Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-03-29
"A POLITICAL MACHINES

The Enquirer of yesterday earnestly urges on
its party the importance of prompt organization
to secure Democratic Board of Public Works.
We clip the following paragraph from its article
the subject:
1t is idle to say that this new Board OF Pub
lie Works ought to be free from party bases or
proclivities. Epery one kno0s that soAichev
en- partY obtains dscendancy IN the Board, sDiU
make Il Il political machine. The patronage
vested in this body will excsed-far exceed. that
of the Federal government within this STATE
1t is idle to suppose that political adversares,
if they obtain majority of its component men,
bers, will not make that patronage tell, in every
practical FORM against the Democratic party
If orr own party obtain control of the Board
while it viii unquestionaby protect itself, it will
vet be disposed, as it will be able, to deal mag
unanimously with the adversary. The Board
will be FAT more apt to be used as political ma
chine, if in Wing hands, Than if IN Democrat
ic.
We invite particular atten ton to the language
which we have taken the liberty of itaicising.
We have here distinct and urSequivocal admission
that it is the purpose of the Democratic party of
this State to convert the Board of Public Works
into political machine" The Enquirer AYERS
that should tss Wings ohsair control of the board,
they will certainly make party engine of it,
but that journal has authority to speak tor the
Wings and its speculations with regard to their
future course. are therefore wholly gratuitous.-
But in respect to the Democratic party the case
is wholly different. The Enquirer is presumed
to know and reflect the sentiments, wishes and
intentions of that party, and we accept its pre-
sent declarations as authoritative exposition of
n T.. C.. e IL
the Democracy obtain majority in the Board
of Public Works, they twill make it a political
machine and we desire to put this fact on re-
cord and ask that it be remembered. Was it for
any such purpose as that indicatedby the Enqui-
rer, that tue new constitution ordained that
Board of Public Works should be established
We had thought that the sole object proposed tt
be attained by the organization of that body, wa
the protecto of the interests Of the Common
wealth 10 her various works of internal improve
ment. But it now appears that another obec
is to be accomplished through its instrumentaty
that the board is to DO used political engine
and all the patronage within its gifts to be Elm
pioyed for the exclusive benefit of the Demo
cratic party. Thus the Wings of Virgini
are to be taxed to support political ma
chine" over which their political opponents al
to exercise complete control. and which is to
employed by them for, party purposes. Tn
Wings will have TO pay their full share of I'll
salaries pocketed by the Commissioners OF tt
Board of Public Works and their army OF en-
otogees, and yet they are now coolly Informed
substance, that all this patronage must be dispense
with the view of keeping down their own part
and building up that of their opponents The Fl
quirsr it true, talks vaguely about ''deang MAJ
unanimously with the adversary but exPeriene
has shown that the most relentless proscriptio
is entirely compatible with Democratic notions
.1nagnaomty aud forbsaranee towards an adysi
ssry. fths Board Oh Public Works Is to b