The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-20

80
Mr.. DopaE The Senator from Missouri, who
has sometimes been ranked with the Democratic par
ty, in a speech which has not as yet perhaps been
answered, did show that the territory above 40 deg
was formerly known as New Caledonia, and was
no part OF Oregon.
Mr.. SMITH, (resuming.) There is no more I'M
qualified admirer than am OF that speech fraught
with learning and characterized by distinguished
ability. The honorable Senator, (Mr. BENTos,)
after remaining silent in his seat long time, and
until all the leading men IN Congress had been
heard, and poured flood OF light on the sub
ject. He demonstrated most conclusively Tin ac-
cordance with the opinion had ever entertained)
that we had no just pretension to any thing above
forty mine degrees. But this does not alter the
state Of the case ut all. The Democratic party did
go for ''the whole of the Territory of Oregon"
This constituted the basis of the whole controversy
IL is what Mr.. Buchanan contended for in his
whole correspondence with the British minister,
and the surrender OF any part was what MIR. Han
negan denounced so bitterly in his speech already
quoted II was ''the standard which the Baltimore
convention put into the hands, of Mr.. Polk, and
which he betrayed. What object to is the con-
duct Of the Democratic party in making up such
AN issue--that they should have joined "the re
nexation of Texas to ''the re-occupation of Ore
gon''--oi the "whoe territory'-that they should
have carried the Presidential election on SUCH
grounds, and then prove recrcant, Mr.. Hannc-
gan expressed himself, "to the generous confidence
which a majority Of the people reposed" in them.
A. If, Mr.. President, were disposed TO adopt the
train of reasoning contained in the speech OF the
honorable Senator, (Mr. BRApBURy,) could show
that Mr.. Polk in his inaugural address, pledged
himself against the proscriptive policy. On that
occasion, after saying, although in our country
the Chief Magistrate must almost of necessity be
chosen by party, and stand pledged to its princi
Piles and measures, yet" he adds, Sin his official
action, he should not be the President Of party
only, but Of the whole people of the United States
This would seem to draw distinction between
measures and men; for how, otherwise, can the
Chief Magistrate be, Sin his official action" the
President of 'sthe whole people?' But, without in
ssting any positive pledge, may say that there
is obviously in these remarks an avowal of liberal
views and declaration of magnanimous purposes.
We had right to expect that his dispensation of
patronage would be characterized by modification,
to say the least How far were the expectations
realized let his disposition of all the vast patronage
which devolved upon him by reason Of the late war
with Mexico tell If there be any case in which the
Chief Magistrate is bound to be the President, not
of party only, but of the whole country, it is that
of foreign war. He certainly should dispense the
patronage conferred by reason OF the war without
the slightest reference to party distinctions. When
come to meet our country's foe, we should know
no distinctions. We should be all Whigs-all Dem
ocrats or rather, all American citizens, ready to
strike for the honor Of our flag and to uphold the
rights of the North American Republic. That the
Senate may understand the extent and magnitude
of this patronage, submit the following statement:
1t appears that there Il general officers, 25
majors, (staf,) III captains, l24 medical officers,
and % paymastcrs-to total, 299 ofcers-appointed by
the President for the volunteer service, from June
1916, to the early part the year ls4s. For names,
see the official registers for January, lS47, pages
and 81 and also the official list, published Feb
ruary, lS4S, pages I, So, and 90.
1t appears that officers of the following grades
and numbers were appointed for the regular army,
to wit: 5major generals, Gone only taken from the
old army General Taylor,) 5 brigadier generals,
(two, Twiggs and Kearny, taken from the old
army,) lTcolonels, III lieutenant colonies, % ma
jors, ll5 captains Ill FIRST ieutenants lib second
lieutenants, Ill additional second ieutenants, IL
surgeons, and % assistant surgeons total, 539 of
GERS appointed for the addtionalforce. For names,
Army Register, lS4S and for changes by death,
resignation, &c, see pages 50, SO, and 81.
Rec0pituiati0n: General officers, 81, (three taken
from the old army;) field officers, 10; captains and
subalterns, Sol; paymasters and medical officers,
1856; total, 63S.
To this list may be added the rifle regiment or
gained in May, 1876. None of the officers were
taken from the regular army, except the lieutenant
colonel (Fremont) and a lieutenant, (Rhett, of
South Carolina )-making no less than eight hun
dred and seventy eight appointments, (including
the rifle regiment, and excluding officers from the
old army
How did Mr. Polk bestow these appointments
Ii is well known that all the general and field Off
GERS, and il is believed nearly all the commissioned
officers, were appointed ON strict party principles
They were all selected from the Democracy, I'M
less occasionally Wing made captain or lieu
tenant; but such cases were few and far between.
| make no objection to character or qualifications
! of the appointees: they were good citizens and
brave men; some of them now highly useful men,
bers of this body, who, by their gaantry and good
conduct in the field merit the appreciation of their
country. But the narrow, unjust, and illiberal
conduct Of the late Presdentfor he is said TO have
controlled the whole matter-merits the severest
condemnation, and but poorly accords with the
doctrines of his inaugural address. What his
course in relation TO the civil departments Of
the Government will appear hereafter.
] have thus. believe put the honorable member
II r.. L.. =
ing against President Taylor and his political
friends. have shown that he is not competent to
carry on the prosecution. II the honorable Senator
will first "cast out the beam in his own eye" then
shall he see clearly TO pull out the mote that Is in
his brothers. eye" One thing is certain when the
Democracy arc in power they require much indul-
gcnce-a liberal interpretations generous view OF
conduct and MOTIVE; but the moment their oppo-
nents obtain the control Of affairs the state Of the
case is entirely altered They all at once become
severely virtuous, and roll up their eyes In holy
horror at the slightest departure from their new
rule of right though but "the small dust Of the bal
ance" in comparison with their own conduct. The
casual correspondence Of successful candidate is
ransacked only TO be garbed and perverted, and
ga pledge" found lurking under every line, though
nothing Of the sort was intended. In the mean
time, they open the hoodgates Of calumny and
abuse, Notwithstanding their own broad pledges re-
main unredcemed They "bind heavy burdens,
| and grievous 10 be borne, and lay them on mems
shoulders, but they themselves will not move them
with one Of their fingers"
/ will next Mr.. President, consider what treat
the President has received at the hands Of tho
opposition, and how uagracious it is for them 10 set
up objections here 10 hk i'm the matter Of
movals and appointments.
And here ! would observe that If he had, in fact
assured the country that he would, in the event Of
his election, Observe the law Of kindness, and treat
all Ssrties alike, administering the patronage with
rigid impartality, all those who desire to take ben.
eft Of such a generous policy should prove them.
selves by kind and respectful treatment OF the TX.
ecutive, 10 DC worthy Of it. II he bound to b.
the father Of all, then there should be found every
where flial Difference, reverence, and respect The
| conduct Of the opposition has been such not q
| entitlc them 10 the benefit of any favorable assu
| RANGES given by the President in advance Of the
election. They have broken the condition necessa
| riy implied, and put themselves out Of the pale o
all pledgcs-all assurances, II there were any. Anc
| here invite attention to-
| ]. The treatment which the President has re-
ceived at the hands Of the opposition press.
| IL has incessantly, since the 4th Of March, lSi9
insisted that he is totally incompetent to discharg,
the duties Of the Presidency, without waiting
whether he would prove himself such by his admin
| istration Of the Government. II has represented
him to be weak, feeble, imbecile old man, wh'