The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-22
WhiU Prescription,

discussion of other principles than those which are
actually involved This is old trick. We have-we
hope may say without giving oence-been engaged
in too many discussions with men at least able as
those who conduct the Iniellgencer TO be enapped by
this stale device. AS Mr.. Webster said under an Oco
Der in Richmond, mot green enough for that
The real matter of public relates TO the princi
Piles which General Taylor intends TO administer the
government during his term OF service. The remarks
that General Taylor reported TO have made in reply to
the delegation OF the independents OF the city and
county of Philadelphia, after his Inauguration, in
dictate that he intends. in making appointments to divide
the patronage OF the government among the different
divisions OF his supporters according to their numbers
well as he ascertain Them We denounced this
doctrine, al the me the worst and the democrat
izng species of prescription which has been prac-
tised in this any other government for it makes
personal service not 10 principles but TO man. the test
OF merit and it unblushingy the offices of the gov
eminent the rewards not of partisan exertons,
but of exertions made to elevate particular individual
to the highest office in the republic We do not know
whether the words Of General Taylor correctly
ported the occasion TO which we alude They were
reported by OF his friends, and although called
attention 10 them at the time, neither OF the wing organs
in this city denied the accuracy Of the statements
which were attributed to him. Since that time we
have seen the political gulotine in active opera
ticn, and its bloody work justified by the whig
press One organ of the administration has assert
ed that it could be expected the President would
regard democrat fit person to hold Office under his
administration The other organ has asserted. that sheer
justice would require that nearly all the Offices OF the
government should be filled with wings for the next
ia fhod trim nofn
ton 10 its uttemost length. whilst contend that Gen.
Taylor solemnly pledged himself to the people of the
United States that he would sanction such system OF
rewards and punishmens" 1t matters not whether the
system be defensble or ndeensibe; he has nothing to
do with that question His word has been given, and
many of the people believed that it would be carried
out Many members of the democratic party confded
in his promises and in this confidence they gave him
their votes Now, it is pretended that when he
his many letters intended for the public eye and when
he delivered his inaugural Address, he did not intend to
give to his words the plain import Of which, only they
are susceptible.
We say this preience set up because can never be
truly said that cruel and remorseless prescription is
consistent with the pledges which he gave to the people
How could such be consistent with the pledge
that he had friends reward and no enemies to pun
fidelity in dispensing the patronage of the government.
How those declarations have affixed to them a
meaning which is utterly and entirely different from
the which General Taylor knew attached to
them at the time they were employed' We said in
paper of yesterday, that could and would not
believe, without further evidence that General Taylor
would condescend to throw himself upon a paltry and
shallow bubble. We added, that we have too much
for >oC
who he may be-to believe him capable of such unmi
gated equivocaon and that did not believe possible
for General Taylor stoop such miserable chcanery
The truth is, Gen. Taylor was voted for by the people
and elected to the presidency who would not lend
himself TO party schemes, and would prescribe any
account of his political views II he disappoints
the expectations of the people, based they were upon
his direct and positive assurances many times re-
peaed contend with all due respect, that he has yo
lated his pledges and his promises.
Of what consequence is that former Presidents NAV
have pursued different pocy' Gen Taylor has moth
ing to do with that He voluntarily prescribed the prin
cipes which would guide him. if elected and by these
declarations obtained the confidence OF the people,
and their suffragss at the baIlotbox We contend
of course, that he is bound, in honor to follow
the line which he has himself marked cut But
when General Taylor reached Washington he found the
almost blocked up with wing office. seekers and
he heard every moment wing patriotism camorng for its
reward and eager to the public by fastening itself
upon the public treasury party cabinet was gathered
together and placed at the head OF the departments OF the
government Immediately the heads OF the victims began
to fall, and the vacancies which were made were filled
not by "noparty men, not by those who were simply
honest, capable, and faithful but by those who had dis
tngushed themselves in the service of the wing party
The wing press justified not only the removals which
were made, but those which might be made; and they
justified prescription in its broadcast sense by charging
that General Jackson and Mr.. Polk were proscrip
tive, and that the wing party had been for twenty
years prescribed race Had this charge been true.
it would not have mtigated much less have ex
cused General Taylor Every person at all conver<ant
with political history knowshe editors and the SCRIBE
of the National ntellgencer TO the contrary no,wi,h
standing-tha General Jackson supported and elect
ed party leader. and the people in electng him pro-
nounced in favor of the principles OF that party We
repeat that che had excuse therefore, for dis
pensng the patronage of the government to give the
weight of official influence in support OF the principles
which the people had sustained in his election" That
excuse may be found in almost every whg paper since
the fourth OF March, and urged in justification OF
much more sweeping prescription than would be neces-