Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-02-15
REMOVAL OF MESSRS. HEATH AND LAW
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

FNFIMOf AL VI MfIS0hS. HEATH AND LAW
SON.
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE DELEGATES.
Tuesday, February 18Th, 1850.
The House proceeded to the execution of the Joint
ORDER and took up first the election of First Auditor
Mr.. SEGAR nominated JAMES E. HEATH the present
incumbent. His superior qualifications were so well
known as was admitted by his Democratic friends that
it was unnecessary Tor him to speak of them
MIR. LEWIS, OF Harrison, in accordance with the
wishes of many friends, nominated ROBERT JOHNSON,
Of Clarksburg, in Harrison county Mr. L. said he was
little best with phrases of eulogy Mr. johnson was
strong man, and he might add, strong man armed
And, said Mr. L. he will perform the duties of this Of
flee satisfactorily and ably.
had taken in the debate few days co. and especially
the he had urged against the principle Of retail
alton upon which alone the Democratic party sought to
Justify the purpose Of eiectiug Mr. Heath Those, said
Mr.. S., who had been prescribing for twenty years
beginning with General Jackson, whilst they were
in power, had no right to complain of Wing ad
mnistration for any extent OF removals But he pro-
posed to show that General Taylor was not to blame
for the course he had pursued. When he came into
power, he found one large class Of oficehoders, whom
twas his duty to remove, and whom he did for
VIM. ]. Brown and Genl McCala. In regard to other
removals Mr. S. undertook say, with some opportu-
mites of knowing, that they had been made either for
cause for reasons having the sanction of Thomas JET
fersons rule OF equalization. He presumed that he
succeeded in placing General Taylor the platform of
Thomas Jefferson Democrats would be the last to seek
dspace him. MIR. S. then read from Mr. Jefferson's
letter "to Elias Shpman and others, committee of the
merchants OF New Haven the following passages
Declarations by myself in favor of political tole-
rance, exhortatons to harmony and affection in
cia intercourse, and to respect for the equal rights
OF the minority have, on certain occasions been quoted
and mscontrued into that the tenure of Of
fees to be undsturbed But could candor apply
such construction? 1t is not indeed in the remon.
STRANGE that find but leads to the explanations
which that callsior When til considered that during
the late administration, those who were not of parti
cular sect Of politics excluded from all office when
by steady pursuit OF this measure, nearly the whole
offices of the United States were monopolised by that
sect; when the public sentiment at length declared ITSELF
and burst open the doors OF honor and confidence to
those whose opinions they more approved vast to be
imagined that this monopoly of office still to be
continued in the hands Of the minority? Does it vio-
late their equal rights 10 assert rights in the mao
ry also! Is it political intoleranceto claim propor-
tonate share in the direction Of the public aairs2 Can
they not harmonic in society unless they have every
thing in their own handsW
elf due participation OF office is matter of right
how are vacancies to be obtaned Those by death are
few designations none Can any other mode than that
of removal be proposed This is painful office. But
it made my duty, and meet it as such proceed in
the operation with delberaton and inquiry that may
nure the best men least, and effect the purposes of JUS
tce and public utility with the least private distress that
itmay be thrown as much as possible, delinquency
oppression, on intolerance, anti revolutionary ad
herence to our enemies.
"The remonstrance aments that change in the ad-
ministraton must produce change u the subordinate
cessary for all officers to think with their principal
But on whom does this mputation bearl On those who
have excluded from office every shade of opinion which
was theirs, those who have been so excluded?
lament sincerely that unessental differences Of opinion
should have been deemed sufficient to nerdct half
the society from the rights and the blessings OF setgo
yernment to prescribe them as unworthy of every trust
1t would have been to me circumstance OF great relief
had found moderate participation OF office in the
hands OF the majority. would gladly have left to
time and accident to raise them to their just share But
thnIrt lilo
shall correct the procedure; but that done, return with
joy to that state Of things when the only questions
corning candidate shall be, IS he hones7 Is he capa-
BILE! Is be faithful to the Constitution"
The rule here laid down by Mr. Jefferson, said Mr.
S., had been adopted by Gen. Taylor, in the admins
traton OF patronage. Much as Democratic gentlemen
equalization Yin ls4s, just before Gen Taylor came
into office, there were in the Departments at Washing
ton 7A persons in office, OF whom SOL Democrats
and 1853 were Wings, Demacra tic majority 1893.
In 1850, as he learned by information directly from the
Departments themselves, there were in office 4lp De-
mocrats and 305 Wings, leaving still Democratic ma
jority ll4 But suppose this calculation erroneous
and that the offices at Washington were now equally
divided between the two parties, in the proper
ton ofthree Wings to two Democrats, he appealed
to his DemoetG friends to know il that state OF
things would violate the rule Of equalization On the
authority ofthe Secretaries ofthe Navy and'War, Mr..
S. affirmed that there had been in those Departments
only five six removals. and those in cases absolutely
requiring it. In the Home Department at the head of
lighted to call Butcher Ewing" there were So Wings
and Sc Democrats so that Mi Ewing not SO
great Butcher" after all. In the Post Office De-
parment with some 10000 deputy postmasters there
had been only some 200 removals leaving Democrats
in nearly 1000 post offices Of the country Tor it was
we'll known that the post offices throughout the Union
had been filled almost entirely by Democrats The
rule OF equalization, said Mr. s., has therefore not yet
been reached, and it demonstrated that Gen.
Taylor's removals had not been made for mere OPT
MONS sake but in order to establish proper equalza-
ton of the public patronage between the two parties,
that patronage having heretofore been designedy
nopolized by the Democratic party.
How stood the case nearer home! Mr.. S. here stated
the politics OF the principal federal officers in Virginia,
70 Snow that large majority of them were Democrats,
"A lew removals had been made such the Collectors
at hiehmond, Petersburg, Norfolk and Tappahannock,
the Marshal OF the Eastern District; but there were
in office Dsocratic Judges and Attorneys in both OF
the Federal Districts the Postmasters at Richmond,
Fredericksburg, Norfolk and Portsmouth, &C. And he
mentioned the singular fact that the relationship at the
little town OF Smithteld, office that was perfect
sinecure, wiha salary OF about 5000 was held by the
very individual DIR. Butler with whom his Democratic
friends were about to dispace the present Treasurer
From the statement he had now presented Mr. s.
said was shown conclusvely that the very moment
the Democrats crying out prescription, large ma
iority of the federal offices in Virginia were held by
Democrats If this trpe-and he challenged con-
tadicton-t was true that in Virginia, Mr.. Jetlersons
rule OF equalization had not been reached, It did not
then lie in the months OF his Democratic friends to
plain OF Gen Taylor and to make their unfounded COM
plants the ground OF this UNJUST ne might say cruel,
move against the First Auditor Gen. Taylor had dealt
with the Democrats most meekly, most kindly With