Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-02-15

6SLdullsHlDB lte plDClpe lllaI inc
offices belong in fee simple to the Democratic party
General Taylor had not violated his pledges, but had
sacredly kept them If he had retained all the Demo-
erasin Office he would have violated his pledge to be
confessed that there had perhaps been more removals
under General Taylor than under preceding admins
raons during the same length OF time. But this was
unavoidable Hefound the offices almost exclusively
occupied by Democrats Many removals were indis-
pensable; otherwise General Taylor would have found
himself perpeuating prescription In the language OF
Mr. Jefferson, deaths were few designations none. MI
5. might admit for arguments sake, that there had been
because the incumbents were Democrats-and
he said he knew that good men, and his personal friends
had been removed; but it from necessity it was
called for by the Just rule OF equalization.
But even if Gen. Taylor had done wrong, was that
any good reason why we should do wrong too Cen
temen said they were but carrying out our own rule OF
equalization by removing two of the four Wing officers
in the Capitol Now this, Mr.. S. thought, was piece
Of party ingenuity for which his Democratic friends
very remalkable-he had almost said deserved credit.
know well, said he that you, Mr. Speaker, and your
party will 90 before the people and say that you were
only carrying out the Wing rule disqualification. But the
Democratic party could not stand on this platform
There sort of similarity in the cases. The prin-
clple OF Mr.. Jefferson upon which Gen. Taylor had
acted was this that equalization to be applied where
By the operation OF prescription there vast in
equality between parties in the enjoyment of the Offices
Ii Mr. Heath had turned out Democrat because OF his
being Democrat, there might be some excuse for re-
sorting to the plea Of equalization But he elected
to the office Of Auditor in the purer days OF the Repub
lie, when only mans personal, and not his political
qualifications, were regarded. And God grant, said MIR.
5, that other days may never in this good old
Commonwealth What would be the result ofthis pro-
scrptive policy? The Democrats would come in, one
Spring and the Wings another. There would be a
perpetual change in the offices Earring dscords would
be excited amongst the people. Father would be en-
uttered against brother against brother; friend
against friend until this nation OF high minded Virgin
lans would be converted into nation OF degenerate Of
hce-seekers.
Was not this 90, asked Mr.. S., especially time
when This occasion for discussions amongst our people
should not be ntroduced-when the presence OF
common foe demanded thatwe should all be united TO-
getfer? Was this time for party STRIFE this period
sow the seeds OF discord when unbroken front
the part OF Virginia and the South the only guaran
y of vindcated right and of constitutional protection
The thought oppressed him, weighed him down. And
he could almost be brought down upon his knees before
his Democratic friends to impoe them not begin this
new policy OF prescription in Virginia The honour of
the commonwealth in danger; her escutcheon was
in hazard of being sullied-Vrgnia the land of Wash
ngton, the mother OF States, and heroes and statesmen
Letthe General Government and the President do what
they would let us not bring this accursed prescription
amongst u.s. Let Virginia stand erect in her dignity and
purity And let her sons all mngle around her affairs,
in common prisons for the preservation of her good
fame.
was not deputy sheriff or clerk, not who ever
transacted business with him. who ever came from his
office without admiring him as an officer He was, said
Mr. S., the most perfect officer it had ever been his for
tune to meet in official intercourse. His extraordinary
capacity was we'll illustrated by fact which had recent
ly come to Mr. SIS knowledge. On late occasion, he
had saved to the Treasury $90o0by his fidelity and legal
intelligence. 1t was the case OF bank claim which
Mr. Heath refused to allow Judge Robertson reversed
Mr.. HIS decision, and the Attorney General concurrng
with the Judge prepared petition for an appeal but re-
fused to certify to the Court of Appeals The
Court rejected the petition in that form. Mr. Heath
called meeting Of the Board of Public Works, at
which twas determined that Mr.. Cooke should be in
strueted to investigate the case In few days Mr..
Ike biGO ut Mr. Haafh rrht IT,,
was employed took the case up to the Court of Appeals
and the Court unanimously reversed the decision OF
Judge Robertson These facts, said Mr. S. did not in
neral, or OF Judge Robertson at ALL for no mans udg-
ment ntallible; but they proved that by mean of
Mr.. Heaths fidelity and high legal discrimination the
showed that even as lawyer, he at least the equal
OF the Attorney General and the Judge and even bet
teand in saying this he intended of disrespect to
them.
posed to immediate, Mr. Heath required no eulogy at
his hands. He had long regarded him the very Cato
OF our counsels Some facts however, connected with
the private history of the man. Mr. S. would state which,
if they did not make impression upon this House,
would prove to be utterly impenetrable to generous
emotions. When Gen. Taylor was about TO be nal-
guraed, Mr. Heath drew up most beautiful petition in
behalf OF Thomas Nelson, the late Collector at the port
OF Richmond, and took it to the Wing members Of the
Legislature, nearly all OF whom signed it. In regard to
another Democrat in office, Mr. S. said that he himself
him. He presented il for signature almost every one
he knew, and got others to write to Washington. 1t
occurred to him finally to get James E. Heath inter-
cede, hoping that he might this poor man and his
family from restitution. Mr. Heath wrote most affect
ing appeal in his favor, although that very man had
on former occasion, been active in heading move
ment for the removal of Mr. Heath. The mission of
mercy was successful, and that gentlemen was now in
office
Mr. S. had heard it said, that it was highly desirable
that the constitution Of the Board of Public Works
he a..
Mr.. Heath and Mr. Lawson should be removed. 1t
had been alleged that the Board partial in its APP
continents, on the different works OF improvement
He was authorized to say that OF the officers appointed
by the Board, there 81 Democrats and 81 Wings
Mr. FERGUSON here nterposed the remark that he had
said he wanted new men in the Board OF Public Works
but he had not said he wanted Democratic majority in
the Board
Mr.. SEGAR said the result would be the same If two
Democrats were put into the Board because they were
Democrats, there would be Democratic Majority
And here he would give the Internal Improvement par
ty solemn warming that warm friend he OF in
terna improvement, it this Board to be converted
into political engine he had given the last internal i'm
vote he should ever give He intended TO
keep watchu eye upon that Board see by its course
whether there had been any reference in its constitution
to securing Democratic majority.
Other charges had been made against MIR. Heath 1t
had been questioned whether he was sound on the WI
mot ProDisO When it was remembered that Mr. H.
was born Virginia SOIL that his associations were al
together with Virginia society, that slaves in truth
quire into his opinions this subject. But Mr. s. un-
dertook and had authority to say, that Mr. Heath was
as sound as any man in this House. Mr.. H had told
him that he regarded the Wilmot Provso as insulting
TO the South and that Jet Virginia take what position
she might, he was ready to maintain it.
In regard to that little play, which had been referred
to by the member from Rockingham, Mr. S. said he had
asked Mr. Heath the history OF it, and the circumstan-
COS under which it was written. And Mir H. had as
sured him on his honour, that it had no political design
but only intended to inculcate whole
some moral Mr., S. declared that no man could read
this little drawn canddy without being profted by it.
There was not passage in which did contain moral
He proceeded to comment several OF the characters
portrayed in the pamphlet, and in playful way, showed
that they intended to satirze faults and vices that
were too often seen in men OF all parties Mrs. Round
tree Mr.. S, pronounced an excellent character Whe.
Their she was Wing or Democrat he could not tel--he
supposed she was Wing, for the ladies, God bless
them, were nearly all Wings. The lives and ultimate
tree he thought aholded a beautiful illustration Of
The operation of republican institutions, And in proof