The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-03-16
RoTATION in OFFICE.


who shall go in, is Just now the absorbing one
among politicians. The old cry, ito the victors be-
long tho spois,' which our Democratic friends used
to chaunt with such JUNCTION, and which our Wing
brethren mathematical with virtuous indignation
has fallen into dlsfavor with Its former advocates
be adopted MS eagerly by It's old enemies. Men who
pitossy turned out every clerk who would not sweaI
by their political faith, are now whining and howl
ing the injustice Of being deprived of their bread
over the tyranny Of being suddenly reduced to pow
erty under the law they once loved So the law Of
taliation Politicians who employed every exertior
10 defeat Gen. Taylor-who accused him of using
j Bibles for carlridges-who denounced him us an im
beetle old man, fit only for fighting Indians--whc
spared no trick regretted no time spent, cared for
expenditure OF money In order TO effect their AIM
now talk in the most lugubrious terms Of the wicked
prescription, tho infamous cruelty, the tyranny, the
crime the anti-republcanism Of turning them out o.
office. To listen to these men one would think thai
the universe did not any where afford such another
set Of injured patriots. Such is human nature, the
basest always noisest. The very ofice-hoIders who
s,andallzed the nation before the election BY ne
glecting their duties In order to harangue, up and
down, through the State, like paid Janfsaries, now
alternate between sobs and threats and catching the
button hole OF every pnsser-by, ask him beseechlngy
1 If he thinks Taylor will turn them out.
| We have no respect for men of this stamp. The
| old Mortimer, pirates they were, exhibited In
defeat courage which has won them the respect of
later times; for when the fate OF war went against
ihem they presented their heads TO the stroke Of the
their foes. The politicians Of our day might emu
late this example. No brave man shrinks from the
penalty Of battle; he knows the risk beforehand, and
accepts his destiny nncompainingly. Danton, when
Robespiere triumphed, went 10 his death like con
queror; II was only the Dnbary That hrieked and
ran about the scahold, yainly implorlng aid. When
man, AFTER valiany fighting, on seeing the tide Of
batte turn against him. calmly meets his fate, We
feel ion him the esteem which his high, bold heart
deserves. Accordingly they who, after having OPP
posed Gen. Taylor, have resigned their Offices,
mind rs OF those nights Of old who In defeat scorned
10 ask for quarter; men Of noble and heroic souls,
who, though defeated are not disgraced. While, on
the contrary, they who stoop 10 accept their bread
from the man they have DETAINED recall 10 us that
species OF reacherons animawe believe there IL but
onc--which viii eat from the platter Of the child
whose breath II has watched, night after night TO
take away.
We do not advocate prescription In Office We
think II wrong for new administration TO lay the
TO the root of the tree and, by one gigantic blow,
turn our the clerks OF oil the offices, as has been one
on former occasions. Where nm incumbent performs
his duties properly, we would not have him removed,
even II he was known to vote, Of every election,
against our own parry. Ills rigilt 10 mink as ne
pIeases we should consider ndefeasble and noground
10 exclude him from Office. Nor would the length
Of time he had held his post be reason for his REMOVAL
on the contrary, IL would be cogent argument for
retaining him for he would, by long service, only
be the better qualified perform his duties faithfully
and speedily.
holding this right snbscrvent 10 the exact perform
ance Of the duties of Office Is one things II Is quite
different thing when the performance Of the public
duty Ii neglected that the Office holder may bfawl
from tavern TO tavern, or spit venom from every
elecioneerng stand. Such men, whether high or
once turned out Of Office. There is no other way,
indeed, 10 bring things back to their old purity. So
long us Office il made the reward ofpocal services,
long will oice-hoders be the most active al the
ected and the public sense Of deccncy outraged
Phil BniIefin 13ih inst.