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

OF observing them feIiglously, One would
suppose, to read their homiles upon this
subject, that Democrats are perfect saints
in this respect, that no sin against pledges
lieth at their door. Unfortunately for the
country, their practice teaches the very con-
trary. Democrats, from the very nature Of
their creed and political objects, are ha-
bitual vow-breakers. The whole constitu-
ton Of their profession Of faith, is at ennity
with their practice. They say one thing
and DO another. They seldom keep po-
litical promise. They make pledges TO
break them. They talk loudly Of their pu-
rity and execute corruption. They boast
Of equal rights to all, and con6ne them
to the favored few. They thrust them
selves forward as the defenders Of the good
people, but prey upon their substance all the
while. They pretend 10 watch over the
interests of the country, but mean all the
while the interests Of party. They assume
to possess all the craftsmanship and wisdom
Of the age, but their craftsmanship and wis
dom are low cunning and brazen ignorance.
They affect not TO prescribe men for their
opinor,'s sake, while they punish every man
who does not consort with them in their po-
itcal designs and purposes. They go
about preaching against political vices,
while they are sepulchres within. The
whole existence Of the Democratic party
is deception. The body itself has two
faces. Ii is double-minded. II requires
men to worship truth and untruth at the
same time. II isa system Of pledge-break-
ing from beginning TO end And yet it has
the elfrontery to charge upon Wings VIOLA
ton Of pledges, to charge upon General
TAYLOR that vice, for which Democrats are
so notorious, that their whole political exis-
tence is one continued stream of pledges
made and pledges broken.
When asked, what pledges has General
TAYLOR broken, they point to his Inaugural,
his letters, which declare, that competency,
honesty and faithiulness to duty, are the ele-
ments Of qualification, which he shall insist
upon in public officer OF in an applicant
for Office, and they then aver, that he has
this declaration by removing Demo-
Gratis, who possess all these qualifications, to
make room for Wings who possess the same.
This is the most favorable statement Of the
objection, Of the accusation favorable, we
mean, to the directors, the accusers. There
are those, it is true, who assert boldly, that
the new appointees are not so well qualified
as those who preceded them. Now, how are
we to know, that the removed parties possess
all, that it is averred they possess 4 What
proofs offered, to sustain the allegation, that
such is the character of those removed
Where is the court, before whom the case
IAN be heard Who is the Judge in the
PREMISES These are important queries, and
hey must be answered, before we can ad-
mt the allegation of the Democrats, that the
'emoved parties have all the qualifications
,scribed to them. It will not do to saw,
hat the people are the Judges in this bust
less Of removing and appointing men from
md to place. That the people are the Judges
whether the appointee comes up to the STAN
ard by which he was selected, or whether
ne oifice-halder retained, is qualified accord
lg TO the terms Of the standard set up, we
heerfuly admit; and if they are not salts
ed, we further admit, they have the power
punish the appointing power by withhold
'g from It their sufrages in approval of its
cts. But the Constitution and the laws
onier upon the appointing power the
'ie right to Judge in the premises.
seither the press, nor any individual has
right 10 intervene before the selection is
ade. II is doubtless the duty OF every
tizen, of the press too, to enlighten the
pPolnting power, if il is within his or It's
to do so, pending delberation upon
'talnng or dis. placing or appointing pub
oihcer, and This right, this duty is exer-
sed constantly by the friends Of the APP
'ln'lng power, and sometimes by its OPP
'nents But after all that can be said and
'ne IN the premises, the responsibility
the choice rests with Che appointing pow
!; When, therefore, Gen. TAYLOR exc
ties the doctrine Of his In augural, in rela-
On to appointments, with what justice can
" man or any press assert that he has vio-
ted his pledges, because in the execution
that doctrine, Democrat falls, and Wing
'es, a Democrat is displaced and Wing
substituted 7 With no justice whatever
N any ouch assertion be pade. Is the APP