Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-10-29
The Spoils Policy.

non-anu the open and acknowledged adoiiuon 81
it. as embraced in a cardinal principle of politi
cal right, is proceeding not only novel IN its
character, but will prove to he,we apprehension one
of the most eorrupting and dangerous steps ever
entered upon by the Chief Magistrate of a free
people. Let US examine it--iogstAcr with the
circumstances under which il has originated. In
ISIS a large portion ofihe democratic party North
seeded from the regular democratic organization.
The act of seeession-=in which Il is nothing to
the point 10 say that wings also united. was upon
an Issue involving violation of the rights Of the
south OR rather ns the South could not b. sup-
posed offs temper to submit to that violatiorit was
upon an issue simply and plainly Of u dissolution
of the federal union. The distinguishing plinei-
pie of the seeeders WAS unmitigatcd hostility t.
the admission Of another foot of slave territory
into the coniederaey. They organized under the
leadership Of Martin Van Buren, & Son, and
fought aud were defeated in the Presidential
campaign of that year. But though defeated they
we're not conquered or disbanded. In 1850, when
the great issues ON the slavery question were
brought up for final adjudication in the Congress
Of the United States-when the people of the
South could no longer submit, but demanded that
further aggression upon them should cease
and that their rights under the constitution should
be recognized we find this same cohort Of IA
natios again rallied, and nrrayod in determined
hostility to every possible mea sure of cancellation
and compromise. Nothing short OF a Gordon Of
free States, like u constructor wound around the
South 10 crush II II death. would satisfy their
enmities. But they were again defeated The
slavery question wa 50 settled by the compro-
agitation of ANY practical effect
The next prominent appearance they make is
in the Baltimore Convention OF 1852, Withouire
canting one error, or protesting Il change in
single principle they had upheld, they mount the
platform of the Convention. agroe to suspend the
SLAYER, agitation which par forcc they had orca-
dy suspended, and endorse the nomination of len
Pierce for the Presidency. In the Baltimore
Convention they did not control, but were swept
into the current of It's proceedings. The Com
promise Measures, aeqnieseed in bv four ffths of
the people of oseff seetion,had left them power
less. That adiuztm decided positively for the
time the practical question e freesoi in rcgard
to the territories aud, together with the decis-
ions q the federal courts. made the rendition ol
fugitive slaves an absolute duty under the sa-
preme law of the land. Consequently the further
agitation Of the slavery question was, lat that time.
kicking against the prieks The frccsoil lea
ders We're too wise To commit such thrftcss folly
1t would be more dscrect,and none the less prof.
table 10 leave heir ont-s slavery predictions ia
obeyGace for some future occasion, and enter upon
the current which they could not direct. Such
icds their proceeding, The thief discontinued
his depredations beeause Hothing could be- gpiucd
by them,and II would he source of greater con
tingent profit to wear the eook of honesty.
Now this Is the fnetion in favor Of whom the
present policy of the admin tration has been
adopted in the dispensation of its patronage
We object to the policy, not only as corropdug
in itself but as predieated upon AN idea of popu-
lar corruption.
This policy, IN It's application in New York,
To unite factions of the democratic pnrtv by
dispensaton of the spoils of office; and hence il
implies an assumption OF sonality ou the part of
that portion Of the paf,y thus intended to he
operated upon. The assumption was in all proba-
biity right in it, application 20 many of the lea.
oers OF the freeso party, but, rs "A national poll.
cy, recognised by the chief Executive ns Justly
applicable 10 the whole American people, we pro.
test against it.
But, admitting that federal patronage and the
spoils of Office efficient to heal discussions in
party and,as consequcnccto control The DO
Hticai sentiments Of the peoples it not a stnrt
ling instrument of power in the hands of II demo
cratic President Is it not a monstrous act of
qualification IN putty claiming that the people
are the supreme political power to approve and
recommend its exercise by their chief magistrate
tho exercise by him of an influence thus potent
to control their voices at the polls suppose it
should have been exercised successfully in y. Y.
suppose it should have crushed free-soilisn
and every other ism which has there taken root
how soon is it, we assured. before its full
power may be brought IN bear in corrupt hands
against some cherished principle Of our own!
The "spoiis policy of the present admnstra-
ton will prove to be a mistake terrible blum
der. We believe - because Of our confidence in
the purity Of the masses Of the American people.
wing and democratic. And our confidence in their
purity has not been impaired by the fearless
manner in which the abiding friends of the con
stitution and the rights of the South have.in New
1ork,stood aloof from alliance with former trait
ors, In defiance even of the 'plunder-screws' and
other appliances of the federal government.
ERROR CoRREeTED.-In our dispntch from
Richmond yesterday, Richard W. w. BOYD was
announced as elected Director in the i. r. 4
K Company-it should have been VIM. w. Bovd
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APPLICATION OF ELECTRICITY To WARLlKE
Dr.