The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-08-01
INTELLIGENCE BY the MAILS.
Oar Warrington Correspondents.
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Str~agthsnsag the IVhig Party by the D,stribvtios
Of Ofces-7he Defaieatioas under the Polk Ad-
niinistratiou, &C., &C., &c.
The democratic party in this country, since the
advent OF Censral Jackson, has so long maintained
itself in power, in spite Of the foles and corrup-
tons of those who have administered the govern
ment, that those who doubt the intelligence, and
honesty OF the of the people, might naturally
fall into the of believing that power is to be
acquired or retained only by "humbugging" the
people. The whig party are predisposed to be led
astTsy by the delusion-for that party comprises
the greater portion of those who dstrust the sense
of the masses.
The true reason Of the ascendanoy of the demo-
cratic party, is very evident, upon the slightest re-
ilecon. 1t is not, that those who rank as leaders
OF that party superior in the arts of humbug,
even admitting them to be superior, but because
the measures OF the party have generally cores
pended with its name, and have been intended to
benefit the poor rather than the rch-and as the
poor form the most numerous class every COM
munity, the party which has managed to identify
itself with their interests, may, In free country,
acquire and retain power, In spite OF corfuptons,
a little OF which would ruin the party which repre-.
sents the interests and feelings OF the rich and
arlstocIailc.
But, thus secret of political success is far sim
pie TO suit politician. You might as well offer
gldss Of fair water To dram drlnker, endeavor
TO conv nee manmuvrng party politician, that
honesty is the best policy. You might as well at
tempt 10 convince member OF the Though and
Ready club IN this city, that II was not the zeal
and industry OF that club, guided by the intei-
geDce OF Truman Smith, which raised sod
Zack" to the Presidency-but that it was his cha
racter, as made known 10 the people by his own
acts that II was his deeds, and not their tricks
aud schemes, and pamphlets and circulars, which
made him President.
This deluson bids fair unless speedily dispeed,
to be fatal to the administration OF General Taylor
/ There too many symptoms of design on The
| part of those IN power, TO build the strength OF
| their party on the patronage OF the government,
mlher than to conlide IN the prestige OF " Old
lacks" honesty, and strive, by all MEANS TO keep
that unmpaired,
Now, if government patronage could keep party
| in power, the democratic party would never have
| lost power under MIR. Van Buren, aud Mr.. Polk
and if will not keep the democratic party in pow
er, tortiori, II will not save the wing party. Pa
tronage Is the most dangerous lnplc nent that a
party can weld. Ii always does positive harm to
those who WELD it, except the single case where
a rogue is turned out of Office, and an honest
| put in his placs-aRd In that case II is necessary
/ TO prove, at least, that the man turned out a
| rogue II not, that his successor Is honest
| One ct the organs OF the administration IN this
city, the Republic, shows some gimmering of
sense IN this respect, 1t IS beginning to develoPe
the ccrruptons of democratic administrations.
Now, this is very well, but it is not all that is ne
cessary. The people were already convinced of
those corruptions, or they would never have elected
| General Harrison or General Taylor. 1t Is not
sufficient TO demonstrate what the people have
already taken for granted. The most material
point TO establish Is, that the present admlnistra-
ton Is honest and that fact can be established only
by their own conduct, not the conduct OF their
predecessors.
In the Republic of the 18th inst, you will find
terrible clutter made about another defalcation
which has been discovered~Ihat OF Nathaniel
DENLY, late navy agent at Marscies, ga defaulter
to the tune Of sl55, sos 4S," There are several
remarkable features about this defalcarlon. The
first Is, that the defaulter is a Virgnian, an
+. F. "; the second, that the late Secretary OF the
Navy is supposed to be implicated in II. The
Republic go IRsinuaes, and rumor says, that large
sums OF money were forwarded TO DENLY by the
Navy Department. at a time when he did not need
them tor The public service, and had not even
afked for them.
But there are other remarkable features which
| the Republic does not notice. The defalcation
was not discovered by the present administration
but by the last. DENLY was removed from Office
by MIR. Polk, and the cause of his removal was no
! secret In the Navy Department. How Is 1t, that
the Rspubiic has been SO long in discovering the
fact When there was much eagerness to
discover corruptons in the late administration,
how comes 1t that this defalcaten, which "almost
approaches the magnstcence OF Swartwouts
| case" and which ~ supposed 10 implcate a cabi-
net minister, has been go studiousy concealed
until now7
The assertion that such things are kept concealed
by democratic clerks in Office, is absurd. Such
clerks-as every one who understands human
tuIe mutt admlt-would be more anxious 10 con
ciiate the good will Of their new masters, by an
yelling corupiions, than add to the peril Of their
situation, by vain attempts TO conceal what must
| ultimately be discovered.
There is another remarkable feature in the
article In the Rcp.Jhc, which exposes this de-
falcation. Ii says:-" Here we have alrendy de-
ytloped, before the new administration has got
fair look at the books, the cases of Moore, Col
lins, and DENLY, to add to the long line OF their
predecessors in the plumber OF the treasury"
Now, there seems to be a star missing from this
catalogue. Here are only three mentioned Is
there not fourth 1t was rumored in this city
come time ago, and the rumor spread abroad, that
a navy agent. named Sect, was defauter and
itis very certain that he WAS removed from Office.
IL was rumored, at the same time, that he might,
perhaps, be tpured, because he was a relative OF
The senior cdsr Of the RepSbiir, and because he
had broiherin-law who was a whig member Of
Congrcss-besides other influential wing con-
neAione
Such suppressions on the part Of General Tay-
| IoT's organ, are Of evil omen 10 his cause. What
does the great body Of the people, OF either party,
| care about the connexions OF men IN Office IL IS
| TO the people at large that General Taylor is in
debted for his Office, and not to party cliques.
Ii 10 true that the democratic party. has at times,
| succeeded in saving influential men,, in their own
ranks, from the doom which they deserved but
they always lost by their course, aad finally, il
drove them from power Ii is impossible for the
wings to pursue tuch policy with any chance Of
success. They have not the inherent strength.
| The only policy which they can rely on is that Of
honesiy-of rigid impartial justice An attempt
| to screen or whItewasb dishonest men, either Of
the opposite party, or OF their own, must run them
| with that portion OF the community which de-
| termines the event Of elections-no matter what
fsncIcd strength they may gain or rave at the mo-
ment, from " influential connexions" The people
have no brother nor sister, uncle aunt, niece
| neFhew-and no family secrets They cannot
syupsthlze with nepotism IN any form or shape
and they ere apt IL suspect that where " mystery
or eecresy in relation to affairs OF public interest,
/ there Is also dishonesty. LIsMAuAso.