The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-06
WASHINGTON, d. C.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE 6, Isl
SOURCES or INFLUENCE.

The noise IL n. de al this time about
renewals from ara appointments to Office,
and the extraordinary Importance ascrbed
to the use Of the Government patronage,
indicate the deaTth OF those vitalssues which,
INVOLVING crest principles and great interests,
take hol! Of the ninds of men and enlist
them earnestly in political struggles
In the absence 81 such issues the patriotic
senslbitles become dormant, and the whole
aHayof personal claims and hopes and aspira
tons which lay at the bottom Of SO much
political zeal may be seen in full development
and under the quickening excitement Of the
mCst restless activity
II Gen, TAYLOR dlsplaces any OF the old
lhcumbents the act is regarded by the friends
and sympathsersot the elected as an invasion
ofpriyileges, violation Of pledges, ruthless
piece Of prescription; the talk is of blood, the
axe and deCapitaton the quiet atmosphere
is rent with signs, and shrieks and groans,
So when from the well filled trough an nm
willing porker IS dragged, his piercing cries
and unremltted squeals rouse the sympathies
OF his gruhting brothers; the whole stye
is il hubbub indignant shouts are pushed
iuriously against unyielding fences bristly
backs, hercey erect, run to aud fro, and
there is much turmoil.
On the other hand If the old incunibents
are not displaced there are crowds OF pro-
phe;Ic individuals who give notice at once
that the country is going to ruin, and that
the great Wing party especially, the pha-
lanx Of liberty and the BODY guard of the
constitution is upon the verge Of collapse,
looking blue already about the lips. These
worthy gentlemen care nothing ios them
selves, they will not deny, however, that
TOR the country al large, and for tee Wing
party especially, they DO ieelaa anxious con-
cern. Some friends, indeed, too partial no
doubt, have spoken of them as persons enti-
tied to something, It's nottor item to say !;
they are not disposed 70 speak Of their own
claims buff services to the party 60 for
anything, they cannot but have their own
opinions about some things as well as about
others ... ....
THERE'S not one who has no, received as
surances from high quarters upon which he
can rely, and his disappointment signalizes
one Of the most deliberate and unprincipleJ
acts Of personal treachery and political in
gratitude that ever disgraced the most cor
ruat age, He is shocked al the madness
Of politicians He never had an idea before
OF the arts and intrigues, the shameessness,
the efirontery, the brazep selfshness, the u1-
mitgated hypocrisy, which men in pursuit Of
Office are capable ot-he never had a cor
ception Of such haseness until he met with
it in Washington and full OF virtuous in
. dignation, yet with sad Rre6odines concern
ing the fate Of the Republic, he returns to
home which lie ought never to have lei Tor
such business ......@. p.
II an accurate calculation could be made
Of the number Of men in the country, apart
from applicants for office, whose political
opinions are at all influenced or whose politi-
cal course is affected by the disposalof Gov
eminent patronage, it would surprise the
applicants themselves to discover Of how lit
tie account they or their pretcnsions ale TO
the great mass Of the people.
Patronage may be used with efficiency
whenever an Administration has the force o.
measures, of principles, Of ideas, to give it
power and influence Without them, It's
little driblets from the Treasury rill sink in
the sands Of the desert, nourishing no vege-
tation. If il expects 10 acquire influence by
the use Of patronage to conciliate, to paciy,
TO win over, the idea is proof OF its own
weakness as conception, and Of the weak
ness of the administration that acts up
on il The people look to an administration
as intended to serve the country, and will
not tolerate one that thinks only Of serving
itself Baltimore american ..t