Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-30
O. 0 NJ NJ unitate0.
For the washlngton sentinel.

ton before the democracy Of the Union, they
must take care to plant themselves upon de-
ienslble ground. The journals in the interest
OF the present cabinet seduously inculcate the
idea that the recent separation at Syracuse had
no other cause than the appointment of few
lreesoilers to Office An article in a late num-
Der of the Richmond Enquirer, contains the
following paragraph:
lin specializing on the causes of the present
discomfort, we are utterly AT loss for any adequate
explanation of the conduct of such democrats as
manifest an unfriendy disposition towards the ad-
ministration. Ii the democratic organization
were but a combination for the conquest of place
and power, il would be legitimate TO rebel because
of an unequal division of the spoils. But being
an association Of men bound together by com
munion of principle and purpose, and contempla-
ing only certain great objects OF government con-
Germ, it is equally illogical and contemplate TO
quarrel and dispersion consequence OF dissatis-
faction with the distribution of the patronage. II
the democratic party had elevated Mr.. Pierce TO
the presidency with no other object than TO win
the honors and enoluments of office, the dsap-
pointed might justly avenge their wrongs by en-
barrassing his administration. Bnt how low and
base and sordid sound the complaints Of the I'M
successful applicant for place, when we consider
the great principles for which the democratic
party commended in the canvass of 80 and the
great end which they contemplated in intrusting
the government 10 democratic administration.
This is cogent reasoning, and can only be
met by showing the premises to be false. In
justice to the nationals in the distribution of
federal patronage, would not alone justify them
in the attitude they have assumed
But who believes that this was the sole rea-
son for their course? Is the cause adequate
Is it sufficient to account for this political
emeute2 Look for one moment at the position
of the 100, 900 men who cast their votes for the
adamantine" ticket at the late election. What
had they to gam? A new national admins
tration was just installed for four years. They
were thwarting its wishes, and surrendering its
patronage. democratic administration was
| in power in the State. They were defeating its
plans and opposing its will.
| Without alliances at home or sympathy from
abroad, they stepped boldly into the arena, and
defed the frowns of both administrations
| What could nerve men up to such an act? 1t
is without precedent in our political annals
Such moral and political spectacle has never
before been presented. 1t has COMPOUNDED the
| cabinet and astonished the country?
| Must there not lie underneath all this, some
deeper cause than the loss of few paltry
oficesY No one worthy of the name Of phi.
losopher or statesman can doubt it,.
| There is but one cause which could, at this
time, have produced such an effect; and that
is, love of the national Union, and determ
nation, at all hazards, to maintain and preserve
it. 1t is the far-off scent Of danger to the Con
stitution and to the harmony and union of the
States, that has led the national democrats Of
New York to the bold and selfsacrifcing stand
they have taken. They saw the administra
ton, which they had relied upon as tower Of
strength to defend and preserve the Constitu
ton, gradually leaning to the side of its enc
mics, and it was to plant prop against the
inclining edifiee that they renowned their as
sociations.
But those who ought to understand this, do
not seem to see it. 1t is humiiating and dis
heartening to see men of sagacity and of patri-
otto impulses, like Mr.. Clemens, of Alabama,
uttering the sentiments contained in his recent
letter to the national democrats of Philadel-
phia. The tone Of superior profundity and
wisdom assumed in that letter, is not justified
by it's argument. This betrays the weakness
of surprising that the late explosion in New
York occurred for no other reason than be-
cause the President had made mistakes in
some of his appointments, and had been i'm.
| posed upon in Others"
! 1t is discreditable to any man to believe this.
It shows want Of just appreciation Of the re-
ation between a cause and its effect. Why has
the result of the late New York election sur
prised the whole country? Because it cannot
be accounted for in the way Mr.. Clemens sup
| poses. 1t is seen that there must be some other
cause. This cause / have already given, and
! given it truly.
But it may be asked, where is the proof that
the administration has inclined against the ma
tional democracy? And the language of the
| -, $50 "
may be referred to to show the contrary.
In this lies the real difficulty. This is the
issue the national democrats of New York
have got to meet; but they will not shrink
from the contest. They wish what they main
tain to be distinctly understood. They do not
charge the President personally with design
to foster, as such, freesoilism at the north, or
secessionism at the south. But they do charge,
and charge boldly, that some members of his
cabinet have Systematically and designedly, and
for selfish and sinister purposes, given such a
direction to the patronage of the government in
the State of New York, and in some of the
southern States, as to strengthen those Sec
tons of the democratic party that have been,
and still are opposed to the late compromise
between the north and the south.
1t will be seen at once that there is an in.
lrlllSlc uHculty III Establishing TINS 10 the sat
isfaction of the democracy of those sections of
the Union where the influence is not felt. The
proofs are of an intangible nature and perhaps
to some extent inappreciable, by any except
politicians of the respective localities where the
game is played But to the national democrats
of New York they are open, plain and palpable.
Some credit is due to their testimony on this
subject, as we receive the opinions of witnesses,
when the facts upon which those opinions are
founded cannot be properly appreciated by those
who are to pass upon the question.
But there are some things which all can see.
Why was it, that in so many instances in the
State of New York, instead of appointing the
men selected by the national democrats to fill
the various Offices, the appointments we're con.
ferred upon others who neither asked or de-
sired the favor? Was it because the men re.
commended were not worthy? The democracy
of New York know better.
Take the case of the relationship of the
port of New York. Was it for the reason that
there was no suitable candidate, that an emf
nent professional man like Judge Bronson was
sought out and urged to accept a post SO un.
conpenial In bis tastes and habits