Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-02-19
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES


The House proceeded the execution of the joint ORDER
and took up first the election OF Fret Apdi,or.
Mr. SEGAR nominated James E. Heath the present In
cumbent His superior qualifications were 90 wen KNOWN
as admitted by his Democratic friends that 1t was un
necessary for him 10 speak OF them :. ,.,..
Mr. LEWIS OF HARRISON in accordance WIN Inc
in Harrison county Mr. L. said he was little biest with SET
phrases of eulogy Mr.. johnson was strong man. and ne
perform the duties Of this office satisfactorily and ably
Mr. SEGAR recaptulated precisely the posltons ne mao
taken In the debate few days ago. and the
he had urged against principle Of retaliation upon which
eecting Mr. Heath Those said Mr. S. who had been pro-
scbing for twenty years. beginning with General Jackson
whilst they in power had right to complain OF
Wing administration for any OF removals But he
TO show that General Taylor was not TO blame Tor
found large class of ocehoders whom was his duty
remove and whom he did for their political Often
ces. Of this class such men as VIM. j. Brown and
Gen. McCalla. In regard TO other removals Mr. s. under
took say with opportunities OF Knowing that they
had been made either for cause or for having the
sanction of Thomas Jefersons rule OF equalization He
presumed that If he succeeded In placing General Taylor on
the platform of Thomas Jefferson Democrats would be the
last seek dsplace him. Mr. s. then read from Mr. JET
fesons letter ito Elias Shpman and others committee OF
the merchants Of New Haven" the following passages
Declarations by myself In favor of political tolerance,
horations to harmony and affection in social intercourse
and respect for the equal rights Of the minority have
certain occasions been quoted and msconsrued into
could candor apply such construction It's not indeed In
the remonsance that find IT. but leads 70 the expana-
tons which that calls for When it is considered that dur
ing the late administration those who were not OF parti-
cular Of politics excluded from all Offices when by
steady pursuit of this measure nearly the whole ofhces OF
The United States were monoposed by that Sect when the
public sentiment at length declared ITSELF and burst open
doo of honor and confidence TO those whose opinions they
approved was 10 be- imagined that this monopoly OF
Office still TO be continued In the hands OF tho minority
Does It violate their equal rights rights in the
majority aso7 Is political intolerance to claim proper
tonate share in the direction Of the public aasl Can
they harmonic in society unless they have every thing
in their hands}"
'If due participation of Office is of right how
are vacancies be obained Those by death few;
sgnaons none Can any other mode than that of removal
be proposed7 This is painful Office. But IT ID made my
duty and meet as SUCH proceed in the operation with
deiberaton and inquiry that it may inure the best men
least and eec, the purposes OF justice and public utility
with the least private distress; that IL may be thrown as
much as possible delinquency on OPPRESSION on ntoie-
rance. anti-revoluonary adherence to enemies
The remonsrancc lanients that change In the admin
isaton must produce change in the Subordinate officers
i'm other words that should De deemed necessary for all
officers think with their prncpa2 But whom does
this impuaon bear On those who have excluded from Of
fee every shade of opinion which theirs those
who have been so excluded lament sincerely that
essential differences of opinion should have been deen
ed sufficient interdct half the society from the rights and
che blessings of sefgovernment prescribe them as un
worthy Of every 1t would have been 10 me crcum
stance of grsaf relief had found moderate participation
Of Office In tho hands of the majority. would gladly have
le, to time and accident raise them to their just share
But their total exclusion calls for prompier corrections
shall the procedures bur that DONE return with JOY to
that of things when the only questions concerning
candidate shall be, is he honest? Is he capable! Ishe
faithful TO the Constitution"
The rule here laid down BY Mr. Jefferson. said Mr. D. had
been adopted by Gen. Taylor in the administration OF
tronage. Much Democratic gentlemen complained Of
him. he had exceeded that rule of equalization In ls4s
Departments Washington, ia persons in Office of whom
SCI Democrats and l63 Whigs Democratic
majority of $685. In 1885, as he learned BY information d.
recty from the Departments themselves there in office
4l9 Democrats and 305 Wings, leaving still Democratic
majority ia. But suppose this calculation
and that the offices Washington equally divided
between the parties in the proportion of three
Wings two Democrats he appealed 10 his Democratic
riends to know If that state Of things would violate
taes of the Navy and War Mr. S. affirmed tina, there had
been in those Departments only Ave or six removals and
men at the head Of which was the gentleman whom the
Democrats delighted cs Butcher Ewing there were 63
Wings and Sc Democrats so that Mr. Ewing was not so
great butcher" after all In the Post Office Department
with 600 deputy postmasers there had been only
some 2lO0 removals leaving Democrats 10 nearly 1900
post Offices throughout the Union had been filled smos,
tely by Democrats The rule Of equalization said Mr. S.,
has therefore, yet been reached and demonstrated
thar Gen. Tayos removals had been made for OPT
MONS sake but in order establish proper equalization of
the public patronage between the parties that patronage
having heretofore been desned monopozed by the Demo-
cratic party.
How stood the home Mr.. s. here stated tho
politics of the principal federal officers in Virginia. to show
that large majority of them Democrats few
ovas had been made such the Collectors Richmond
Petersburg Norfolk and Tppahannock the Marshal of the
Eastern Districts but there were now 10 office Democratic
Postmasters at Richmond, fredericksburg Norfolk and
Portsmouth, &C. And he mentioned the singular fact that
the colectorshp at the little Of smi'hhcd an office
that perfect snccure with salary Of about 5000 was
held By the very individual (D Butler) With whom his
Democratic friends about dspllce the present Trea
eHrer
From the statement he had now presented Mr said it
was shown concusyely that at the very moment the Demo
crats were crying prescription large majority OF the
federal offices in Virginia held by Democrats If this
rue-and he challenged conradctiont was true that
Virginia Mr. Jeersons rule Of equalization had not been
reached II did not them lie in the mouths Of his Demoera
tic friends to comoa of Gen. Taylor and TO make their
unounded complaints the ground Of this UNJUST he might
say cruel against the First Auditor General Taylor had
dealt with the Democrats meeky, most kindly With
what of pretex them could they stand up and sac
ri6cs faithful and public servant upon the alta.
of proscpon1 But said Gen. Taylor had violated
his pledges Whsn And howl Could his declarations be
construed promise tina, he would make removals
That would be simply perpetuang prescription and estab
fishing the principle that the Offices belong fec simple to
the Democratic party General Taylor had violated his
pledges but had sacedy kept them If he had retained all
the Democrats Office he would have violated his pledge TO
be President of the nation and not Of party Mr. s. con-
ssed that there had perhaps been more remnvos under @
neral TAYLOR than under preceding administrations during toe
same length Of mo But this unavoidable. He found
the Offices almost exclusively occupied BY Democrats Many
removals were indispensable; otherwise General Taylor