The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-04-01

The OrFIcE-sEExINa MANIA-the like Of which
it is believed, has never been seen before in Wash
ington-is deplorable, but the more deplorabe nov,
| when almost every good citizen can get a better
| living than Office will give him in the common
pursuits of life Office seeking when all busn ess
| ia suspended-when trade is paraly zed, or money
| unattainable by hard work-Inay be excusable,
| perhaps inevitable; but now, when every thing ia
| stirring, and money can be got anywhere-enough
to live on, certainly-ofice-s is indeed de-
plorable. Generally speaking, half the amount of
industry or anxiety devoted to business that is de
voted to the pursuit of Office would twice over re-.
| turn the fruits to labor that returned in the
pursuit of this delusion-a place. There are few
| prizes, to be sure, but very few; and even these
| prizes are in nothing to be compared with the
| prizes business holds up all around. Besides Of
fee seeking humiliates the applicant, degrades
him in his own estimation, his temper and
makes him hate humanity and his race The
confessions" OF an oface.seeker, even if success
ful. would open page of the human heart that
the eye would shrink from reading.
Office, therefore, as a money ma king pursuit,
in the main, makes no adequate return; that 10,
disappointed for every one appointed; and hence
disappointment ia probable at the start. The only
excuse for the pursuit. then, there be- in the
supposed sshonor" that an applicant believe he
longs to the Office he pursues. What that "hoporn
is in these latter days of the Republic every man
! must Judge for himself; but il the offices had no
salaries, we apprehend that but very few would
set any estimation on them without There are
| however, come few men who really do desire to
their country for the good they suppose they
do it, and such ambition is of the most la nd.
able kind; but in the scramble such a man must
now undergo to secure bis place, he becomes de-
based in his own estimation, and il very likely to
| shrink a second time from its pursuit.
Once, and in the better days of the Republic
offices sought candidates; but now, and almost al
ways, too, candidates alone get the places The
| appointing power, always besieged by applicants,
seldom or never has the courage to look beyond
the ring that surrounds it Merit, therefore, is
| hidden or forgotten, and demerit wins the race.
We believe we are indebted for the pernic ious
| change to General Jackson acting under the in
| fuence of Mr.. Van Buren, John Quincy Adams
| administered the Government in the spirit of it's
| founders; but General Jackson began the PERM
| cious practice of forwarding friends and punish
ing enemies" Such practice once established
as it is now, and by such authority, has almost the
weight of law, and hence we submit to it as a ne
cessity Itis deeply to be lamented, however, that
| no amount of qualification, no thorough education
| no value of experience, severe labor in place
can secure it to the holder Offices thus are looked
upon as places to profit in for the time being, and
the people are thus punished for the wrong they
submit to or endure.-Ne,o York Express