The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-06
REMOVALS FROM OFFICE.

Fl REMOVALS FROM OFFICE.
A friend has enclosed us the following article
from the Warren Or. ~ Star which was written
before the Inauguration of President TAYLOR, but
contains matter that has kept marvellously well,
and that will be read with much interest now as
it would have been on the day it first appeared
"We hold that it is always good policy for a sue
cessfu political party take that its principles
be represented favorably in the principal offices by
active, efficient influential men, who have, by their
talents and laborlous exertlons mainly contributed
10 produce such successful result. The Admin
stration which, turning its back upon such men,
should appoint to office political drones and power
less imbeclles, who never have, and never can,
render any efficient service to the party In It's efforts
to carry its principles into the administration OF the
| Government, would demonstrate neither It's wisdom
nor its justice. The public, generally, measure the
efficiency of administration by the efficiency OF
It's agents employed in the principal offices OF the
country. The character OF It's public ofhcers is
certain TO reflect either credit or discredit upon the
| administration which employs them If these are
weak inefficient, or incompetent, the administration
Is justly held responsible, and will be adjudged by
| the people TO partake largely of the character of
| such representatives
| In relation to the policy of dominant party's
supporting and perpetuating its political opponents
in the principal offices, and thereby, in fact usti-
L
friends from the Offices of the General Government,
advocated that policy is by few transcendental
Wings, We think such course would be just about
as wise and polite 1t would be for Protestant
church, anxious to recommend and disseminate
what il deems to be true and essential doctrines in
religion, to establish Catholic Jesuit Priests to MIN
lister at its altar; il would have been for Gene
raj Taylor, during his military campaign in Mexico,
| to have left hostile Mexicans in command of the
principal fortresses he had taken. The Democratic
ofhce-holder, like the conquered Mexican, might,
| from motives of personal policy, preserve de-
ceful silence for while, but, awaiting favorable
| opportunity to strike for his political party
friends, would avail himself of his official position
to strike the efectually against the party who
were stupid enough to rely upon his aid to advance
the principles of his political opponents.
"The effect ofcontinuing political opponents in the
principal Offices would be most disastrous and sui
cida to the Wing party. If, when the Democrats
prevail, they FILL as we know they always do fill,
all the Offices in the country with Democrats, and
| If, when the Wings succeed, they only continue
| and perpetuate the same Democrats in Office, can
any sensible man, conversant with the springs and
motives Of human action, doubt what would be the
result of such course of party infatuation which
| would thus hold out the strongest inducements for
political men, especially for ambitious young men,
to unite themselves with the Democratic party a
party which, whether in or out of power, Is wise
and polite enough always to do all strength
en- Its own party organization. We believe that
human ingenuity could not devise course more
certain to destroy the present Wing ascendency in
the General Government than the continuance of It's
political opponents in the principal Offices in the
country.
"When General Taylor enters upon the duties OF
President of the United States on the 4th of March
next, he will find all the Offices in the country in the
hands of his political opponents who are in mi
nority of the American people. He will find that
| friep Uho If1fe larO rifu
of the people, all excluded from any participa-
ton in Offices under the National Government.
What will he do under such circumstances; Will
justify this sweeping prescription of his friends
by continuing his opponents in office Will he aid
in perpetuating this official monopoly in the minority
of the people; Or will he do as Mr.. Jefferson did
under similar circumstances-proceed at once to
correct this wrong and injustice by the prompt and
summary mode Of removal
"In letter to the people of New Haven, justify
ing his removal of the collector of that port Mr..
Jefferson said.
''Iament sincerely that unessental differences of
opinion should ever have been deemed sufficient to
interdct half the society from the rights and the
blessings OF self-government, and TO prescribe them
as unworthy Of every trust. But on whom does
this lmputaton rest On those who have excluded
from Office every shade of opinion which was not
theirs' Or on those who have been so excluded;
Ii would have been to me circumstance of great
relief had found moderate participation Of office in
the hands of the majority. | would gladly have left
time and accident TO raise them to their rust share.
But their total exclusion calls for prompt corrections.
shall correct the procedure; but that done, return
with Joy TO that state Of things when the only ques-
uon concerning candidate shall be-is he honest;
is he capable is he faithful to the Constitution"
eff due participation Of Office is matter Of
right, how are vacancies TO be obtained? Those by
death few; designations none. Can any other
mode than that of reuaopai be proposed This is a
painful office. But II is made my duty, and MEET
r 1T As SUCH
This argument of Mr.. Jefferson is right in prin-
cpe and right just and polite as a matter Of party
policy. We do not believe that any national adj
minIslraton could maintain It's asceDdency in any
free State Of this Union two years, which should
insist upon continuing the prescription Of politi-
cal friends, and which should determine to hold
over the heads Of It's friends IN those States their
bitter and rancorous opponents, filling the govern
ment Offices there. Such course would, in our
opinion, be most unjust, mpolluc, and suicidal 10
any administration.
These are our views upon the subject Of reno
walls in general. But no honest administration, we
maintain, whatever may be its views upon this SUBJ
| iect generally can for a moment doubt IN relation
10 the proprety Of removing at once the Dorrites
who al the government Offices IN Rhode Island, and
who, II is well understood, were appointed to those
Offices because they were known TO have been
lively engaged IN the recent rebellion against the
government Of this State This is not ordinary
political question here II strikes higher and deeper
IL is question involving sound morals and the
very existence Of legal organized government it.
self The good and true Law and Order citizens OF
Rhode Island have just to feel strongly
they do, upon this subject They have suffered
much from these men. They considered the APP
pointment Of these men, who had been waging war
| against the State intended insult, by Mr..
Polk, to their feelings And they do not expect or
believe that those who have been guilty Of treason
against the government OF this State, will ever be
permitted, by occupying the principal Offices under
the General Government here, 10 represent Wing
national administration in Rhode Island. The
supposton that such thing could be possible
would be a libel upon tie character Of General Tay-
Tor, and insult, most cutting and unkind, 10 the
feelings Of all the friends Of the new National adj
mnistration in this State"
The following extract is from lie yNoniietu, OF
: Montreal journal printed in French, and advo.
E eating the independence Of Canada:
Canada VIII become free, and will be annexed
E TO the United States in FIVE years Upper Cansd'
will form one State, Lower Canada a second, anC