The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-10


moving them in resentment for the opinions
they entertain, and of appointing others tc
office IN order to reward the party services they
have rendered. is unjust, demoralizing, and de
grading to the citizen voter. It tends to render
him the sycophantic and subservient tool Of
each upstart demagogue whom fortune or craft
may elevate to position Of power or influence.
But our correspondent is correct in regarding
this city as deeply wronged by the present
usage, as we shall soon make apparent. -a
| by the last census Washington is represent
ed to contain ,859 white males over twenty
years of age-say $4,000. By the recently
enacted law relating to the Departments of the
Government in this city, 800 officers are emu
merated. Add to these certain Offices not
taken into the account-the Capitol, the auxili
airy ortemporary force, S<c.---and an even thou
sand may be safely reckoned. Thus then one
fourteenth of our whole male population over
twenty years of age is comprised of office
holders.
Now, the very occupations pursued by these
persons require that they should be of good
department, intelligent, and energetic men !;
and it is with pleasure that we can bear testi-
mony to the fact that they are so, and that they
I'LL an important place in our community. In
the social circles their families are everywhere
known; in all public movements and enter
prises their counsels and aid are important;
and in our religious communities their presence
is equally essential. With our intelligent pro-
fessional men, merchants, and mechanics, they
comprise the responsibility and the reliance of
our city. Such, at least, is the case so far as
they have been permitted to attain to pro-
tracted residence amongst us for they are men
having all the sympathies of men, and have
not in general chosen to be among US, and not
of US. ..E.as
But what is now required in relation to this
matter2 1t is that the whole number of these
officers, excepting half dozen or so who may
be allotted to us, shall disoWn and renounce
our city as their home, lay claim to citizenship
where they have ceased to reside, and where
their interests and affections do not rest, receive
the inequalities and protection of our city with
out returning an equivalent therefor, and so
pursue the tenor of their uncomfortable way,
nflicting upon themselves and US double
wrong, and all because petty notion concern
ing the redistribution of the spoiIs of Office"
must be gratified.
Were the employments here alluded to of
very exalted order, bringing great honor and
greater profits as their reward, or did they
open to those who pursue them wide and glo-
rious prospects of ambition and of opulence,
we might regard this contention for them as to
some extent excusable; but the truth is, that
while they offer but little better compensation
than is received by skilful and intelligent me-
chanics, they do not open out so good pros
pect of advancement as these possess in the
extension of their sphere of operations, as ex-
perence, and reputation, and energetic effort
inevitably promote their advancement.
The changes demanded by the behest of
party at the commencement of each administra-
ton, is yet more prejudcial to the interests of
the General Government than to either the
officers themselves or to our city. "The Gov
eminent suffers some detriment when the
heads of departments are changed very much
when the heads Of bureaus are changed also
but, in addition to these, change of many
clerks is disastrous in the extreme' This
was the truthful remark recently made by an
eminent Democratic statesman who would not
give his voice to a measure of prescription for
opinions sake.
Let us repeat that we do not discuss this
subject on the grounds Of wrongs, or injuries,
or sufferngs endured by the members of any
party in particular. SO far as we are concerned,
and so far as we have witnessed the conduct of
others, if the present dominant party has pos
sessed and exercised power, it has neither been
Mortified nor gratifed by the wall of lamenta-
ton. The people Of the country have placed
our present rulers where they are, and we trust
the people may be permitted in cool and rigid
justice to decide upon their acts. Individual
feelings and interests have nothing to do with
the matter, further than as they tend to testify
of the general tendencies of prevailing usages.
Each elected officer appears to meet his fate
with stout heart. and with Cariolanus to ex-
claim, that ''there is world elsewhere"
Happily there is, and happily there is room for
every one and ready recompense for the hand
of cheerful industry. The banished are not the
greatest sufferers from this the lowest nantes
tation OF party rule.
The albion, at New York, in sketching the
events of the past week, says:
"Let us, however, we pass on from the seat