Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-01-14
Rotation In ONE.

Gov. Joes idea Of the Democratic doctrine of rota.
ton in office as applied to Dr. Brooks, Of this city
IS likely to create quite CONSERVATION among the
crowd oil Democrats feeding out Of the State treasu
ny. Those who have considered themselves snugly
liked IN their berths while their party are in the as
cendancy have been electrified by the announcement
from the Executive mansion, that according to the
democratic principle Of rotation in Office they must
pretty soon be rotated out Putting one Democrat
out to put another in is species of rotation the
horde oil Virginia Democratic office holders had not
dreamed Of Their des Of rotation in office had al
ways been that of putting Wing out of office to
put Democrat in his place
When they once get possession of snug little
sineeure, in the way of livelihood at the expense of
the State or Federal Government they have mistak-
lngy, It seems, laid the attering JUNCTION to their
souls that they had secured life lease to the Same
while locofocoism reigns predominant. But Gov.
Joe is constrained to impart different view to all
such treasury pampercd officials They have to learn
the disagreeabe lesson at the hands of his eIceen-
cy, the Democratic Governor of the Commonwealth
OF Virginia, that their feeding out of the public crib
Is only to be for few years duration, after which
they must give place others of their hungry breth-
rem. The doctrine is decidedly uncomfortable to the
crew in office and not very encouraging the multi
! tude Of expectants. The former must prepare to
walk the plank soon, and the latter must expect
share like fate whom their hopes have been tanta-
| lized for brief period only with the profits and
enolumerts of Office
This thing, of party prescribing its own officers
| undr the doctrine of rotation in office, however
plausible it may sound in theory, proves be very
| different matter when put in practice; especially
when there are SO vast number of candidates as to
whttle the term of each down to such small point
The fortunate ones for the time being have but lit
tie while allotted them for the enjoyment of treas
| ury pap. Their successors have nothing better to
| expect Neither the SINS" nor the "outs" are
therefore likely TO have their insatate appetite for
public plumber appeased. We are strongly of the
opinion that Gov. Joe's Democratic principle of rota
ton in office won't work among his own party. II
puts an too fast for set of the brethren and
too fast for another set 1t promises, consequently
to please nobody long, and to dispease all in the end
In this day of administering the affairs Of Govern
ment State aud Federal upon the spols distribution
system, of course experience and approved qualica-
tons not to be taken into consideration. The
public good is to be made subservient To party policy
BY the time officer of the Government has made
himself acquainted with the duties Of his Office he
must make way for a verdant aspirant to his post
This is the necessary result of the great Democratic
principle of rotation in office. II shall be n subject
of no importance how far the public may suffer from
repeated changes SO the spoils party apportion
ed out among the greedy horde. Such is the opera.
tons Of the plank incorporated in the platform
of our modern Democratic rulers. How will the hon
est masses Of the party like ito say nothing of
| the manner in which their present corps Of public
| servants will relish this principle?
1t is matter OF no consequence to us further than
the wish we entertain to the public duties proper.
y discharged by those into whose hands they may be
consigned. As to who the dominant party may see
proper to appoint we have voice For the present
we only trust that those whom good fortune may
rotate into office will endeavor to acquit themselves
to the best of their ability during the brief official ca
reer assigned them, and, in the meantime we would
tender coincidence to the disconsolate they are
decapitated by the rotation principle of their own
party. We shall expect them, as loyal Democrats,
to submit to their fate and bear it with good grace
Their decapitaton is only carrying out Democratic
doctrine.
This subject cngrosses far more attention in the
Richmond world than the combats in the East or
the decisions Of the French Emperor the British
Cabinet. II has direct personal bearing upon many
in midst, who have been in the wont of digesting
easily and sleeping sweetly in the conviction that
their o6icial existence would be commensurate with
their lives. But here comes sudden damper--
Those who have been in Office than eight years
feel their threats every morning, TO be certain that
all is right in that quarter; while the 10 year gentle-
men move about with air of painful trepidaton.
tho they expected every instant 10 be subjected to
a compound rotation at the hands of the remorseless
Joseph.
Buldl1g Railroads With tile Public Lands