Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-07-12
THE LYNCHBURG VIRGINIAN
BLACKBOARD. TOWNLEY & co.,
LYNCHBURG JULYIai 1910.
THE UNION AND THE ADMINISTRA
TION

TION
The only points upon which the Administra-
ton has been assaled 50 far, are prescription and
its action in relation to the Steam ship United
States. With regard to the last, we have never
had occasion to observe more harmless assault
The whole country is persuaded that the conduct
Of the Cabinet was exactly what sense of self
respect and a strict observance of neutral obliga-
tons enjoined upon the United States All hon
est-hearted and intelligent citizens must rejoice
that at the present important crisis in the affairs
of the civilized world, the President has shown
his determination to do equal and eyact justice TO
all nations, and, above ALL to preserve the char
actefof his country above suspicion. The Union
has pursued factious course in relation to this
subject, and advanced doctrines which, we are
sure, are not approved by the Senior Of the con-
Germ. We had no very great confidence in the
late Administration, but we will do it the Justice
to say, that we believe, after the renewal of hos
tilites between Denmark and Prussia and the
remonstrances of the Danish Minister, its ac-
ton in the affair would have been exactly that Of
the present Administration, which has been so
cautiously commented upon by the Union.
On the subject of prescription, the Union
makes itself exqulsltely ridiculous. The extrav-
agance ofts language, in denouncing what is en-
phatlcally Democratic policy and which ,as sys-
tenn, was never heard of until the accession Of
Gen. Jackson, disgusts the rejecting even Of its
own party. 1t makes no impression upon the COM
munity. What if it does make it apparent that
a worthy citizen-a faithful and competent officer
lis here and there removed from office, does il
presume upon the total obliteraton of the popular
memory Does it hope that every instance OIL
the kind which il adduces, may not be ofFsetted
BY ten cases Of prescription more fragrant, under
Democratic rule, for the last twenty years: Would
ii have the lemerty to assert that the hundreds
of Wings, elected from Office BY Jackson, Van
Buren and Polk, were removed for incompetent
cy, immortality, unfaithfulness, or for any cause
other than their political opnions2 Prescription
is a dangerous evil. We think Of t,now, exact.
ly as we have ever done. But the organ of De.
mocracy, which wines over its victims; render,
itself snpremely ridiculous-for prescription, as
we have sad was unknown, as a systematic pol
ICY until the advent Of Jacksonism Gen. Tav.
or is, faithful to his pledges. prescribing proscrip
ton. lie found, on his accession to office, one
half. if not more, of his countrymen-notc certain
ly disqualified for office by want of intelligence
responsibility Or patriotism-as efectually dis
tranchlsed as if they were Of an alien race He
has determined TO restore this moiety of the A.
menean people the rights of citizenship, BY re.
moving from it the ban under which it has lone
laboled This could be effected in no other way
than by breaking up the close monopoly of office
enjoyed for twenty years, by the other moetv
thus making vacancies. We appeal to the candol
and good sense of our Democratic friends. TO say
whether this is prescription Ifthey decline tt
answer this query we ask more practical ques
ton would not the Democratic party, under
similar circumstances, have-not content with
halt the ofllces-turned out every Whig incum.
bent
The Union has ntermited its wall over the
venerable Simon Drum, to pour forth heartier la
mentations about the recent removal Of certain
Democratic incumbents from Offices which NAV
be considered as pertaining peculiarly to the Dis
trlct OF Columbia and the city of Washington. II
dlates upon the substitution of Philip Barton Kew
IN the office Of District Attorney, BY Philip r.
tendal. Were the question one of relative qua
ifcation for the Office the professional, not less
than the popular verdict would be in favor of the
latter. But passing by this-the Union studious-
ly avoids lettlngit appear that Mr.. Fendall was
the former District Attorney and was removed
oy Mt Polk upon purely political grounds. So OF
the City Post Office. Doubtless Col Gardner
deserves all the eulogy somewhat lavishlv be.
slowed upon him by the Union-but # would be
as well, perhaps, had the Union informed its rea-
ders that, to provide for him, Mr.. Polk displaced
man quite as capable as an officer and as est-
mable as citizen. Gen. Wallace, the ex-Mar-
SHALL did not, it is true owe his late Office to pro-
scrptlon-he having been appointed upon the
death Of Gen: Hunter. But the appointment was
the reward of political services, and the suscep-
tbilltes of the people Of the District were woun-
ded BY the importation from Virginia of man
to i'll an office, which they justly regarded as To-
cal and therefore, to be filled by one Of their own
Citizens : -