The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-08-21
The Opposition condemned by their own
pretended Standards.

The Opposition condemned by their own
pretended Standards.
A short time since we took occasion to
show how completely the policy Of the
Administration in regard to removals from
office was justified both by the precept
and the example of Mr.. JEFFERSON; and
how closely the course of the Opposition
of 1S49 resembled that of the Federalists
of 1901.
We deemed it well thus to prove that
General TAYLOR had been true, thus far,
to his declaration, that he would return to
the example of the "earlier Presidents;"
and did hope to satisfy the fair and candid
of the Opposition by adducing, from one
of their most revered standards, authority
so clearly and palpably in point. Having
entered upon the subject, it may be well
to pursue it little farther.
Mr.. JEFFERsoN's administration is the
only one of the earlier ones with which
General 'TAYLoR's can well be compared
in respect of removals from office. WASH
INGToN, having to start the Government,
had the filling of all the offices; and, in his
| day, there were no parties to contend for
them. Mr.. ADAMS retained for the most
part those whom he found in office; in the
fer changes which he made, it was very
natural that he should have inclined to his
own political friends, and it may be adj
mtted that most of the new office-hold-
ers took sides with his administration.
Still, it is manifest that when Mr.. JET
PERSON came into power, very large
majority of the incumbents of office had
been appointed, withOut any kind Of regard
to parties, by the best and greatest of men,
an incompatible Judge of men, and inca
pable of being influenced by any motive
but desire to promote the public service.
He, too, had made his selections with
great care, when the destiny of his be-
loved country had been again confded to
him-more implicitly, perhaps, than when
he was placed at the head of her armies.
Save the te1o, then, appointed by Mr..
ADAMS, Mr.. JEFFERSON had to operate
upon the tried and chosen recipients of
the favor, confidence, and regard of the
"Father Of his Country" and it was
for such as these that, for the most part,
his principles Of removal already present
ed to our readers were laid down.
Were the incumbents, upon whom Gen
eral TAYLOR has to operate, appointed by
WASHINGTON, without regard TO party9
Were they the former unproscribed ten
ants of officer or were they appointees for
the very sake Of party If JEFFERSON
may evict those whom Washington APP
pointed without any possible regard to
party, how much rather shall General
TAYLOR remove upon the same and sounder
principles those whom JACKSON, VAN BU-
Rem, or Polk, placed in Office from the
narrowest and most proscrptive party pur-
/ poses'
! But with all Mr. JEFFERsoN's tolerance
/ and fOrbcarance, he was restrained, in a
great measure, only by expediency, and
felt well the popular pulse at each stage
Of the new discipline Of removals.
/ In his letter to Colonel MONROE, March
/ 7, 1901, he says: '"They (deprivations Of
office must be done gradually and be-
slowed on some malversation or inherent
disqualification; and even then
we shall proceed, perhaps, a tatons, bal
/ anclng our measures according to the i'm
preston we perceive them to make. "
But he could hardly resist the fiery impet-
uosity Of the expectant Republicans; for he
says, TO Mr.. LINCOLN, that his determine
ton to proceed with deliberation "pro-
duced impotence in the Republicans, and
a belief that we meant to do nothing.
Some occasion of public explanation was
eagerly desired, when the New Haven re-
monstrance against the removal of Col
lector GooDRIcH) offered US that occa-
sion"
! II has been said that General TAYLOR