Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-20
HISTORY INDICATED.

gence from the north.
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HISTORY INDICATED.
We have seen it stated in many quarters BY
the freesol press, that large majority Of the
offices in the State of New York have been
given to men who supported General Cass in
lS4s. If this statement stood alone we would
not regard it; but it has been made in man
ner calculated to convey the idea that the ma.
tional democracy of New York had received
full share of government patronage, and had
become offended merely because it did not re-
ceive more.
If the distribution of office carried with it
nothing more than distribution Of SPOIL we
would not spend thought on the individuals
who had been fastened on the treasury. But
government Office is important when its be-
stowal is regarded as political endorsement
and we, therefore, feel it to be our duty to deny
that the national democracy of New York has
received its share Of government patronage,
and to deny that its course was prompted by
resentment because it did not receive more.
1t is true that a large portion of the offices
in New York was bestowed on men who voted
for General Cass in 1913. But it must be
borne in mind that many who voted for Gene
raj Cass in the Taylor campaign, have since
then taken the name of soft shell democrats
with the freesoilers, and have placed themselves
within the old freesoil organization. They
have abandoned their position because they
were seduced by the hope of preferment; and
now, when they have obtained Office, because
they abandoned their position--because they
were seduced by hopes of preferment-is it MOI
infamous to affirm that their advancement wa.
favor to the national democracy they deserted
and betrayed? Do these men believe tha
the people are blind, SO that they cannot see
deaf, SO that they cannot hear-dumb, SC
that they cannot denounce such shallow So
phistry? -.
The softshell and freesoil coalitionin n ew j ork
has received almost all the offices in that State
We have been assured that, among the emu
merated positions, not more than four national
democrats have been honored by important
executive appointments within the limits OF
the State, and that Judge Bronsons removal
has reduced the number to three. And to the
honor of the President, be it said, that this
recognition Of the national democracy was du,
to his action and not to the influences which
have directed the general distribution in New
York.
The idea that all who supported Genera
Pierce should be recognized as true democrats
and that the Baltimore convention granted I
general amnesty, is wrong; but even that idea
wrong as it is-has not been fully carried out
80 far as New York is concerned. In tina,
State Office was not distributed with reference
to General Pierce, or to the Baltimore plat.
form. So far from that, it was distributed with
view to personal preferences existing anterior
to General Pierce's nomination-with view to
party positions taken before the Baltimore
platform was adopted.
We feel confident that the President has been
deceived--we know that the country has beer
trifed with and bamboozled on this point
The men whose representations determined tn,
manner in which New York patronage should
be distributed had no care for the union of tn,
democratic party, and no regard for the amnes
ty Of the Baltimore platform. They prata
about the union Of the democracy, and the
prate about the Baltimore amnesty, in order t.
cover up and conceal their real purposes anc
their real passions
Wehave said thus much to vindicate the trutl
of history, and we could say much more on the
same point But it is a most unpleasant anc
revolving task to speak of a distribution Of spoi
as an element in political movements. Yet the
task-ofiensive as it is--has been forced upon
us, and we cannot avoid it entirely without
standing with arms folded and looking on while
false and deceptive statements are scattered
through the country. Therefore, we repeat
that, if place and patronage carried with them
nothing more than mere emolument, we would
be Indifferent as to the distribution of the spos
of victory. But the bestowal Of place and
patronage does give party endorsement, and
is everywhere regarded as a clue to the sympa
thies and purposes of men in authority Tn.
der this conviction, we could not remain silent
whilst our friends were misrepresented by O
Justification of history, although the msrepre
sentation refers to a matter of patronage and
emolument.
pA-In another column will be found extracts
from some of the Pennsylvania papers in rea.
ton to the affairs and politics of New York