Washington telegraph., 1849-05-09

The following, from the Baltimore A
merican, gives fairer reasons tor the use
of the appointing power, which the Exc
cutive holds under the constitution, than
are contained in the democratic motto OF,
"To the victors belong the spoils:"
THE APPOINTMENTS TO OFFICE.
The power of appointing the officers OF
the general government, which is vested
bv the constitution and laws in the Chief
Ma yistrate of the Union, is one OF which,
whilst it is among the most responsible, is,
at the same time, one which the President
would, no doubt, often gladly forego, II the
proper discharge of the duties OF his ONCE
would allow it. But no duty is more i'm
perative than this-few are more lmpor-
tant-and none which requires greater
firmness and discrimination, or more de-
termined purpose to 'be just and tear not.
The exercise of this power, even when
it is in the hands of man, whose party
or political friends have for long time
been in possession of it, is still of great
moment, and often works a controlling
influence on the success of has admins
tration and the fortunes d the party that
elected him. This was MIR. Folks case.
He came in, aud he found with but COM
atively few exceptions, his party trends
in place and power; and he had only 10
keep them there He did so, but made
haste at the same time. to make his pow
er more secure, by removing from office
al! who had not supported his electlon'
unless special reasons, operating on hlm.
self or those officers Immediately charged
with the appointment made 1t advisable
for the administration to spare them
But when man succeeds to the Pres
idential office. and fluids that nearly every
place of power, profit, or honor, over which
his predecessor had contrel, is filled with
partizan of that predecessor, who had
appointed him exclusivel! on the ground
of that rartizanship, the duty OF the new
President, in regard to the exercise OF the
power of appointment, comes upon hum
with its fullest responsibility. Shch Is
the case with Gen. Taylor.
He comes into office, and he finds that
from the highest office to the lowest, with
scarcely an exception. opposition to his
election and support ofthe administration
whom his succeeds, wele the tests not
only by which men got offices, but held
them. He cannot but feel that this Is
unjust, and that the great body OF the peo-
pie regard it as wrong to them, which 1t
is the duty of the President to correct.
The wings of the Union were prescribed.
To be whig was not only sniiiclent
reason, in all that time, for the President
not to appoint such an one to Office, put
was such an objection to an incumbent
as REQUIRED his removal. He might have
every qualification for the place--he may
have discharged his duty so that no man
could do less than applaud nlm-but II he
were a whig, nay, if he had not voted for
the President then in power and support
ed his administration, he was turned out.
General TAYLOR comes in, and thus finds
the great body of those who aided IN his
election, had for many years been pro-
scribed. merely for their political princi
piles or predictions.
Once before-though not to such ex-
trernes had it been carried-did Presi'
dent come in, and find the public offices
all filed with men who had opposed his
election, and his friends excluded from
them because they were his friends. 1t
is aone of the earlier Presidents who
| found this to he the case. This was
| Thomas Jefferson. He set himself to
work TO do justice, and he removed the
collector of customs at New Haven
Some persons complained OF this, and he
| wrote to them in these words:
II lament sincerely the unessentia
| difference of opinion should ever have
| been deemed sufficient to interdict hall
the society from the rights and the bles'
sings of self government, and to prescribe
them as unworthy of every trust. But on
whom does this imputation rest! On
those who have excluded from office ev.
cry shade of opinion which was not theirs.
! Or on those who have been so excluded
| It would have been to me circumstance
of great relief had [ found moderate
| participation of office in the hands OF the
majority, I would gladly have left to time
and accident to raise them to their lusi
share. But their total exclusion call;
for prompt corrections. L shall correct
| the procedure, but that done, return with
Joy to that state of things when the only
question concerning candidate shall be
is he honest, is he capable, is he faithful
to the constitution!
If due participation of office is a mat
ter of right, how are vacancies to be OBJ
tanned? Those by death are few, reslg
nations none. Can any other mode thar
that of removal be proposed? This is
painful office. But it is made my dut!
and I meet it as such.
What President Jefferson did then
! President Taylor will do now.
TuE EPREsS-Potomac in laudino Gen