Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-02-14
PRESCRIPTION IN THE STATE OFFICES

PRESCRIPTION IN THE STATE OFFICES.
The sum and substance Of the Democratic excuse Tor
the removal Of Messrs Heath and Lawson, IS concise
ly stated in two sentences, by yesterdays Enquirer:
"Was it fair TASK the edors9 that in State so ul-
wa, erinply Democratic as Virginia, the Democratic
party should have been excluded from all but one ONCE
in the Capitol Moreover, as we have often said II
wasmanly the reckless prescription OF the Taylor Re
gency that at last aroused the Democracy and MADE
them change their policy OF il-requited cemency and
| generosity"
II Mr.. Heath and Mr.. Lawson had been elected be-
cause they Wings then the plea OF fairness might
have had some force But it is well known that Mr.
Heath was made Auditor. thirty years ago, before the
present parties were formed and when he was men,
Der of the Republican party, to the principles OF which
he still understands himself to adhere. Mr. Lawson
was chosen Treasurer for the reason that he
pabe clerk in the Treasury office, and without any re-
gard TO his political opinions Neither Mr. Brown.
the I'd Auditor nor Gen. Richardson, the Secretary OF
State, elected for any political consideration. Mr..
Parker, the Register OF the Land Office we need not
say, is warm Democrat.
is undenabe, therefore, that it did not result from
any party policy of the Wings that there were four Wing
officers in the Capitol and only Democrat. Hence
it cannot be pretended that the Democratic majority
acted upon the principle adopted by Mr. Jefferson in re-
moving large number of the Federalists, whom he
found monopolizing the Offices of the Federal Govern
ment when he became President of the United States
His doctrine was by the rule Of equaisation to Cor
rect the procedure' by which, as he affirmed, Fede-
raiss alone had been appointed to Office under his pre-
deceysors administration. But in these State offices,
there had been no such procedure to complain Of
There had been no effort the part OF the Wing party
control the State patronage for political purposes
The offices had been justly regarded by both parties as
III t..,1 -an,ty, -, tnu
officer was the only qualification required of him.
There being then of political complaint in the
circumstance that four OF the officers in the Capitol hap
pened to be Wings the claim of the Democratic party
to fair participation in the patronage of their offices
resolves itself into naked assertion OF the principle that
the offices in question to be regarded as political
boons and political engines.
From this doctrine, for the first time introduced
into our State legislation, we believe that the people OF
Virginia will with general voice dissent tits adepar-
ture from the principle of action upon which the DISPOSE
ton of State Offices has been always heretofore regua-
ted. That principle was, as was we'll stated by Mr.
Rives the Senate, retain in office every officer who
has performed his duties faithfully and satisfactorily and
who preserves his capacity to perform them We agree
entirely with that Senator that in of vacancy or
removal for cause. the party having the majority in the
Legislature might very properly make the new selection
from among the members of that party in order to pre-
vent majority of the officers being attached to the adj
verse party But, where officer elected without re-
ference to party has like Mr. Heath, been in office for
long series of years. and has gained experience OF
great value the State is nothing but the most obec
onabe torn of prescription for opinions sake to eject
him.
Moreover, if the Democratic majority, one winter,
deem important, OF party policy, to put
Democrats in two of the Offices may not the same mo-
tive impe them with equal justification, hereafter to put
Democrats in all2 Mr. Isbell declared, in the Senate,
that Messrs. Brown and Richardson were lett as mo
numents of Democratic clenency?" The OF that
term proves as Mr. Stanard justly argued that the doc
rne now introduced reaches the full extent OF denying
to nearly onehaf the people of the State the right to
hold any office of trust honour emolument, long
as the Democratic party may have sway.
AS to the other alleged, viz that these re-
movas were measures OF retaliation upon Gen. lay
ors administration cannot believe that will satls
fly the mind of any intelligent man, who would other
wise have dsapproved Of the new policy. HGeneral
Taylor has done wrong the remedy lies in the federal
elective franchise To retaiate through faithful State
officers for assumed injustice done by the federal
cabinet is as incongruous and absurd as it would
be in Democratic Legislature TO impose heavier
direct tax upon the people of Virginia, because
Congress might have enacted protective tariff But
Mr.. Segar, in the House, and Mr.. Stanard, in
the Senate, demonstrated rumphantly by facts obtained
from the Departments themselves, that Gen. Tayors
administration has thus tas fallen very far short OF Mr.
Jeersons rule of equalization; and this is especially
the case in Virginia. By singular and significant CO.
incidence the gentleman fallen upon by the Democratic
majority, to supplant Mr. Lawson is himself, at this
moments living witness OF Cen Tayors iberality-
Dr. Butler the new Treasurer holds the sinecure Office
Of collector at the port of Smitbfed with salary of
some $500 year
AS far as the Wing party isaconcerneed, we are far
from regretting the removal Il MIR. Heath and Mr..
Lawson. We believe that Mr.. Rives spoke with true
sagacty when he predicted in the Senate that the pro-
scrptive policy begun would result in loss OF pow
er to the Democratic party For fully concur in his
proposition which he sustained by many remark
able facts in our political history, that patronage Injuries
anu party that exercises it, The result of Tuesday not
only gives the Wings that Senator said the adyan-
age of the attack but it gives them the advantage OF
having to oppose the Democratic party, for espousing
State policy heretofore condemned and still dstasteiu
| to large majority Of the people.
LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY
The House of Delegates yesterday passed the follow
ing bills: To provide for the construction OF the Hut
louisville and Huntersville road; to incorporate the
Ravenswood and Reedy Creek Turnpike Company !;
making appropriations for the removal OF free persons OF
colour from the commonwealth to amend the act en-