The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-03-29
DAILY NATIONAL WING.
WASHINGTON, d. G.
THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 70. 1913,
JAoIssoN AND TAYLOR.

|
Il SINK rnE REsPossIsILiTy"-is the significant
language Of his imbeeie successor.
Such are the closing paragraphs Of lead
ing article, in the Age Of the 22d instant, a
Democratic paper published in Augusta, in
the State of Maine
The effort Of the Age is to prove, that the
President has disregarded the executive of
fee and dwarfed its just powers by his course
Of policy, since he entered upon the dis
charge Of its duties.
The evidence, upon which this reckless
accuser, bases his charge, is the adoption by
the President Of the rule, that all applications
for Office must be made to the Heads OF the
Departments to which the Office legally per
tains And this rule, the Age stigmatizes
as strange, novel and insulting.
Under Gen. Washington's administration
this rule was rieidly enforced, as may be
seen by reference to the published correspon-
,ence Of that wonderful man. John Adams
followed the practice. So did Mr.. JeHer-
son, Nj Madison, Mr. Monroe and Mr.. J.
Q Adams, 1t was altered by Gen, Jack
| son, who arrogated to himself, individually,
the execution of the whole appointing power,
IN the face Of all the laws to the contrary.
| The early Presidents would not entertain
any direct application for any Office what
ever II applications happened to come to
them, they immediately referred the papers
to the Department to which the Office be-
longed BY virtue Of law. In those days Of
republican purity, Of Constitutional Govern
ment, the rule was not regarded as insulting.
1t was observed, because it was in accord
ance with law.
| But the Age, not content with misrepre-
senting the character Of this rule, which we
have heretofore, on more occasions than one,
proved TO be in strict accordance with the
letter and spirit of the laws regulating the
| action Of the Federal Executive, calls on
the President to resign. 1t says, in effect,
| it he will not do as Gen. Jackson did in re-
spect to applications for office, that he ought
to give up the trust. In other words, the
Age does not desire to see Chief Magis-
trate execute the Constitution and the laws
as they are.
One ought not to be surprised that this
apologist of the Jackson and Polk usurpa-
tons Of power, in dispensing with all Con-
stitution and all law, cannot appreciate the
| plain and honest execution Of the Consttu-
ton and the laws, by such man as Zachary
Taylor. 1t is as hard for the Age, AMI all
the papers Of its sect, to understand and APP
preciate constitutional and legal admins
tration Of public affairs, as il would be for
a Turk or an Algerine.
Because the President has insisted upon
the observance Of this legal rule, the Age
charges him with denuding the Executive
Of the whole appointing power. This mis-
representation nay, we may call it false
hood-has been met more than once in this
journal and corrected In requiring appli-
cants to file their applications with the proper
Department, there is no abandonment by
the President of his duty in exercising the
appointing power. The duty Of the heads Of
Departments is to report the applications
to the President, and the President then de-
cides who shall be the appointee,
In Jackson's and Van Buren's and Ty-
ler's and Folks day, people were suf-
ferred to apply directly to them for Office.
This rule begat its necessary offspring
kitchen or back-stairs cabinet The evils
inflicted upon the country BY this sinister
influence, have not yet been forgotten The
just exercise Of the appointing power by the
Executive, under such state Of things,
was an impossibity. All law, Constitution,
truth, honor, fitness and honesty, were put
to shame, and sycophancy, falsehood, dis
honesty and cunning, were masters Of the
hour and of the President
We have no doubt il is because General
Taylor refuses to allow himself to be sub
jected TO such unlawful and sinister nfluen-
ees, that the Age and its kindred papers are
in such rage at the old Hero. He will
have law and constitution to govern his off,
cia actions. They want passion and sci.
tshness 10 rule him, and they are furious be-
cause he will not lend himself 10 their unho-
ly purposes. Hence they cali him an I'M
beetle All law and constitution are imbe-
City with them; but usurpation and kitch-
en- cabinet are attributes Of lion-healt!
Because the President requires the heads
OF Departments TO perform their legal duties
IN regard to applications for Office, and be-
cause he requires applicants for Office to file
their applications, where BY law they ought
TO be filed, the Age says that he has jarmed
out 10 seven gentlemen, the Executive pow
ers Of Government This is the language
Of all royalsts, Of all monarchists, in regard
to the requirements Of law. What is not
exercised by the one-man power, by the
force and pleasure Of its mere will, is