The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-06-23

in-law of revolutionary officer Will
the Union turn its eyes to the North and
see the many hundred descendants of reyo-
luhonary patriots who have been utterly
excluded from all participation in the affairs
OF this Government for the last twenty
years If being the son--or more remote
still, the son-in Ian of revolutionary Of
icer, is title for enjoying Office upwards of
two and forty years-how happens it that
the late administrations have not acted
upon this rule Was not General DEAR
BORN the son of a revolutionary officer; and
was not he elected from the Boston collec-
torship, after much more brief tenure of
Officer 1t was all right for President JACK
SON to dismiss General DEARBORN, to make
room for bitter and unreenting partisan !;
but for President TAYLOR to touch hair
of Mr.. NELSON, to let in man whom
the senior editor of the Union does not
"know "a Virginian so utterly degene-
rate and insignificant as this fact proves
him to be-is matter to rouse and agi-
tate the country.
The Richmond Wing states that there
have been gross abuses in the custom. house
to which MIR. TRIGG has been appointed.
We think it not unlikely. Now we shall
have the chance Of knowing whether or
not the complaints of the business men of
Richmond are well or i'll founded. AS
| long as Mr.. NELSON remained in office it
| was impossible to ferret out these abuses
and expose them 1t was long time sus-
| pected that abuses were practsed in the
marshalship of the southern district of New
| York. Charges were whispered of malver
sation and improper practices, but nothing
definite was ascertained until Mr.. PRES
CoTT HALL was appointed United States
! Attorney for that district by President TAY-
LoR, and then the whole matter came to
| light. Two Locoioco district attorneys
had slept upon them for four years, and
would have slept upon them for years to
come. They were only reached by the
wise exercise of the removing and ap-
pointing poverty removing an officer
whom the Administration did not know,
and appointing one whom they did know,
and in whose energy, fidelity, and capacity
they had a confidence which events show
was justly bestowed.
If the President had not removed Mr.
SHEPARD, and appointed Mr.. HALL, the
delinquencies of Mr.. ELI MOORE would
not have been discovered probably for
years; and, when discovered, the odium
of them would have been thrown upon Pre-
| sident TAYLOR. There was much good
sense in the suggestion Of General JACK
SON, on a subject german to this removal
Of MIR. NELSON, which we would recon-
mend to the thoughtful consideration of the
Union. We quote from his message of
1929:
"There are, perhaps few men who can, for any
length of time, enjoy Office and power, without be-
ing more or less under the influence of feelings I'M
favorable to a faithful discharge of their public
duties. Their integrity may be proof against impro-
per considerations Immediately addressed TO them
selves; but they apt to acquire a habit of look
ing with indifference upon the public interests and
of toleratlng conduct, from which unpractlsed men
| would revolt. Office is considered as species of
property; and government rather as a means of
promoting individual interests, than as an instru-
ment created solely for the service of the people
| corruption in some and in others a perversion of
correct feelings and principles, divert government
from its legitimate ends, and make il an engine for
the support of the few at the expense of the many
The duties of all public officers are, or at least ad-
NIT of being made so plain and simple that the in
elligent may readily qualify them for their perform
ance and cannot but believe that more is lost by
the long continuance of in Office than is gener-
| ally to be gained by their experience submit
therefore, to your consideration, whether the eff
cheney Of the Government would not be promoted,
and official industry and integrity better secured,
by general extension Of the law which limits APP
pointments to four years"