New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-06-14
Prescribing Prescription.

Prescribing Prose ripti0n.
We asked some days since, that portion Of the
Press u hich 50 pointedly condemns Gen. Tay lor's
removals Of subordinates 70 tell as hoD We, who
los,he Political Prescription and bope 70 see an
END Of IT, oueht 70 act when entrusted with power.
Suppose all who agree with us in political senti'
ment " ere turned out Of Office twenty years ego,
because Of that agreement and kept out, with rare
aud Heetng exec ptions, ever since, what onghi
we 20 do when power comes round 10 usl Shall
we keep ia those who have so long prescribed US
and glored in doing so7 Would that be proscrib-
log Prescription
The Trenton Daily Neu5 has voochssfed Us an
answer IL explains that its party does no, com
PLAN OF Prescription in the abstract bat Of the
Inconsistency and bad faith Of Gen. Taylor in re-
sorting 10 it.-That we understood before but,
whether the charge against Gen. Tsy lor be true
or fslse, it does not meet our question. We know
we'll that our opponents delight 10 Prescription,
and will practice IL whenever they have power
and i, Is in view Of that fact that We stated
our perplexity. The News farther asserts that
the Wing. also delight in Prescription, and that
~ sfirm the contrary is csnting, mendscioos &c
Bu, that charge, whether true or false, does not
meet our question.
The News proceeds:
Tn T,iJaa, says, You cannot seriously contend
that We are 10 do IL ny continuing 10 Off q those VINO
60, In by JrOsoy,DOa Here too 10 another isi'e po
sition taken for granted II IL not the fact that ALL
nor do ~ believe 0nshaT Of those removed by Gen
Taylor, got their Offices ny prescription
We cannot perceive that it il material whether
all whom the Wings ind 40 office got 10 by eject
log Wing. or not. TIE principle Of prescription
was boldly avowed at Gen. Jacksons accession
and has been acted since, just 80 far as it
was deemed expedient to do so. The News and
its party still uphold IL. justify IT, delight in it
Here is the essential fact What course does II
dictate 10 usl Doubtless Gen. Tay lOr will leave
many opponents in office, but will that prove
anything We are seeking for the principle on
which practice we deem erroneous shall be re-
sisted and sbated. We believe Mr.. Polk left no
Wing in an ,ffice that a competent Loco Foco
saw fit 20 ask for W. trust Gen Taylor will stop
great way short Of this point. Thus far we
believe very large majority OF the desirable
posts are held by his opponents But the News
proceeds
1--WE do seriously contend that the only proper
way to miugates the wrong OF prescription II there be
any such wrong, Is by continuing ia Office OF m
cumbents until ne eIpirof0p ot her terms We VIII ex
cept Cabinet officers and Foreign Ministers for obvious
But, with these exceptions It would be bet
ter generally on the incoming OF Administrator
10 let the terms Of the different officers expire they
oil do with lev exceptions, every four years No man
could Justly complain then OF President who applied
u his case the Democratic pnucipe oil rotation IN
office
Toe News has something TO say Of groundless
assumptions will it not reconsider it's assertion
that 1.-THE terms OF the different oth ,er exp ire
with few exceptions, every four years p We
al a yttk no Roc hint VIZ
feel very confident that the term Of but very
small proportion of the Federal Officers is thus
limited We much doubt tina, there thou
sand four-year places under the Government. or
the twenty thousand Postmasters far les. than
thousand are appointed for four years the i'm
mense msjority hold during pleasure of the Post
msster General. OF the large array OF Revenue
Officers only the chiefs are appointed for four
years; the residue hold during pleasure of the
Secretary Of the Treasury. The Auditors Clerks,
&c. In the Departments at Washington in like
manner hold I'LL all is blue unless turned out
What becomes. then of the News suggestion
But again We want to know whether the new
rule is to work both ways or only one. II the !
News holds that there should never have been
removal OF an officer during the term for which he
had been appointed except for oficial or personsl
misconduct, we agree 10 that. We will agree to
anything it may say against the original soerra-
ton. But here are jelly lot Ia office who got IN
BY pitching neck and heels better men who had
not halt served out their regular terms is 1t fair
TO keep these In their full terms Nay rH their
friends ,ecipyocotel Be frank with us, will yoa
We will endeavor to illustrate the case with
entire fairness Take the Revenue service at this
h.fn rka
President found a Collector in Office here who had
been his warm opponent portion OF Mr. Ad- |
ams's supporters asked for new Collector. The |
President utterly refused TO remove the Collector
or any other faithful officer on political grounds, and
stood by his resolution. But, the moment Gen. /
jackson was insugurated, he removed the Colec
tor and appointed his friend sam Swsrtwout.-
And so elsewhere. There was no waiting for |
terms TO expire but March " was the word, and !
they went.
At length Gen. Taylor comes in. He found the /
principal offices filed by MIR Polk with men who
had years vet OF their terms xpired-the Naval
Oaicer was andy warm in his chair Suppose Gen.
Taylor had let him stay in I'LL his term expred--s
month or two before the Generals own had
then sppointed blsmeless Wing and suppose
President Of the opposite party were then TO be
inaugursted-rN the Ncaos assure rs that he
Wing sueeessor roHid Be aiIored 10 seyts oHt his
fosr seo's Hsder Loco Foco PresiGesi Let Us
understand.
: IL would be better says the News, TO let in
cumoents serve out their terms So we think.
But the Presidents Of It's party have not done
better but worse, snd. as they commenced the
game without provocaIion. we demand some
guaranty that they have repensed and are now
ready 10 desst from it, If the Wings will Who
Is prepared to give Us any
THs ELScrIoN II tina iNiH DUsrRicr OF MAS
sAcHusxrrs-The BosioE Ai.as has returns from 81
towns, which give Thompson sSSs, Palfrey 24l4 Rob
inson lll9 In these towns there Is majority agans,
Mr. Pslfrey Of 2lT AT the March trisl the majority
against him 2l His relative gain therefore IS 81
He lacked about 500 OF election in March and
sin about 4oo in the six towns 10 ne heard