The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-12
Distribution or Executive Patronage.

Time only can determine with what degree of success.
as regards the efficiency and fidelity Of the public servant
he Executive has discharged that delicate and difficult
junction of government, the distribution OF official ap-
pontmen,s So far however as the most anxious regard
Tor the public service and thorough scrutiny into the
character OF the candidate for oce afford any guarantee
Of the fitness OF appointment, the country may Be as
sued that the have not sacrificed its n'ef'
es,s by nrustng them to incompetent or unfahful men
In country OF such vast extent this, The Executive
must necessarily rely upon the representations OF Others,
and hence the possibility OF mistake and imposition An
error from such cannot be attributed TO admins
rative ncapacity.
In his Inaugural Address President Pierce ma lie known
the principle upon which he should select the subord'
nate agents OF government, by declaring that he would H
ect them with reference TO efficient. honest and eco
nomical administration OF the public trust This objee,
implies that, in the opinion of the Executive, honesty
idelity and capacly-he old Jeesonian te-t-are inds
pensabe requisites Official appointment. Anothe con-
dion recognised by both parties is involved ia the &C
knowIedemea OF political obligation The whs candi.
date in accepting his nomination, frankly avowed de-
termination TO bes,ow the patronage Of Office upon his
own party the President his Inaugural with equal
dor announced the same principle Indeed. it is safe to
officials among the legitimate consequences OF there
suit of the presidential election The struggle was one Of
principle, power, and place 1t against the bundes
of wing practice well against the faaces OF vhis
theory tha, the democratic party fought SO far as eg'a
ton was concerned, the wings already mpo'en LOT
evil but the country was still suffering from the eon.s
quences OF their maadnnis,aton Of the executive depart
ment Of the government. Bank tariff and the oihsr gre
measures OF wing policy, long ago defeated but as
| practical abuses and nigues OF Gaiph,aisn were SUI
10 be redressed aad removed Tns could only DC
done by attacking The root of the evil and eraea'ns
the poison which spread such corruption through az
departments of the civil service The absolute ne0e
.i,y 0. administrative reform was the great fact es
| tabished by the result Of the presidential eee"o" VI
1884, and al the same time the country VII" 'i'"' ~
nhasi. pronounced in favor OF complete anu uo'os"
democratic restoration The wings themselves suo"i''"
Tho ssue and invited the trial. and now they must enas
the nenaty OF an adverse judgment.
i ". nav presume then, that the administration IN q"
,ih,,,g The official appointments, have in view pr
.,y The good of the country, and incidentally the vel
fare Of the dominant party and in estimating the succs"
With which they acqui themselves Of their duty in 10"
rsspeet we must bear in mind this double obligation ana
responsibility In his Inaugural Address, President Pe
xpessed an earnest determination that his admn's'rahoa
should be free from The stain and reproach OF othea COZ
up,iou and we may safely say hs, he has neglected 70
precauon necessary to secure this so desirable esu'
By the almost pniversal acknowledgment OF 'os eo'
Try his appointments thus far hays been cossp'''o
Il, and iadiciou.. They have not been scattered AV'0
according to III. ind,scrmna,'ns impulses Oh '.'"