Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-05-04
"By way of Improvement. ,
Prescription.

The country rings with the cry Of proscrp-
lion, and The parry which for twenty years has
enjoyed nine-Ienns Of all The official cmolu-
menls OF the Union, and during that time has
realized more money from that source, than all
that has been received during the whole preyi.
Gus existence Of the Government, is now ma
king the air vocal with its complaints. Nearly
every organ that il has, is tuned TO this "popu-
lar melody" and the streelmusician zeal with
which il is played, would do honor to the most
resolute manufacturer Of PeuPatelic harmony.
The New York Evening Post, however, dissenls
from this very general miserere, and speaks out
plainly its refusal to censare the Executive for
his course. The editor says:
"The cry OF prescription, from the Washing
ton Union, is Irife more impudent than Fall
slafl''s "Pague Of all Cowards," after the men,
orable display Of his prowess at Gadshill. We
marvel more at the power Of face which could
have soborly Penned the foregoing extract, than
at Falslaff's, when he pointed 10 his "sword
hacked like a hand.saw," to show how many
hostile buckIers he had ruined.
%%
If President Polk ever did recognize the ft
ness of a candidate for the duties of an office
as a sufficient ground for appointing him, or his
unftness as a sufficient ground for his removal
VIC have yet to learn the instance. flhe Unior
ever failed 10 approve Of any sing % act, saying
or doing, of President Polk, as the dispenser o.
| Executive patronage, or in any other capacity
that instance also we have yet to learn. Pres
dent Polk not only never promised, but he new
er gave an office to any man who he did no
suppose would serve his political purposes the
most effectively; neither did he spare in office
except for The like reasons. lmPeed by big
oted and unmanly spirit of PartizanshiP, wthou
parallel in The history Of our government, he
prescribed public officers distinguished for the
ability, position, and character, that he nigh
honor men equally distinguished lor the absence
of all those attributes.
In all This, the Washington Union never rlounc
occasion for murmur; but the moment new
administration, 10 the elevation Of which the U
Mon intentionally gave no osupport-what II ren
dered as the supporter OF an opposing candidate
il can claim no credit fort sets up such how
of IamenlaIion that one would'suppose its editor
esteemed the offices of our general government
were It's principles, and that TO support the con
slitution aud TO do the public printing were iden
lical.
But supposng that the Washington Union wa
in position 10 complain of prescription, it i
efTecluaIIy destroying the force of its complaint
by beginning before there is anything to com
plain of. Considering me legion Of office
which ills the duty OF the President to fill, hi
forbearance, thus far, has been conspicuous
and whatever may be his course hereafter, thu
far the. Democratic party have no reason 10 com
plain of injustice.
He has made but few changes, and most {
those have been, in our judgment, distinctly ac
vantageous TO the public. When the publ
service is threatened, it will be time enough fc
the Union TO begin the war; but even then, W
would counsel that journal to leave The con
planning to those who can do il with some sho
of consistency, and with proportlonate effect.
ltwoud be liue more graceful, too, in
paper which has once been the official organ {
The government, to show trfe less Of anxiel
about the distribution Of its offices and patroI
age; and if the Union has no fault 10 find wit
the principles Of government which the new al
minstration has adopted, it had better suspen
any further attacks until it has. By SO doing,
: may be able, when the occasion arrives, to exc
some influence against them; and if the PR
scriptve example Of the late adminis!ratio
should be adopted by Gen. Taylor, its commen
might receive some attention.