Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-06-13
THE REPORTER.
row A CITY:
WEDNESDAY,:::::::::::::JUNE 10, ls49.
The Difference between Demo-
cratic and Wing Prescription.

| SssAshS anu W hsS aIOSCHIPSaOns
/ While devoted democratic heads are
falling from their owners shoulders on
every hand, it may not be amiss for the
1 people to note the wide difference be-
tween the proscriptive policy as practised
formerly by an open and aboye-board ad-
ministration, coming into power with no
/ pledges to the contrary, and as now ruth
lessly enforced BY the no-party admins
. tration which obtained power in conse-
quence of its pledges to do away with this
proscriptive policy, then so bitterly de-
nounced by them. We have always held
to this doctrine, (and we are free to own
that the democratic party have, as gene
raj thing, practised upon it, that where
an administration comes into power pleGg-
ed to carry out certain system of gov
ornamental policy, it should, in order to
ensure success, have the assistance of
subordinate agents who are favorbly dis
posed towards the policy which they are
expected to assist in carrying into practi-
cal effect. But this doctrine does not in
any way apply to the proscriptive policy
OF the Taylor dynasty. The administra-
ton now in power by virtue of the votes
Of less than majority of the American
people, was pledged to no particular line
Of governmental policy; consequently the
necessities of the administration did not
require that uniformity among its agents,
which it might otherwise have demanded.
Nay, more than this; even if its necessi-
ties had so demanded, its pledges, volun-
tarily given by its chief and reiterated
time and again by his satellites, forever
cut the new administration off from honor
ably pursuing proscriptive policy. Thus
we see that there is wide difference in
the comparative justice Of the proscriptive
policy as practised by the present and the
preceding administrations. Therefore the
plea which the wings set up for their JUS
LITIGATION, TO the effect that they are only
doing what the democrats have done be-
fore them, falls to the ground at once
They are entitled to none of its benefits.
Thus much in relation to the principle;
let us add word relative to the compa-
rative virulence and bitterness with which
this no-party party of anti-pros criptionists
have practised prescription, as compared
with their predecessors in the administra-
ton Of our government. We have before
copied into our columns the documentary
evidence to prove that large portion of
the more lucrative berths in the public
service at Washington, were held on the
fourth oil March last, and have been for
years, by wings. The same was the case
at many other important points In fact,
to say nothing of minor stations, some of
the most important positions under the
late democratic administrations have been
held by its bitterest enemies. This was
the case with the two most important COM
mands at the head of operations in the late
Mexican war. We do not wish to Grim
son the cheeks Of conscientious, anti pro-
scriptive wings, by directing public at
fa, 70 e
applying the executionel's axe so ruth
lessly, and especially to helpless widows
and even to some of his own infrm SOL
diers who happened to differ with him in
political belief, after having Sc long enjoy
ed the rich emoluments Of exemption for
himself. All we wish to do is to Greet
public attention to the marked difference
in the proscriptiee policy Of the democrat
lc and wing administrations. A case in
point, in addition to those to which we
have heretofore alluded, and one among
hundreds of others occurring daily, is the
following which we copy from the Hair
risburgh Union:
| "NHo Cries PRoscR1pT1oN.-W per-
ceive that DR.. Lennon, the popular and
efficient Postmaster of Philadelphia, has
been removal and his chief clerk, Mr..
White, appointed in his place. We do
not know what Mr.. Whites politics are,
but he has managed to retain his place
under all administrations. Under Hoyt
he was Tyler man, under Montgomery
wing, and under Lehaman protesting
democrat. During DR.. Lehman's admin
istratlons, strenuous efforts were made to
remove this chief clerk on the ground that
he was wing, and that there were sew
eral active democrats who could equally
we'll perform his duties and supply his
place who were in want of it. He was
represented to be an intelligent and faith
full officer and deserving citizen with a
family dependent upon him for support.
So oil his brother, who was also a clerk in
the Office. For these considerations, DR..
Lehman resisted all applications and re-