The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-06-13

IN our paper oil thursday, we mentioned the enormous
patronage which lodged in the Department OF the In
terror and in the General Pns Office. Formerly, the
patronage OF The government which could be made
available for political purposes was more equally dis
rbued; and portion of the cabinet could not break
down the other, and even overshadow the power and
influence of the President himself. it may now do
Since the establishment of the Department of the Int
or there is approach to equality among the heads
OF departments The great inequality which now exists
should be avoided al all tines but in the present con.
dton of affairs is emineny dangerous to the interests
of the country ripe and skifu statesnan In the pres
dential chair, acquainted with political combinations
and the men who compose them, might prevent the
mischevous tendencies of the unequal influence of the
members OF his cabinet, by prescribing the measures
which should characterize his administration, and by
an active and controlling supervision the manner
in which his Secretaries distribute their patronage and
perform their functions. Such course pursued skill
fully and with indexble irmness might prevent, at least,
some of the evil consequences which now threaten the
country; but sure il is, that nothing else could hwa
sinister combinations among the members of the cabinet,
and prevent corrupt OF the patronage OF the govern
ment TO the interests OF factions and promote the
schemes of dangerous combinations. 1t can hardly be
pretended now that General Taylor has that lofty and
commanding intellect which makes statesman in despite
of circumstances; or that the habits of his life have
enabled him acquire that political experience and that
practical knowledge of civil affairs which make of
well balanced minds though of moderate powers, trust
worthy and efficient The friends of General Taylor
cannot but admit his want of experience while they
point any evidence that he has the first quality
of a statesman. Indeed, it can hardly be questioned that
he fails prescribe The policy of his administration. If
he does not, as is almost universally believed, allow the
members of his cabinet equal voice with HIMSELF it is
not denied that the heads of departments constitute,
along with the President, body which discharges the
executive duties that the constitution imposes the
President alone and that the members OF this body not
only state their opinions and give their advice to General
Taylor but that they vote him down, and override him.
and fix the policy of the administration and name the
who shall be honored by Office, and enriched by its
emolunents.
Under such circumstances, with weak and unskilled
President the composition of the cabinet and The
in which power and patronage divided between its
members, become matters of high public concern. 1t
may not be uninerestng, therefore, TO say few words
this point and to mention of the natural conse-
quences of the condition of things which now prevails
The War; the Navy and the Treasury Departments have
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from them has been accumulated in the Department OF the
Interior. Leaving on, of view department clerks,
and the heads of the War and Navy Departments have
but little patronage which confer political power
SO ttle indeed, that il is hardly worth Mentioning The
Secretary OF the Treasury has more He still controls
those connected with the and those who en-
gagged in collecting, safekeepng and disbursng the pub
lie moneys but that is all The Attorney General never
had any patronage That appertanng TO the Secretary
ofStae is of but little for political purposes 1t is of
kind that pershes in the using for the recipients of the
Premers bounty have mostly TO leave the limits of the
Union and establish themselves in foreign countries,
where they do but little affect our political strug-
gles The great bulk of the patronage-a least four
hs of that available in influencing elections or our
legislation, in efecting internal afairs-s in the
hands of the Postmaster General and the Secretary of the
Interior; the residue available for sSch purposes being
intrused mostly to the Secretary OF the Treasury.
The Postmaster General has seventeen thousand post
masters responsible to him; and when we include in
the estimate agents, contractors, and other employees
the number of those under his control may be safely
stated at twenty-five thirty thousand. The pow
er of selecting from the body of the people even sew
eneen thousand men, and of bestowing on them the
Thanking privilege, is of itself immense patronage,
available in party contest. When couple that
privilege with the pecunary emoluments of those
whom the Postmaster General may appoint and re-
move, his power hardly be estimated. power
great should surely be lodged in the hands of one
whose political well personal integrity is with
out suspcion-one who commands the confidence of the
whole country; not to stranger to the people-whose
sentiments those of dangerous faction. But General
Taylor has fit to select Jacob Colamer fill this
important station; who was three months since
utterly unknown, except TO the people of his own State
and who in the halls of Congress was remark able for
little besides his hostility to the Mexican war, and for
the consistent support he gave to abolition measures
Nor we find that the records of that body of which
he was an undstinguished member make any further
mention OF him. His name, as far as we know, has
never been connected with any great measure of policy
or diplomacy. No principle of commerce or finance is
indebted anything ohim its advocate or as its oppo
nent and no interest owes him any debt, either of
grautude or OF revenge. He was bitter but weak
Toe OF The democratic party, and he voted with unwa
veng consistency for abolition measures along with Gid
dlngs, Palircy, and Tuck Such is a brief vet fuu
ana truthful sketch OF the political character of Ja
COD Collamer the Postmaster General of the United
States Yet he, the very type and exponent not even of
party but OF dangerous and ncendary faction, occu
pies high position in General Tayos cabinet far above