The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-08-25

the plea that their object was 10 equaze the position
was derogatory 10 the preensons and character of men
claiming 10 be statesmen. IL theee matters worthy
OF such profound regard, II would have been well
for them to have laid before the country the results OF
their investigation and acon-the number OF clerks and
messengers, collectors, surveyors, officers OF customs,
Postmaslers registers and receivers keepers OF light
or the other ascertanel by governmental inquiry,
espionage and all those immense difficulties that "beset
the path o. me see1sas sa aha as
and Executive counsellors Had the President and those
politicians who conspred TO perpetaie fraud upon the
country honestly avowed that If intrusted with power
they should make use OF il 10 reward friends and puaish
enemies; that the administration should be not a"Tay
lor republican" but ultra wing administration there
could have been charge OF dlsslmulaon deception,
and broken faith preferred against them But in the year
ls4s General Taylor had made representations and prom
Uses that had caused thousands TO believe that he would
tolerate differences and prescribe none, Mr.. Cnttenden,
the chief conspiraor against Mr. Clay, and TO whom
than 10 any other man General Taylor was lndebt
ed for his election, had declared he hated, loithed
prescription" Mr. Clayton had uniformly held similar
language respecting the great Taylor republican party
Even il they had not made promises themselves or II
others in the cabinet or OF the wing party had not they
owed TO their character men and public officers, they
owed the country they owed to truth, 10 hold the
President to the promises which ne had made to his
counymen. II the cabinet. insensble to the obligations
of truth advised acquiesced in the prostitution OF all
sincerity the part OF the Chief Magistrate, where was
the indignant remonstrance and condemnation OF John
Crttenden and others OF that party In matter OF such
President, silence itself was not to be excused.
-Four months OF the administration had not expired
when stated that over three thousand public ocers
had been changed; among them men OF distinguished
patriotism, oil the purest morals, OF uninpeachable nteg-
r,y, of eminent abilities, and capacity TO adorn any sta.
ton While some among those who were rewarded
with the places IRON whicn these officers elected
undoubtedly possessed OF requisite qualifications,
very large proportion were destitute OF the experience
which is always valuable to the country Many were
incompetent others had manifested want OF patriotism,
and with scarcely an exception they had all been violent
partisan electloneerers.
In the dispensaton OF patronage, the administration
had not the pecunary make direct advances
like Wapoe and the profgate ministry that governed
British politics in the days OF their most corrupt rulers
the disposition evidently not wanting TO indulge IN
the same RIGHTEOUSNESS. of MIR. Crttenden,
known to the country, destitute OF commercial knowl
edge he of public character, was appointed con-
sui Liverpool, the most valuable office in pecuniary
point OF view in the gift of the administration son OF
United States at Portugal Senator John Davis had son
destitute OF public reputation, who made Secretary
OF the British legation brother-in.law OF Senator
Webster was made navy agent at New York. Two
sonsn.law OF Senator Benton were offered import
ant appointments. The son-n-law OF Mr.. Calhoun
was confirmed and continued al Belgium. A nephew
OF Senator Truman Smith was made one OF the
judges OF Minnesota. A nephew and adopted son OF
Secretary Clayton was made purser OF the Wash.
ngton navy yard The Ewings and their relatives, TO
remote degrees OF consaDguinlty were made the recp
tents OF government iavos Without pursuing the dis.
gushing catalogue of governmental prostitution which
filled the departments and extended down 10 the customs
and the post office, inexcusabe and unparalleled the
country beheld with establishment the strange uflment
of those pledges OF the President that he had friends
TO reward and their blasted antcpahons OF pure and
honest administration.
Ii was in many respects unfortunate that the admins
traton should at this period have been centous and
progate in its abuse OF patronage, well IN lis dsre
gard OF It's moral position. There had been long
tnued political aspertes, originating in great degree in
the aspersions and calumnies Of the wings themselves
which had prevented opposing parties from doing IN all
instances, full justice to individuals TWAS in the power
professions and promises, to have Modified apd soened
these aspertes III the spirit OF partisan bitterness had
been carried to extreme lengths, that good could
be discovered or allowed by many IN an opponent
on either sde the wings themselves had ehgender-
ed il by long, often causeless and indiscriminate
hostility against every democratic man or measure.
These gratuous ISLANDERS and groundess complaints had
produced some effect upon the country, and those who
listened to them had from honest motives but mistaken
corrective, turned their attention and given their support
TO General Taylor. de was not politician; he was
unconnected with party; he pledged the word of SOL
der, that he would know party in administering the
government; that he would not reward or punish for
differences Should he administer the government
the principles avowcd and understood before the election
IL would terminate these long, loud and vehement com.
plants which had been made during period OF years
against successive brilliant and prosperous admnisra
tons. How these expectations VERIFIED the first
half year OF President Tayors administration has proved
Instead OF aaying, il stimulated the aspenes OF party,
and gave cause for removing more persons from Office in
those six months than had been removed during
any twenty years when the government had been in
democratic hands Had General Taylor been an able or
honest man. he could not have been guilty OF this
monstrous wrong, nor would he have permitted it, How
different the conduct and feelings OF General Taylor
from those OF the First Washington: al was no party
man myself, (writes that distinguished man and the first
wish OF my heart was parties did exist, 10 reconcile
them Let the practice OF the counterfeit preseniment
show how little the Second Washington initiates the ex
ample OF the First
As regarded the wings, there had been little for
discomfort and murmurng; their complaints were little
else than caumnes That there were occasional errors
and mistakes committed, cannot be doubted. Attributes
other than human must have been theirs, to have
made all the transactions OF democratic administrations
perfect and without blemish Blu, the vast amount Of
good accomplished by those illustrous which had
given character and fame 10 the country and prosperity
and happiness TO the people, received commentator
iron the opposite party The incident TO human
nature and TO faible Judgment were magnifed and
pihed, and vruous men and actions DETAINED and ira
duced by the cabinet OF Cen Taylor Like the rebel.
lous son, they had promised what they would do il
clothed with power, and they commenced by pungng
once into the commission OF those enomes which they
bad causelessy charged upon the democrats and making
the which had been exceptions in those admins.
trations the basis and rule OF conduct for this.
Twenty years, Mr. Clayton svowed the democrats had
been IN power and in that long period constituting
generation, appeared that majority OF the public Off
had finally passed nts the hands OF that party Gen
Taylor and his cabinet could wait for time TO accom-
psh lis changes and permit the world tn see whether
the expiration Of twenty years majority Of the places
would be adverse TO the wings, could they long retain
the power; but in violation of their promises and in the
teeth Of their long complaints they has,ened to
overturn what had taken twenty years in their oppo.
| nents 10 coDsummate.
Many Of these were term officers, commissioned
Tor four years In removing such, the spirit OF the law
as well justice dlsreganled and involved an adj
donal breach OF faith the part OF the administration
similar violation OF contract in bis individual capa.