Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-05-25
RICHMOND, VA.
Wednesday Morning, May %, ls4s.
HEAR THE OTHER SIDE.

(lhoush, if it were true, il would be no justifca
ton for partisan prescription by an adminisra
ton coniessedly elected on lis non.proscriplivt
boasling and reputationD ha, The "Locofoco'
administrations have for twenty years ostracizee
the Wings and filled The Offices with Democrats
We have TO certain extent shown the falsily o.
this charge-but an intelligent writer in the
Union has entered into ia review of the Depart.
ments OF Government Tor the last twenty years,
and publishes the following sta,emenl-for Tue
ruth OF which he refers 10 authorities, that can be
discrediled, if not sound. Thus far the Wings
have mol attempted to pick a flaw in his facts:
at has been my practice to keep copies Of the
Blue Book, published biennially; and having had
a general acquaintance with the employees oil
the Government for IS years, am enabled, by a
reference to the names in this book, and the aid
OF good memory, TO trace the changes thai
have taken place, and 10 note the number of each
parry in Office at various periods. A careful in.
vestisalion of The subject shows the following
state OF iacls. II would appear that on The 4lh
OF March, 1929, Jackson found in Office Sc De-
mocra,s and $40 Federalisls. Admitting that
fifty OF the latter were removed, and their pla-
ces given TO Democrats, and they then stand LOG
Democrats, 100 Federalists; but, as have be-
tore stated, considerable number OF those turn
ed out scon got back again, where they remain
TO this day. Atvaricus periods during Jackson's
and Van Burens administrations, Congress
authorized a large increase OF clerical force; so
thar Or the Sd OF March, lS4l, there were employ
ed in the executive departments moi less than 500
A reference to the Blue Book will show, at the
end OF IL consecutive years of pr0seriptipe De-
mocralic administrations, The federaisls were in
possession Of majority of the clerkships as
will be presently shown: Now let US inquire
how did This occur2 The answer is readily Civ.
en-. In 1886 The increase in one office alone was
from about 20 10 80 odd in another, from IL or
lS 10 about 70; and in other Offices in smaller
proportion. Were all The new appointments al
that period made Democrats Far from it, as
both Federalists and Democrats here we'll know.
A reference 10 names in the Blue Book will sat-
isfactouly show that fully one half of hem were
made from The party opposed 10 The adminisra-
ton then in poweri and among them will be found
the names Of men who, in the spring of l84l,
were not without good grounds suspected, and
in The tall Of 1874 were known, TO have been bu-
silly engaged in preparing lists OF Democrats Tor
deca aiion. This was while they were assert
ing tha, the election OF Mr.. Clay was as certain
as that The sun would daily rise and that The APP
preaching election was 0,Ly necessary 10 comply
with usage.
"Whilsl on this subject, would here remark,
that one Of the most vindiclive OF the number al
luded TO- who was removed from Office in l645
for his active agency in the dirty work, has been
one OF the earliest 10 find favor with a certain
member Of the present Cabinet. But am d.
crossing, and will endeavor to come directly 10
The point am aiming al. 1t is lhs-to show
that the bold and reckless charges of being pro.
scripiive, made by Federalists against Demo-
cratic Administrations, are without foundation in
truth. To enable me to meet those charges with
facts ncontrovcnible, have again TO refer 10
names and dates in the Blue Book. And what
does /, exhibit Why, it shows The following
facts, which neither The Editors Of s,he National
Inteisencer, nor The old Federalists who have
been in Office here for twenty, thirty and thirty
five years, enjoying the best salaries, will dare
todeny.
"lsi That alter all the removals General
Jackson had made at The seal OF Government,
much The larger number of The clerkships were
in possession OF The FederaIists, and that They
received the largest aggregate amount OF sala-
ries.
"2i. That of The number removed by General
Jackson many gol back into Office, and many
other Federalisls were appointed during his Ad-
ministralion. and remain in office 10 this day,
and, on reading this statement, will feel con-
scious OF its truth, although they may not feel
disposed 10 admit H.
I3I. That during Mr.. Van Burcn's Admins
lra,on there were but few, if any, removals OF
Federalisls; and OF the number OF appointments
made by him 10 new Offices, and TO fill vacan-
cies, Federal applicants were more numerous,
aud equally as successful as Democrats.
"4lh. Tha, on the 81 Of March, 1911, after
the clerical force had been greatly increased by
authority OF Congress, The number OF cerkships
held by Democrats was 24, and by Federasts
ZIG; and tina, the aggregate OF the salaries re-
ceived by The former was 1926, 7i5, and by the
latter 1894 1928.
"5lh. That of the chief clerkships OF the Sc
vera departments and bureaus - in ally al that
date, 10 were held by Federaisis, and 10 by De.
mocIats; aud this, too, after prosertptire De
mocratic Administration had been in power Tor
Twelve consecutive years.
seth. That under the Administrations oil Jack
son and Van Buren,, many Federalisls were not
only appointed 10 Office. but had promotions con-
ferred upon them in very many instances, as
reference to their names and salaries, as stalled in
the Blue Book al various dates will verify.
ITO The truth of the foregoing statement of
facts, there are scores OF FederaliSts, alias
Wings, now enjoying the places referred to, who
could testify had they magnanimity 10 do SO; but
whether they will or not, their conscience must
give al least silent assent 10 lis correctness
And yet we see occasionally published in the
National Inleigencer The bold ana reckless as
ser;ion, tina, all OF The Offices a, the seat OF Go
vernmenl are held by the Locoiocos,' as they are
pleased, in their slang, to denomnate The great
Democratic party, under whose wise manage
men! and control our beloved country has reach
ed the very highest degree OF prosperity, happi-
ness and glory it has ever attained.
"In The next number ! will take glance al
the occurrences which are connected with the
departments for the las, eight years. A. H."