The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-25
Affairs In Europe.

Affairs In Europe.
The Cambria may be expected to reach Halifax,
tonight or tomorrow, with one weeks later in
telligence from Europe.
Pledges ana Policy OF the Administration.
"The appointing power vested in the President i'm
poses delicate and duties So far is posi-
Bile TO DO informed shall make honesty capacity, and
fidelity indispensable prerequisites to the bestowal OF
Office; an absence Of either of these qualities shall be
deemed sufficient cause for removal"-Ihe Inaugural
address.
The party newspapers are almost wholly occu-
pied In discussing the policy thus far pursued by
the new administration, with reference to removals
and appointments. OF course, the democratic
journals are full of fierce anathcma, friend after
friend is removed from office; while, on the other
hand. their wing brethren vehemently defend
the administration and, indeed insist that the work
of prescription, as it is called, does not proceed
with sufficient energy and promptitude. Both |
classes of journalists look upon the subject in
purely partisan light; and their abuse and eulogy
flow from the same source-that inherent selfish
nees which exercises so controlling an influence
over poor human nature, from the unbreeched ur
chin who bellows for an orange, to the full-grown
office-beggar who screams for the mission to Ma
dnd, or hungers and ,hirsts after marshalship.
Undoubtedly, much of the vtuperation and
the new administration, account of removals
from Office, is altogether puerile and grauitous.
II is unreasonable to suppose that when either of
the great parties of the country comes into power,
no changes TO be made amongst the officials of
the government. There is an obvious propriety
and Justice in making new appointments, and of
course also in removing the present lncumbents, to
make room for the friends of the new dynasty
No one can reasonably object to a moderate and
judicious exercise of the power Of making reno
walls and appointments, which the constitution vests
in the Executive department of the government.
But there ought to be a limit to the exercise OF
this power. II may be carried too far 1t may be
made the instrument of tyranny and corrup
ton. The power was wisely bestowed, in order
70 accomplish salutary purposes. 1t was designed
TO aid the Executive in the faithful, efficient, and
intelligent administration of the important affairs
of the general government. All this Is we'll known
TO the people of the country.
1t cannot be denied, however, that the abuse
Of the appointing power had become, previous
to the election of the present chief magistrate
of the United States, an evil of formidable mag
nitude. For number of years prior to that
event, u great deal of corruption had character
lied the policy of the administration in reference
to removals and appointments. Appointments to
Office had been made the reward of partisan SER
vices. Incompetent and unfaithful men were placed
in positions of trust and the public interest suffered
The public has not forgotten the many fragrant
cases of defalcation and malfeasance which natu-
rally resulted from such system. At Washington |
the departments became crowded with ignorant, |
indolent, and unprincipled individuals, who were
too lazy TO dig, and to beg were not ashamed The
public business was performed in a careless and |
soveny manner In many of the departments it |
was almost impossible to get any case attended to |
in satisfactory manner. The evil became in fact
intolerable and of the most influential motives
with thousands of voters throughout the country,
at the last election, who arranged themselves un
der the standard of General Taylor, the strong
determination TO abate this lsmentable and ruinous
abuse arising from the corrupt policy pursued with
regard 10 appointments TO office.
In his inaugural address, in the face Of heaven,
and the thousands congregated in front of the
capitol, General Taylor, with characteristic frank
ness and sincerity, announced the principles which
should regulate his policy. This important subject
of removals and appointments was not overlooked
In the brief, emphatic, expressive declaration at
the head of this article, the heroic and honest
hearted old man placed on everlasting record his
determination on this subject 1t was a voluntary
declaration. 1t was express and explicit. Nothing
could be more so. In one short, striking, trans
parent sentence, he announced that he should |
SNAKE honesty, capacity, and fidelity indspen- |
able prerequisites to the bestowal of Office" and
that "an absence Of either of those qualities |
should be deemed sufficient cause for removal" |
True 10 their natural and instructive love of candor |
and integrity in public men, the American people |
hailed this declaration with unfeigned delight. 1t
strengthened and deepened that feeling of respect
full and confdng veneration which they had re-
posed in General Taylor. In this pledge--so
frankly, so solemnly, so explicitly given, the people
recognised practical proof of that lofty integrity
which they had Justly assribed to the man whom
they had elevated to the chief magistracy Of the
republic. 1t carried their thoughts back TO the
earher and better days of the government, before
the corrupting spirit of mere craftsmanship had de-
filed the council-chamber. With that pledge,
amid the congratuation of the great masses of the
people, and followed by their prayers, General
Taylor entered the White House.
Now, the solemn inquiry occupies the minds of
men-"Have the administration been faithful TO
inns voluntary pledge OF General Taylor!" 'ITave
no appointments been made merely as the reward
OF political services, or as the means of conclat
ing party leaders and party ciiguesYo elias the
policy been pursued in reference to removals1,
The confidence of the people in the President we
have every reason TO believe, continues undated
but they will hold his cabinet advisers TO strict
account. There were other pledges given in his
inaugural address; and, hence, the people look