The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-10
THE APPOINTMENTS.

We invite the earnest attention OF the Wing par
~, in every section of the country to the following
just and appropriate remarks, which we take from
the New York Courier and Enquirer, in relation to
the disappolntmcnls which necessarily accompany
the distribution of offices; and the circumstances
which made the exercise of the appointing power,
by the present Administration, particularly embar-
rasslng. The sentiments embodied in the article
are such as every friend of the Administration who
has recently visited this city will appreciate and
endorse:
A great number Of articles have been offered for
publication censurng in severe terms, the policy OF
the Administration in regard 10 official appoint
ments. Some of them condemn the appointments
generally, while others specify instances in which
the acton OF the appointing power is deemed un-
just and impoltic. These censures are also
tended TO alleged sins OF omissioa well COM
mission, and the conclusion which the authors of
them generally reach il, that the Administration is
likely 10 ALLEVIATE its friends, dlsappoint the just ex
pectatlons OF the country, and so hasten its down.
fall and the reascendency Of Locofocoism in our
National Councils.
We must decline the publication of all such arti-
cles, because deem them, in the main, unjust,
and because we know them to be inconsiderate, and
IN their tendency highly injurious. The writers do
not make proper allowance for the difficulties which
surround the subject, and they evidently commit
ted, al the outset the grave error Of supposng that
every thing would be done by the new Admins
ration IN strict accordance with their views of JUS
tice and proprieiy. As General Taylor remarked,
an his Inaugural address, the exercise Of the APP
pointing power is one Of the most delicate and re-
sponsible duties that devove on the Executive;
and he Is entitled To proporonate degree of for
bearance from those who have imposed them upon
him. There are always scores, and oftentimes
hundreds, OF applicants for every Office in the gift
Of the Presldentand every one of them has claims,
more or less substantial, IN his own character and
qualifications in the zeal and efficiency Of his share
IN those efforts 10 which the country owes the
change of Administration, or in the pressing re-
quests of personal and political friends who en-
utled TO be heard upon all such questions. The
great body Of these applicants must aitcGys be disap-
poiniedand that not from any fault failure Of the
appointing power, but from the nature of the case
Those who make application for any Office should
bear tins In mind, and should be prepared accord
ingy for failure which, in nine cases out of ten,
is, from necessity, absolutely unavoidable. II there
are ten applicants for any place, all qualified and
well recommended, the chances Of course ten to
one against any individual among them. Suppos-
ing, therefore, the appointing power to exercise
entire discretion, and to act with perfect knowledge
in every case il cannot avoid disappointing by far
the larger portion of those whom il is alike its duty
and Its interest to satisfy and conciate II is abb
solutey impossible to do otherwise. And this con-
sideration ought to prevent the extreme disappont
ment, and sense of personal injury, which every
unsuccessful applicant is very likely 10 feel.
But il must further be borne in mind that the
President cannot act in any Of these from per-
sonal knowledge Of the facts by which his action
must be controlled. He is forced TO rely upon the
representations Of others, and that, too oftentimes
without knowing their right or ability to make such
representations as ought TO guide his judgment and
influence his official conduct Ii IL never easy Tor
him to Judge of the weight TO which such creden-
tails are entitled. This is especially true, when
men Of standing and influence allow their names to
be used by almost every applicant with very slight
inquiry into the justice or merits OF the case, and
without considering in the least the responsibility
which such hasty action may devolve upon the APP
pointing power. The President makes the appoint
ment upon their recommendation, and is then very
often condemned by the very persons whose advice
he followed, for the very appointment which they
advised. He is obliged, moreover, TO listen TO the
most conflicting representaiions-all apparently
from sources of influence and authority,-and TO
decide between them, without the disinie rested,
iudicious, and reliable advice which alone be of
service. Under these circumstances, and amidst
these embarrassments il must TO be matter
of surprise that he should make mistakes. He may
be deceived by false statements, which he has not
the means of testing He may, from ignorance Of
personal character and position listen to unsafe
and bad advisers He may lend undue weight to
the representations Of interested parties. There is
constant temptation for him to be unduly influenced
by personal friends what is still worse, by per-
sonal enemies, of individual applicants. There are
ten thousand influences constantly at work 10 mis-
lead his judgment and render his official action
tirely subservient TO personal feeling and personal
interest, instead Of the public good.
So far as General TAYLOR is concerned we be-
/ lIaya he hodu mt lu nf fha rfu xtba
placed him in power, but Of the people Of the whole
Union, are satisfied that he seeks nothing but the
highest interests Of the public service, in the APP
pontments TO Office which his duty compes him 10
mnke;-and that he has acted throughout with
great prudence and in general conformity with what
he has been led to suppose the general wish Of those
upon whom his Administration must rely for sup
port. He has sought diligently and conscientiously
to appoint TO responsible Office men Of character
and ability, and who have been recommended by
men entitled, he had reason to believe, to inhu
ence upon the subject. He has sought uniformly
the promotion Of the public good and not the salts
faction Of any personal interest He has made use
Of the means of information within his reach, and
has acted always in strict conformity with what he
believed TO be his duty TO the country.
This is all that any one has right to ask, and
with this, his friends good faith bound to he
content Those especially who are disappointed in
their own applications for office, owe il not only TO
the Executive ana 10 the country, but 10 themselves,
to acquiesce even in what they may deem person.
ally unjust. They exerted themselves earnestly,
and as they claim efficiently, to place the Admins
tration in power They did it from no personal or
selfish motive, from no consideration Of advantage
to themselves and for no qualification Of their own
private aspirations or purposes, but because they
believed IL essential TO the good Of the country.
They strove to make General TAYLOR President to
prevent the evils which they believed would GER
tainy follow the election Of his opponent They
sought to make supreme in the councils Of the ma
ton those political principles which they deemed
vitality important, and to which they knew General
TAYLOR to be devoted. They knew that gigantic
and terrible abuses existed in every department Of
the Government which could only be remedied by
placing that Government in other hands They
we're willing to bestow upon General TAYLOR the
whole power and responsibility Of the high sfice
which, through their efforts, he now holds. They
had confidence in his character, his ability, and his
devotion to the public good. They knew he would
not be guided by personal feeling, that he would
not consult private interests, that he would seek
neither To reward friends nor punish enemies in the
exercise Of the high powers they striving to
bestow upon him; but that he would use them as