The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-22

We have no authority for stating what the course OF
the new administration will be towards those who hold
office under the federal government But the course OF
the wing party generally manifests strong desire to
have General Taylor fasify his declaration that " he
had no friends to reward, and enemies to punish and
that he would be the President not of party, but of
the whole country" General Taylor may yield to the
pressure upon him but in doing. he must surrender
his position and reract his deliberate declarations made
before the people, and to the country In order induce
him to do this, the wing papers holding up the APP
pontmens and removals under the late administration,
in ode to justify prescription under the of realia-
ton Some even give lists of those who removed in
the different departments. We have not had an oppor
tuay Of inquirng into all the alleged of proscrp
tion but have been able to inform ourselves of the
cases charged against the late head OF the State De-
parment In that behalf say that Mr. Buchanan,
during the whole period of his service as Secretary
of State, removed only two persons for political
sons and those removals were made in such manner
that the officers removed have been from that day to
this his firm and steadast friends. He did not
Mr. Cralle That gentleman resigned because he thought
that the Secretary of State should be left perfectly free
in the selection of his chief clerk. Nor did MIR. Blu
chanan remove Mr.. Ellsworth, the former Commissioner
of Patents. That gentleman, of his own free will,
signed his Office, and it conferred on the Hon. Ed
und Burke. who has faithfully and ably discharged its
duties. But he, too, has been charged with prescription
and the following statement will show the injustice of
the charge Charles W. Keller, who is represented as
of his victims, was not removed. He declined his
Office because he thought that he could better promote his
interests by acting as patent agent. The Rev. Mr.
Smith was not removed, but was transferred to an
other desk, and has, with the exception OF one year.
received about the compensation which he re-
ceivcd under MIR. Ellsworth; and he is now in the
employment of the Patent Office. w. w. Cranch
a temporary clerk, employed in copying, for
stated compensation. This business is given from
time to time to any person whom the Commissioner
OF Patents may select He has employed as many fifty
PERSONS male and female, in copying during the last four
years. John Ellis was displaced by arrangement
OF the watchmen and their duties, James H. Titcomb
we understand was placed in the Patent Office under Mr.
Websers administration by the removal of democrat
He has been removed while Thomas Donovan one of
the principal examiners, also removed while Mr.
Webster was Secretary of State and Daniel Page APP
pointed in his place. This gentleman is still in the enjoy
ment of his office But to finish this matter, state
upon the very best authority. that since the present
Commissioner of Patents entered upon his dutes there
has been but removal from the scientific desks of the
Patent Office; and in that the person removed
democrat.
AS another evidence of the bunders which have been
made by these collectors of removals. they speak of the
change in the Navy Department by the first Secretary Mr.
Bancroft, when every knows that the clerk who
removed of the saunches democrats in Virginia
AS 10 Judge Mason, he must be bold who charges
aim with proscrptive spirit.
We have stated thus much in defence OF the course
pursued by the late Secretary of State and those under
his authorty and the statement precludes the
cessty of any argument The facts relative to this
branch of the pablo service may be taken sample
Of the conduct of all the heads of departments during
Mr. Folks administration. MIR. Folks administration
not proscrptive; and if General Taylor chooses to
asify his pledges he avail himself of the plea
that has been offered by his friends and followers, for it
is untrue in point of fact