The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-05-20
For the Union.
What In Prescription 2

Overlooking the pledges made by Gen. Taylor, and en-.
dosed during the canvass by all who protested to be
his friends, the effort is made to evade their response
billy and to justify their violation the ground that Mr.
Polk and other democratic Presidents pursued the
course. This is lame and impotent conclusion. No
democratic President has ever been bound by such
pledges forced voluntary, Gen Taylor The coun
try, looking to the higher obligation OF PRINCIPLES has
been content to leave the matter of removals and ap
ton has properly lodged it. Pledges alone modify
this discretion; and in the Of this administration
it has been modified and they ought to have been
binding as constitutional provision That they have
not been So cannot be explained away justified in the
smallest degree. Look at the facts: the Blue Book will
show that the subordinate appointments. including audi
tors and chief clerks have not been made IN reference to
politics. The democrats have had power over fifty
years. and the wings less than tenj yet the wings have
held large majority Of the Offices, and, Notwithstanding
the removals made by Mr. Polk the disproportion does
not is believed at the present day. exceed the increase
OF clerks authorized by law since the 4h Of March, 1s45
But the removals by Mr. Polk were not in the strict
sense Of the word prescriptions. Some were removed
for un6tness or ncompetency; some for interfering in
elections and others for their bitter relentless abuse OF
the party which had given them office. and kept them in
for years. Appointed by democratic administration,
democratic administration thought had right to put
them out, without offence to the wings What is pro-
scrption? 1t occurs when one party puts man into
office friend and another puts him out as enemy
man put in and out by the same party cannot come
within this rule and therefore no prescription can fol-
low. He is prescribed If at all. by the party which APP
pointed him. and if he appeal to another party for re-
Dress he must be thrown out of court for want of uris
dcton He has no remedy; for that party cannot take
cognizance. Certainly MIR. Polk should not be charged
tanned his appointment from democratic administration.
This would seem to be common sense, if not the per-
lection OF reason based on the accumulated wisdom OF
ages Most politicians concede it to be right Tor an adj
mnistraton to fill vacancies which by death or
resignation with it's friends but the rgor OF this rule
should be relaxed and enemies are appointed does not
follow that this right is forever lost Being right origi
naAy, remains 30, and can be exercised at pleasure
certainly prouocati0n. Qualifications AID moral con-
duct constitute strong motives for any administration to
retain in Office but they not conclusive man
ting general suspicion of his good intentions. compel
removal, matter who made the appointment Mag.
unanimous minds will respect honest difference OF opn-
on but no such forbearance is due to malice and Bill
lngsgae.
From this It will follow that the removals making
throughout the land and to be made perhaps, cannot be
justified the plea that Mr. Polk and other democratic
Presidents have been proscr,pipe. Had Mr. Clay been
elected the democrats notwithstanding their lberaty 10
wings in giving them Office would neither have asked
expected quarter because his hostility to democratic Office
holders was avowed and open but General Taylor came
in on pledges to dispense with capital punishment for
opnlon's sake" and true friend of his would have
had him to violate them So far therefore, from not hav-
ing cause of complaint would have been the
der Mr. Clay, every democratic Office holder it to
himself and his family to defend his rights under those
pledges and if removed from Office, to that the rea
sons are made public as otherwise the country is bound
to infer that he neither hones faithful, nor capa
be," according to the inaugural.
Had Gen. Taylor conformed to his pledges, it would
not have discharged the obligation the wings are under
TO democrats for appointing to- and keeping them
Office Up to the 4th of March, ls45 Notwithstanding the
almost exclusive possession of the government by demo
Gratis the wings, it cannot be denied, held almost mo-
nopoy of the Offices Instead now of exercising towards
them the same lberay and forbearanee they perse
cnted with double hatred. They are hunted by those
who formerly enjoyed their favors for years. and BY
rociy that marks the untried applicant Verify, the dem
ocras are between 1.-The upper and the neither milestone