Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-03-10
Collision.

We published few weeks ago, an article on
this subject from the Concord, N. H., Patriot II
was then stated that wing postmasters in New
Hampshire were to a certain extent, practisinc
a game of trading off their offices-making
"base bargains" with fshy democrats to take
their places on resigna,ion-and then, by the
aid of federal and abolition managers at Wash
inston. getting commission for their success
sors while the Fillmore administration was on
its "last legs
AS the same game has been played in Maine,
it MAY be well to remark that it is the opinion
sound democrat would enter into any such plot,
and that those men who have secured offices
by collision with the enemy will have ''notice
TO quit quite speedily. Their heads must be
ment of every true and sound democrat in
Maine. .rf'
The Washington Union has an article on this
subject that will meet hearty response not
only from every democrat in the Union, but
from every really worthy man of any partyowho
hates trickery and deception, in morals, rel-
gion or politics. We copy from the Union as
follows =
Papers in different parts Of the country have
announced, within the past few months, many
instances of resignation of Office by wing place
men, and the appointment of democratic sue
cessors. Post offices of considerable emolu-
ment and even marshalships have been surren-
dered by wing appointees for the benefit of
their democratic connexions. The fact is in
disputable and the only question is as to the
extent of its operation. Our private cores
pondence brings to our knowledge many in
stances Of this uovei mode of distributing the
patronage Of the government. 1t is a novel
mode, indeed. Heretofore it has been thought
that the power of appointment was vested in
the Executive; but this ingenious continuance
transfers it to the appointee, and enables him
to bequeath his official possessions to a favored
successor. The creature becomes creator
the ancient maxim of detegatus est non deleqare,
loses its authority.
1t is not difficult to determine the political
object of this mannuvre. In the first place, il
is designed to defeat the purposes and wishes
of the party in power 10y vicious and corrupt
distribution of official patronage. When a
wing appointee selects his successor, he will
select upon some other principle than that of
pSIoOIl@A uiCAAI VI pOfLtACdl ccINlCes. ne pOOQ
of the democratic party will be foreign to his
purpose. His aim will be to secure the service
es Of spy in the camp, and to weaken, divide.
and offend the opposing party by fosting upon
them man of .fshy principles and doubtful
fidelity. In the second place, the compliment
will impose upon the democratic successor
some obligation to the party to whom he is
indebted for his promotion. The transfer will
not be gratuitous, and who knows but that the
price to be paid will be in the shape of party
service
In addition toSthe political is personal OBJ
ject at which these wing officials aim in sur
rendering their emoluments to democrats II
the correspondents Of wing journals may be
credited, the transaction Is bona fde sale, in
which the vender receives pecuniary compen-
sation. So that, besides robbing the Executive
Of the power of appointment, this cunning con-
triUance enables the schig to share the spoiks OF
office a0ith his democratic appointed.
| What admirable ingenuity does this scheme
display How unfortunate for the parties
concerned that it is destined to miscarry. IL i
not to be supposed that a democratic admin,stra-
ton 'ciH sanction so fraudulent transaction, or
suffer me good men Of their party TO be excluded
from place by the farOrites Of schtg officials.