The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-03-08
distribution OF Once at Washington.


Distribution OF Once at Was hi ngton.
Now that the cabinet of the new President has
been completely arranged, and probably by this
time passed upon by the Senate, the next great
subject OF inquiry will be the rule and extent of
the distribution of Office under the new regime.
Cabinet making has been the 21ncip, business of
the politicians and newspapers for the last four
five months but that business is exhausted, and
now the immense liva trade of office-seeking or
ofice.beggin will commence at Washington,
with ush as terrible and mulritudinous as that of
the waters OF Lake Erie the cliffs of Niagara.
We know something of the scenes exhibited by Of
flee beegars at Washington, on the change of dy-
nasty. Any who saw the sights that were pre-
scented IN the month OF March, 1929, the first
cession OF Gen Jackson to the Presidency, or the
milar exhibitions that display ed in March 1911,
when Gen HARRISON became chief magistrate, can
very readily conceive the crowds OF expectants, the
hungry and importupats beggars, the miserable
scramble tor Office, and the terrible annoyance to
the Piesiden, and cabinet, which will be revived
with fresh energy, about these days, in Washing
ton. We RENE ber, very well, both of those Pc
RODS, and they LETT Impressions on our Mild that
would be food Tor morazing for years come.
ON the acct ssion OF General jackson to the Pre-
SlucuCy, TIC CIoWoS vi anu oiICC-ucS'
gars, though not, perhaps, numerous during
the present era, with increased population, were
as numerous, as savage, and as terrible, any
similar class could be In the most depraved
age of the world. The office-begging cllques
had regulated all the appointments, even before the
Installation of General Jackson's cabinet. Com.
mttees folowt the heels Ut the cabinet, crowded
INTO the White HJuse, and deployed to the depart
menis, begging, besee ching, swearing, asking, and
praying, for the spols and Tor office, in any guam
tity or any shape. One Of the scenes was very
curious. company of more than a score of
newspapers editors al PROCESSING to be ultra Jack-
son men, marched up from Gadsby's, putting the
ugllest and hubsrlest IN front, la order to excite
the sympathy of General Jackson, and all claiming
office and reward at the hands OF the old hero
Many OF rem did receive rewards, but did not
keep them long. The scramble on the accession
OF that dy nasty was the first terrible exhibition of
The kind that pre- sented itself In the history of
The Amerlcs n government. No such scenes dis |
tlpguIshed the ineugurauons of the earlier Pres;-
dents, nor did anything similar take place when
the great change was effected by the downfall OF
the old federal party, and the uprising Of the old
democratic party, on the acce sslon of Mr.. Jefier-
son. At that great change in dynasty, the number
of removals and appointments comprised merely a
acw hall Dozen in the first years Of office. Similar
eirnape nee was observed the possession OF pub
lie station throughout the presdcncies of Madison,
Monroe, and John Quincy Adams. The revival of
the old democracy by the election Of General Jack
son. In 1928, and the Of new set OF men
in 1922 presented the first rabld and hungry scenes
of Office begging that the government OF this
Try ever experienced.
The spirit with which the democratic dynasty
of 1923 went into power, began to leaven the whole
political world IN the Country. Violence and ran |
cor increased throughout the republic. The news
paper press bee me rabd and violent to a most |
extraordinary extent. These deporable charac- |
terstics increased by the extraordinary changes |
official station, and became the chronic c1arac-
er ofthe country, until that party fell to pieces I'M
der the presidency OF Mr. Van Buren,, and when
he whig party, Tor the first time nearly In hall a |
century, reached power under the popularity o
General Harrison. On Harrlson's acces. ion, was |
here reform or change In those exhibitions al
Washington? Not at all. The wings of that day |
welt into power with the most bitter feelings to. |
wards their anita gonsts, and the most hungry an
icpsuons for the fruits OF that vic,ory--the pos
session OF the spols and Offices. The new cabinet
was appointed. Gen. Harrison was weak in health |
and feeble In con ,ttuton. The torrent Of Office
begpars Get on him and the cabinet like the tor
rent of Niagara over its Precptous cliffs The
old General sunk under the pressure Tie did not
live over month; but during that time thousands
oil old office holders, without any regard to the
character or capacity which they may have DIS
plnyed, were removed at one fell swoop, and
their places were flied by hungry crowd Of ex-
pectants, who had followed the new dynasty into
power The rush during the presidency OF Gen.
Harrison, was even greater and more formidable
than that which showed itself on the frat acces-
ii OF General Jackson. The office begging
mama was increase d by what il fed upon. Violence
and heart burnlog spread throughout the whole
class OF politicians, and party spirit Increased with
fearful nnGgnty, throughout the whole land.
These are true and correct pictures OF the scenes
which were exhibtedin former periods of our his
tory and they illustrate the spirit that DEVELOPED
On the acce ssion OF different Presidents to power
No difference, IN this respect existed in either
party. The morality OF Office swseping-the pro-
prnty of such vaet system OF removals-waslo look
ed ON in the same light by both Vt the two great
panies, in the time ol Harr son and that OF Jack
s.A. H. .G.-...i.1 VI .eaa.19. ai:AIS nd