
a. no 49, H., - tha
neralion al least, il not through halt century
Of Time"
We ask attention to its language, especially
to the passages we have italicized. County is
sunk, and tn Wing party put above every other
consideration. A President elected, pledged 10
no "Party schemes with no enemies to
punish, no friends to reward is invoked 10 turn
out every Democrat in Office, and substitute
Wings, so as TO secure the establishment Of
Wing measures and "Party schemes!" The
try are to be banded togelher-not 10 discharge
their duties to the whole country, and do JUS
tice to Wings and Democrats alike-out 10
perverl their official influence 10 The promotion
of party measures and aggrandizement. Gene.
the offices belong to The whole people yet this
new school Of proscriplonists boldly avow that
the offices belong TO the Wing party, ana
should be exercised to continue Wing suPre-
macy, A threat is also held oHt, that unless
general "radical change" be effected, and
"before midsummer the Wing party will no
longer shave vitality" and the old soldier who
was elected, under the pretext Of removing the
asperites OF party, and levelling all parties 10
the era Of good feeling" is startled by The
Cassandran notes, that unless he make proscrlP'
ton the order of the day, Whiggery must sigh
ia long farewell to all its greatness" The
doctrines Of the above party Bull are mon
strous and degrading-but will the inexperien-
ced and tortured President have the moral
courage to meet the issue and redeem his
pledges to the country On the battle fed ne
deticd Santa Anna and bis crowded host OF m!r-
mdons-wil he now oppose barrier to the
hordes of equally hungry ofiice-seekers, clamor-
ing for general, radical changer" We
trust that he may-,hough we fear the contrary.
Already we hear the mutterings Of the disap'
pointed "patriots." From the very nature oil
things, they must largely exceed those who have
been favored, and will spread discomfort and
disafection among sthe faithful" Not re-
csiving ",he spoils," they will imagine that, the
essence gone Whiggery has lost lis vitality"
The pressure on the Administration will as
sumo new and more terrific form, and firm
must the President be, to resist their onslaught.
We have given an outline of the indications in
several quarters. We repeat our hope,
Though not unminged with fear0 that Presi-
dent Taylor will resist the schemes Of these
sapguinary "patriots"-eyen though its effort
may be to break up the Wing party.
j MQRI EY MPI Z