The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-04-30

To ths Eaitor Of tas Repsb1se:
Sta. Thu inaugural address of our present Chief
Magistrate was received with unusual confidence
by the whole country. During the Presidential
contest we had been told by his friends of his ser
vices in the field; his previous public life showed
him to be deficient in energy Of character, and
we were pointed to it, and to the battles of Mex
leo, for evidence of his patriotism. Ardent and
unwise politicians who had formed too low an esti-
mate of American character, or were led away by
the impulses of the contest endeavored to blur bis
reputation by relating unfounded anecdotes calcu-
lated to cast shade upon his manhood At this
the generous heart of our people revolted. The
position of the Democratic candidate upon the Com
promise was claimed to be less eouivccal than tbs
of General Scott. His partisans held il m thai il
might give the world assurance of a man.n
and argued that the sincerity and candor shown in
that particular was guarantee for his trthfnInsss
and integrity In others. Thepeo endorsed b;s
nomination., and General Pierce who however
well ne may be qualified for the office, Certainly
had not earned it, was triumphantly elected
In his inaugural the President thus exnresses
himself with regard to removals from office
"As occupancy can confer no prerogatiye nor
importunate desire for preferrnent any claim the
public interest imperativey demands that they be
considered with sole reference TO the duties to be
performed. Good citizens may well claim the
protection OF good laws and the benign influence
OF good government; but the claim for office il
Wnah the people or q repuOlc should never reCOg
mise. No reasonable man of any party will ex-
pect the Administration TO be 80 regardless of its
responsibility and of the obvious elements of sue
cess as to retain persons known to be under the
influence of political hostility and partisan preiu-
dice in positions which will require not only severe
labor, bot cordial co operation. Having no inn
piled enga gements TO ratify, rewards to bestow
no resenimenis to remember, and no personal
Wishes to consult in selections for official station
shall fulfil this difficult and delicate trust admit
ting motive worthy either Of my character
position which does not contemplate an efficient
discharge OF duty and the best interests of my
country"
AJAX of any candid and reasonable man if the
fair construction of this passage does not forbid
any other Interpretation except that where an office
Is niled oy faithful and capable incumbent, the
duties of which in way connected with the
political administration of the Government if in
addition 10 this it be shown that be is under
the influence of political hostility or sprriisan
prejudice and if further it is granted, by the very
men rho ask his removal, that his long experience
renders rim the best man to fill the place for the
interests of the public, no man has better right
to Il than be, and he shall not be removed? And
if this be the fair and candid construction of the
Presidents words, would ask, whether a pro-
= mise made by the head Of bureau, before he has
taken bis oath Of office, to put out such
an incumbent, and put in a politician, is to out :
weigh all this, well az the dictates of humanity?
It ia nearly two months since this inaugural was
delivered, and what DO We, citizens of Washing
ton, see? Our city teeming with a crowd of place.
seekers asking the s'rstoaTGs' which the President
has said he has not to besow and in their multitude
(if in nothing else) only to be compared 10 the
swarms of vermin which sprang from the dust of
devoted Egypt at the bidding of the Israelite's rod
Are they turned away empty from the doors of the
Administration? No, far from il. Some of the best
and most respectable of our citizens removed
from places which hey have filled for many years,
with equal credit to themselves and advantage to
the public, to make room for petty politicians who
have no other claims except that they make a
trade of eectioneering, and whose political prin-
cIoles consist of a sshurrah.'
Nor ia this confined to the seat of Government
or to clerksbips and similar Offices The Admin
istration presents the dgnihed spectacle to the
world of men calling themselves statesmen and
gentlemen authorizing the prose ption of carpen
ters, blacksmiths, furnace-tenders, and such like
important officials at navy yards and arsenais;
American citizens, who dared to vote against
Pierce and King.
The oatns of lovers, and the promises of politi-
clans, have long been classed together-the desire
Of enjoyment prompts them-and this gratified
they are alike repudiated disregarded. We
have a ri ght, however, to expect more sincerity in
declarations of principles put forth by persons
elected to the highest offices of the Government
which follow not precede political contests, made
after the heat of the conflict is over where there is
not the same motive nor excuse for prevarication,
more especially if they are deliberately and au.
thoritatively announced by President in his
inaugural. In fact, compelled TO believe,
By our self-respect American citizens, that the
man who has been elected to so responsible and
elevated place does not come before the public
in MS FIRST official act TO practice upon US gross
deception. We have a right at least to hope that
the inaugural of our President ia not cunnin gly-
that is the honest, sincere, and candid
OF these principles and rules of conduct by which
he intends 10 be governed in his official acts.
JUSTUS.