Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-04-05
The Lynchburg Post once.

ford, Post Master IN ms city fano Ine appoint
ment of Robert H. Glass, in his stead. The
intelligence we believe surprised no one; al.
though the act was as directly in collision with
the position taken by the President in his In.
aupural. as falsehool is with ruth. That the
public may contrast the one with the other,we
reproduce from the Inaugural the passage re-
lating to appointments
"Ofiices can be properly regarded only in
the light of aids for the accomplishment OF these
objects, viz: "integrify IN he public scfricc,
and an observance Of rigid economy IN all de
partmcats." and as occupancy can confer no
prerogstye, nor amportunate desire f0r prefer
ment any claim, the public interest imperative.
ly demands that they he considered 'etM soie
reference 10 the dufas 10 be performed Good
citizens may well claim the protection of good
laws and the benign influence ofgood govern
ment; but claim Tor Office iswhAt The people
ola republic should never recognize. No rem
sonable man OF any party will expect the ad
ministraiion TO be so regardless OF lis respon'
sibiIity, and ofthe obvious elements Of success,
as to retain persons, known to be under the in
nuence of political hostility and parfi-an pref.
udice, in positions, which will require not only
severe labor, but cordial cooperation. Having
no implied engagements to ratiFy. no rewards
10 bestow, no re.entments 10 remember. and no
personal wishes to consult in selections for
official station, shall fulfil this difficult and
delicate trust. admitting motive as worthy
either of my character or position. which does
not contemplate an efficient discharge of duty
and the best interests of mn countrg.'
No man can trnthfully say that this change
was necessary 10 secure "integrlty' in the IN
cumbent or ECONOMY" in the management Of
his office.
No human being, at al, acquainted with the
facts, doubts that IAN importunate desire for
prelerment' and not reference to the duties
to be performed was the consideration lead
ing to the change.
No one can pretend that the "posilion" Is
one requiring the cordial cooperation" of the
incumbent, in the system of policy wlich the
administration may desire TO pursue. Ii is an
Office created solely for the postal accommo-
dation of our people-its duties rcIatc spccli
cally TO that object. and have no connection
with the movements Of parlies,aul the schemes
of politicians.
No man in his senses vii imagine that "lhe
DeSL lUtcItotb ol lut county TiIbHtu iHdl
this removal and Substitution should he made
II is case of naked, unqualified, inexcusa.
BILE proscription-as violalive of the spirit and
language of the passage quoted, MS theft Of
honesty, or incontinence of chastity. 1t is
an infracton of the pledge made but a few
weeks ago. within the hearing Of he American
people and in the face of Heaven--as com
plete and thoroughas thousand others could
make it. Either the President has been i'm.
posed on, or his suboIdinates have acted with
out his authority. or he has broken his word
and dishonored himself. How The ont-going
and in coming occupants are affected by this
procedure is q matter Of but little general in
terest. We do DOT know that Mr.. Blackford
had any desire to retain the post-cer,air
it is he disdained to make any sppeal to exec
utive clemency. We do not know that Mr.
Glass is wanting in qualification for the office
though certainly we expect no improvement
in the conduct of its business. We regard i
as question affecting the honor of the coun
try, that its chief magistrate should know the
obligation of pedg e-and as deeply involv.
ing its interests. that he should not capriciously
and at pleasure depart from policy which he
had led the people of the country to expect.
fit be a single instance and trivial occasion
the moral principle involved is the same and
the turpitule of its disregard complete.
Let not the friends Of the President attempt
to justify this act by comparison with the
conduct of wing Presidents. He is TO be
tried by his own promise and his own perfor-
nance Ifthey do not tally, he must bear the
shame ofit-he and they who placed him in
the position and still sustain him. But exam
pie will not justify the act. The democratic
predecessor of Mr.. Blackford, Who had come
in under the sweeping prescription practised
by Mr.. Polk scaS not yem0Ued. He was al.
lowed to retain his place over twelve months
by General Taylor, and when his commission
expired,the administration declined to re APP
point him, The case dTarad udalv from