Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-03-18
NUMBER e5.
RMHICOND wHIC.
Prefsrmeni Of literary Men.


In this country there many 6eds open 10 ambtiop
learned professions and the pursuits commerce ara
ladders to an enence much respected any that
be conferred by the Sovereign or the Minister In som.
continental monarches who Is not part OF the Sste
machine s nothing The lowest Official feels himself ono
OF class essentially distinct and superior. Yet from
the freedom OF our institutions and the interest which all
classes take in national Affairs there il no country vber
the service OF the State might held in higher honour
ana command greater aainncnts. Under such system
rs proposed by the new scheme for the reformation Of
the pubic ohces' the nation might possess all tho en-
cient organization of the foreign bueur without their
drawbacks oi official arrogance and anti-popuar sympa
thes But at present there is opening for the class
who fitted to discharge such duties Whit
IL the career OF Engishman who takes an interest I'm
finance or diplomacy? II in the lower ranks of life be
haransues at debating club. or should destiny favou
him. he becomes the oracle Of provincial platform
and deals in strong statements and Wholesale
denunciaiions amid the applause of his feIows-
In superior station his eyes are turned toward.
the House OF Commons the only field for distinctiou
hc be in the poHsP Of 6 6 ahSs
public speaking, however fitted the other hand for
the efficient conduct of some public department. IL ia to
fariaent that he must direct his Efforts or end his E
with the consciousness OF lost opportunities and wasted
talents The consequence Is that the post OF ley,,o :;
sought by many who might fty find Their snh.,a
in administrative functions, and oa,Oy is attempted by
men who nave no vocation for IT, merely the al
Tentative is TO be eloquent obscure A. too tbo..
with the rare gift Of happy delivery have had no nre
rou; opportunity OF mastering the details which they
may have TO exercise it, il often happens that their essay.
on complex subjects have air amateur stper6ciaIy
and as the higher posts the the talent hey
possess the Minister knows little more or bis
department. than useful subordinate chooses 10 ,u
him. In short, many important subjects the men Who
can speak want information, and the who are well in
formed cannot speak.
There has been long a severance hot vesn tho L.
gsative and administrative branches and until the com
muncauon be restored both win suffer. The only prepa
ration Tor member OF Parliament hitherto thought of ,
the post OF private secretary one in power Tb.
great majority perfectly to all the details of 90
vernmen' nnd in spite OF committees not In posi-
ton To acquire them thoroughly But under the ne sy,
TEN there could be no better school than the public SER
vice for such really anxious to study the dute
OF legislator; and men who had passed some time in
such poss would be among the useful and
members of the House II would even be worth tbe
while of young f the highest station To nrove ,ber
fitness for public duties in this manner and sucb tes,
monia will probably be OF increasing value as constituent
cies advance in purity, and the agencies which corrupt
them vanish The service would gain in dignity and the
Legislature in efficiency, while the nation would benefit
by the improvement of both.
But some will say that all this is good to be true
II il impossible, after such renements OF iobbery TO re-
turn to Arcadan simplicity, and to bring back an ace
OF gold to succeed the present brass. Others will put
practical questions How elections carried onY
What will the borough members say? What will the
local attorneys sayg The system works WELL for surely
thing may be said work well when IL ia not popns,Iv
complained oi! With respect this last point must
be answered that the magnitude of public evil not al
ways TO be measured by the oudness the popular
Harm is often done in manner so hidden that few are
aware of its existence and this secret disease il among
the most dangerous and requires the watchu care
People were not aware OF the full evil worked by the dear
OF law till the establishment of cheaper courts whom
the amount OF business poured into them was proof of
the amount of grievances formerly unredessed So with
the present shortcomings of the public service All who
acquainted with it declare that the time has coma
when its publication necessary and that so far from
working we is not only defective ITSELF the centre
of Rfla Rn1 aniE, 80.
doubts OF success, arising from the nveteracy of the
old corruption, believe that such despair ia
groandess, and that not only Ministers and members of
farUlnen but even all that is respectable in the
sttuent bodies are anxious TO he delivered from the ne
cessty of sharing in connying at these
Ihere are many who take advantage of such who
yet ready TO condemn them They see their
provided for without loss OF reputation and are stmuIa
ted TO similar pursuit particularly any pretence of
purity looked upon as ailectaon, and successful in
trigue as thing to boast Of Yet these are vii.
ling TO be no better than others and hav. their share
when there Is anything to be got would yet look with sat
s'aeon on reformed system, which would least give
them the same advantages are possessed by those
around them. Nor would those members who are now
obliged 10 surrender portion OF their pendence in
return Tor the means OF satisfying their mporunae sup
porers be dispeased at the cessation OF regime which
brings them much trouble and annoyance and produces
probably, disappointed enemies than satisfied
friends while Governments would be led TO rely more
on the excellence OF their measures and less on that
blind support which is purchased by commerce Of cor
rupton"
oeFs may ia ionl OF the details OF the scheme and
all that can be said against examinations merit
be urged in the present case superficial kind M
study may be pedicted; "cramming may be pronounced
inevitable: intellectual superiority may be decried aud
moral principle held up regard while examinations are
declared no just test even OF Intellectual superiority
Some will say that to examine in Greek Latin and nah-
ematcs absurd when is work in the Treasury
or Excise, md will quote instances of the unfit
Of scholars for business occupations To these obec
ons it may be replied that all thugs human are ablo
to error so the examination Is perfect but that
| To
| least closes the door against the great evil COM
planned OF in the present case-namey Improper influenza
in selection IL Is just TO the body the candidates
for, II an individual be sometimes rjured number new.
er are The hrSt man In the list be inferior 10 the
second but is impossible that the first ten should be in
ferior to the second ten. With competent examiners
s found that superficial study "dOes pay and that
| though "crammng may get n man a moderate place il
| will not gain him high one. Candidates will be
examined in the usual branches Of English education be-
cause they acquainted With them and proficiency in
these subjects argues abilities and industry which will
make their way in technical details.
There is point in regard the practical working of
this which Is worthy OF attention II has long
been reproach this country that no inducements arc
held out TO literary scientific career and that n
man deyoics himself TO studies which may advance man
kind he must be content to live in penury and difficulties
whio his college eompeers are making l0,OQOk ayelr OF
the bar or iron their patients Pensions are, indeed
sometimes doed out to such persons in their declining
years. but so inadequate their deserts that the first feel
ing, after reading the announcement Of grant Of this
kind, Is often ono Of regret aud shame hat such man
should bC compelled to solicit aud accept such gatuy
career, such is furnished by the public service may
aord means Of at least comfortable snbsenee many
gifted mem for is to be hoped that the prejudice
tinct which deemed intellectual endowments TO unfit their
posSessor for the discharge Of daily duties In the reign
OF former Queen when such were ambassadors aud
secretaries there record Of alarming incapacy and
should think that In the present day, when ali the
world is practical Of genius might be trusted TO per
form the duties Of any poet they may be successful in OBJ
taining.