Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-09-17
THE LYNCHBURG VIRGINIAN.
BLACK FORD, TOwNLEY Il CO.,
PROTECTORS.
LYNCuRUKG. sEPTEMBEK ~. 1919.
STATE PRESCRIPTION.

! SeFpTInp e1OItS mduc DN Il ilDillDu VI tic btlIlO
cratic party TO induce the Legislature, at lis next
session, to refuse TO re-eiect all the State Off
GERS, known to be Wings, or suspected of a lean
ing to the Wing party, the choice of whom de-
wolves upon that body. IL is not alleged that
these officers, many OF whom have grown old in
the States service, have, in any degree, forfeited
public confidence, or violated then trusts, or are
incapable Of discharging the duties of their res
pectlve stations. Their sacrifice is d demanded on
the ground of State retaliation for the proscrip-
ton of Democrats by the Administration at WASH
ington. In other words, the State functionaries
must be punished-not because they have done
wrong, but-because General Taylor and his
Cabinet have done wrong. Not on the principle
that the welfare of the State, or the benefit of the
people, can be promoted-buton the principle of
revenging upon the innocent the crimes of the
guilty. Now, we much mistake, if considerable
men in Virginia, no matter of what party, can be
brought TO approve and deliberately carry into ex-
ecution a measure, opposed in itself 10 reason and
justice, and subversive Of the long established or
der of things and which may lead to consequences
not now distinctly toreseen. 1t is 10 this class Of
readers that we, respectfully, address ourselves.
whilst We go al; some length into the subject. We
expect not 10 convince heated partizanS, on either
side,-not the Democrat to whom revenge would
be as a sweet morscl-not the Wing who might
tolerate some in Justice in his adversary, if any
reasonable amount Of party capital could be made
by it. We think it the safest course TO uphold
the broad principles of honor and Justice, even if
they conflict with the narrow and crooked coun-
sells Of expediency.
We do not consider the question as one ex-
I clusiyely affecting the present incumhents of Of
flee at the Capitol in Richmond. II is true they
and their families might "be.compelled to suffer
from the sudden and unexpected application ola
principle, altogether new in Virginia, and enforced,
for the first time, by the RELENTLESS tyranny of par
ty.lt is tru that for many years faithful services
IN some instances for a quarter of a century's SER
vlces-it might be considered an ungrateful re-
turn on the part Of the peoples representatives.
But we have not much reliance upon gratitude,
as a governing motive in public affairs, even in
Republics. We regard the whole question as of
infinitely more importance than as one affecting
merely the interests OF Individuals. And, in the
first place, we deprecate the Introduction, into
our State concerns, Of a principle established
years since for the conduct Of the Federal Gov
eminent. Very little examination will show that
the two cases are disSimilar and have no necessa-
ry connection.
When General Jackson came into power,i it was
first announced that ''to the victors belong the
spoils'-i. G.. that the Offices of the Federal Gov
eminent belonged to the party adherents of the
chief who succeeded in the contest. This maxim
was announced as the rule for all future Presi-
dental struggles, and impartial history must de-
clare that the dominant party have faithfully adj
hered TO this article of their faith. If there were
some exceptions-arising from peculiar causes
not necessary to specify-all candid men must
admit that a large proportion of the Federal pat
ronage was enjoyed by the Democratic party
Not only throughout the two terms of Jackson,
but throughout those of Van Buren and Polk the
rule of Wing exclusion was so stringent and abSo-
lutte that it was thought p~resumptuous in any one
Of that party to aspire to an office. Democrat
monopoly was so firmly established, that it amount
ed almost to a national Acknowledgement of The
Wings. 1t was in vain that that party contribu.
ted their full share to the national treasury. II
WAS in vain that they surrendered to their politi-
cal opponents, without complaint, all such FEEDER
al offices as necessarily implied sympathy OF
opinion and sentiment between the incumbents
and the appointing power. The party in the as
cendent was not content the rule of exclusion
should be limited to this class of appointmcnts.-
All Wing officers whatever--from the postmas-
ter to his deputieS-from the collector of customs
to his tide walters and inspectors, and Throughout
> every ramlfication of the public service, were rig
orously prescribed, whenever Democrats could
be found willing to accept their places. In fact,
there is scarcely an instance furnished by history
Of a line Of demarcatIon so completely drawn, be-
tween mcmbers ofthe same body polite, SPRING
ing from a common origin, and sharing the same
%burthens. The distinction between lord'and vassal
was the offspring of feudal tyranny in the middle
$ ages. The persecution ofthe Jews throughout
Christendom was the result of hereditary and re-
Iligious hatred. But, perhaps,-excepting the
wholesale disqualification of Puritans and Noncon-
D., formists, under the Tudors and Stuarts-there is
nothing in history more odious and despotic, than
the long and arbitrary prescription of the Wing
party in the United States by their own country
I men. Under these circumstances is it not pass
> ing strange, that the effort, for the first time made
in twenty years, to bring about something like an
equal distribution of Federal patronage, should
elicit such wailing from the Democracy, as il
it had not uniformly practiscd the very policy
it now so vehemently denounces. Let us take
Virginia as a case in point. When Gen. TAYLOR
came into power, and for years anterior, there
. was not a single Wing who held a Federal office
in the State-eXcept, perhaps, some village post
2 office, not worth the acceptance of Democrat
Judges of the Federal Court, District Attorneys,
Marshals, Collectors, Inspectors, Naval officers,
PostmaSterS-all were Democrats. This monopo-
ly endured 90 years. The Wings submitted with
the best grace they could command to this dis
reimbursement. rs long asHc Democrats uere in
powe' the Offices we,e theirs.
Let US now proceed TO the other branch of the
subject-the removal of Estate officers for opinions
sake.
We do not recollect to have heard of more