The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-04-27
oFFICIAL.nn TIEs.

The circular Of Mr.. Secretary Meredith,
relative to the accumulation Of unfinished
business in the Treasury Department, and
requiring the strict and diligent attention Of
the various clerks to their respective duties,
indicates some Of the natural results Of that
system ofparty appointments 50 thoroughly
carried out by the late administration. I
1t had got to be a familiar maxim with all
Of the Polk school, teachers and disciples,
that the public Offices Of the Government
were the special property Of the party;
that the emoluments Of office constituted
a fund at the disposal OF the party fol- ia
own particular uses; thai the qualifications
requisite for obtaining an office had more re-
ference to political subseryiency and cleo
tioneering efficiency than 10 those capabil-
ties adapted to the place, and which the du-
ties Of the place required, As necessary
consequences Of such principles reduced to
systematic practice, it could not but follow
that many persons would go into Office quite
unfit for public station, aud that the duties Of
many offices would be performed in d SLOW
enly, imperfect manner. The natural senti-
ment Of man who had just got possession
of an office, as a return for services render
ed, would be that the emoluments Of the
place had already been earned By him, and
that the faithful discharge Of any laborious
functions was matter not included in the
arrangement.
Now, salaries that are paid from the pub
lie Treasury are paid Tor services due to the
public, not for services rendered in advance
to a party. This is very simple trusln---
yet how often is il overlooked There is,
indeed, an ingenious mode Of sophistry, BY
which the imperative acquisitions Of public
duty are happily harmonized with political
corruption; and il is 10 The effect that mas
much as the country Is governed through the
fundamentally Of those political organiza-
lions called parties, tue government and the
party are so Identical that il Is not worth
while to discriminate between them. Thus
any services to the one are services 10 the
other ); the country rrcspers when the party
is successful partisan devotion becomes sy-
nonymous with patriotism, and deserves to
be rewarded at tho public expen,..
By virtue Of this system there lr,ye arisen
two classes Of oficeholders in this county
those who, in subordinate positions, do The
duties pertaining 70 the Office, and those
who, as partisans, enjoying the reward Of
their political labors, hold the highest posts
and receive the largest salaries. But Sin all
grades, both principal and subordinate, the
practice Of crowding Departments and other
places with men having no other recon-
mendation for public station than such as ac-
crued from party service, had become, under
the late administration, very common and
very general "The unblushing assump-
ton" says the New York Commercial, "of
the right to reward political subsewiency,
on the part Of the dominant political party,
and the practice Of drawing that reward
from the pockets Of the people, without rig
idly exacting from the receiver an equiva-
lent in service, had increased 10 that extent
the evil was Of such magnitude that the
people had taken the alarm and eagerly
turned their attention TO one not involved ia
party corruption, as the fittest man to take
the helm Of affairs and curb this growing
injustice One common conviction Of the
necessity Of reform seemed to possess the
public mind, and to General Taylor the peo-
pie looked-and him they voluntarily chose
-as the fittest instrument to work out the
reformation. 1t is but an echo Of the pop
ular sentiment TO say that we hope that this
stringent holding Of public officers to their
duty will be persevered in. We would not
have single Wing put into Office on any
other understanding than that his retention Of
Office depended upon the faithful performance
of its duties. And we believe that the
Wings universally concede that this ought
to be the rule, and will in entire good faith
act upon it. Thus only, whether they re-
tire from Office in 1862 or remain in power,
can they promote the good Of the country
and win the appreciation of their own con-
sciences and Of all true patriots baltimore
american.
One Of the consequences of the Wings getting into