Southern shield., 1850-07-06


 i'll the best of style and at reasonable prices. deduces the conclusion that all officers re- moved from the fourth of March must be regarded as stignatized for the want of either honesty, capacity, or fideity-a con- clusion which would equally follow from the language of General Jackson and Mr. Polk in their respective addresses. But this is all mistake, which will prove by pro- ducing here an extract from Gen.Jeckson's first annual message to Congress, as follows:
 "There are, perhaps, few men~n ho can, f1s any great length of 'seae. eNioy office and power without being 'soIe or less under lho influence of feelings Snfayorable to a faithful discharge of their public duties. Their integrity may be proof against i'm proper considerations immediately address, ed 10 themselves; but they are apt to acquire habit of looking with indifference upon the public interests, and of tolerating con- duct from which an unpractised man would revolt. Office is considered species of property, and Government rather as a means of promoting individual interests than as an instrument created solely for the service of the people. Corruption in some, and in others perversion of correct feel ings and principles, divert Government from it's legitimate ends, and make it an engine for the support of the few at the expense of the many"
 am almost provoked at myself for not adverting to this authority earlier; it would have saved a world of trouble. What corrupting, hardening effect long office holding has, according to Gen. Jackson, on the minds and morals of men Why, the Democracy have been in possession of nearly all the places under the Government since the 4th March, 1899. President Taylor should have turned most if not all of them out long ago on presumption. The idea of the honorable Senator that the dis missed have gone out on papers or ibels, as he would have us believe, is all imagination or moonshine. It is true President Taylor says "the want of honesty, capacity, or fidelity, shall be deemed sufficient cause for removaI;" but General Jackson tells him he may infer this from long enjoyment of office; that in such cases, if the integrity of in cumbents ''be proof against improper con- alterations immediately addles to them selves," he may at least infer that they look "with indifference on the public interest,"" and tolerate ''conduct from which an un- oractised mind would revolt" Removals lnder such circumstances do not attack the rectitude of particular individuals only carry out general principle. The honorable member calls for confession by some friend of the President; and if we make it in the form and to the extent he is pleased to indicate, he graciously says he will not press his resolution. Though not authorized, will confess that the President wanted "unpractised minds'' in the Govern ment; hence some changes. He thought he might prescribe prescription, by letting in his own friends to fair share of the offices. It did not occur to him that he succeeded as mere administrator de 6omiS non to Jack sen, Van Buren, Tyler, and Polk. If he had "no enemies to punish, and no friends to reward" he surely was not obliged to treat his own friends as if they were ene mics. In the place of calling for papers existing only by hvpothesis-let the honora- ble Senator ask the President to send him this extract from Gen. Jackson's message; that is a reality, and it will relieve his mind vastly. No objection will be made on this side of the chamber.
 l The question, Mr. President, now arises, what has President Taylor done? Has he made just, reasonable and proper use of the removing and appointing powersl We see how he was situated; what light the past and the present throw on his path; what was the course of his predecessors; what the situation of the Government when he came into power, and the conduct of the oppos- ton since. We now come to the issue Has he abused the confidence of the Ameri- can people, and betrayed the trust which they placed in his hands? Let the following details, collected with much abor and care, !. tell the story.
 will begin with the Departments in this city, and show what was their political con- dtion at the commencement and close of the late administration, and what changes have been made since; and if the conclu- sion does not result from the facts, that the President has not even done justice 10 him. self and his friends, to say nothing of the public service, shall be greatly mistaken.
 STATE DEPARTMENT.-Atth the close of the late administration, there were in this de- partmen twenty-five employees, Exclusive of the Secretary0 of whom twenty-two were Democrats, and only three Whigsl- the former receiving compensation of $2l ,92O, and the latter of S5,O00 Major- ty of Democrats l9, and balance of com pensation in their favor $l6,92O,
 I Now there are in the same Department twenty-six employees, of whom fifteen are AI--