The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-02-17
THE WAY APPOINTMENTS TO OF.
FICE ARE MADE.

FICE ARE MADE.
The Cotton Plant very truly remarks that
"somc things occur in this government of
these tied States, 81 ich is organized un.
der the i ;icconstitution Of this world, which
conclusively show that the constitution may
be good and the administration Of the gov
ernment bad indeed, not to say ridiculous
10 the first place, quantity Of people con.
stitute themselves, with great deal of noise,
the political leaders in every locality. Not
that they are the representatives of the peo-
pie, but they want to make stir, and little
government patronage may be in perspective.
These gentlemen select a set TO represent
them, or accept some persons who volunteer
for the business, and they again select others,
until finally, after good deal of turning and
twisting, some hundreds of gentlemen, and
not few loafers, are "ons'omerated into q
crowd denomirated National Convention.
This crowd undertakes to say who shall be
the President Of the country, and to work it
goes to express its opinion. The different
members all have their preferences, and al
though their individual power is not much to
insure the success of any one candidate, it is
great to defeat him. After deal of wrang-
ling, when they are all tired out, they settle
down upon some man Of whom few dream-
ed, and forthwith his name, with u roll of pa
per principles, are blazoned forth, and the
campaign begins. Another man and another
lot of principles upon paper are pittcd on the
other side; people talk on one side or another;
Il great fuss is kicked up, and finally the cleo
ton decides who is to be the great man for
four years, unless indeed he should happen
to make little man of himself meanwhile.
Spectators are busy concerning the appoint
mcnts which he will make, and crowds of
hungry people, in all parts of the country
get up petitions to him for al sorts of
offices. But first he fixes upon his Cabi-
net lie casts his eyes over the country, and
as this State ought to have something, that
State didn't exactly come up to the scratch
in the election, and that other State must be
rewarded for the overwhelming majority
which she gave him, the accident of residence
is generally made to predominant over merit.
A half dozenand one are selected, and when
they are once safe for some place they begin
fighting amongst themselves. This one, com.
ing from somewhere, has claims to be the
Premier. Another man has talents, or thinks
he has; another won't allow his consistency
to 60 unrcwarded, and therefore he expects
them to be rewarded in his pcrsen. Finally,
they agree, and without much attention being
paid to tho peculiar fitness for the position
Which each is to hold, they slide into their
places, and 10! seven other great men appear
upon Pennsylvania Avenue.
Meantime the very great man has gone up
to the Capitol to be inaugurated. lie takes
an oath, and stepping forth, delivers speech
which has been studied over for three months,
and is toleraby fine. The people shout and
appear satisfied All praise the inaugura
but, it is ten chances to one that tho deliver
will be pretty extensively abusel for violat.
ing its pledges before three months have
passed. Then the scramble begins. Every
body wants everything, and somebody gets
something. The great test of fitness for Of
fec is locality. This cannot be objected to
in regard to those appointments which are
peculiarly local. 1t is very proper that the
people who are to deliver letters and collect
duties should know and be acquainted with
those with whom they have to deal. But the
principle must be carried further. A NUN.
Der of foreign appointments are to be select
ed, and forthwith the appointment is made
amongst the States. 1t don't matter wheth-i
or the man be peculiarly fitted for the post,
whether he knows anything Of tho business
upon which he goes, or no; but he receives
the share of the spoils awarded to particu-
lar locality. lie must come from some local
ity not too near another, from which an ap-
pontment has been made, and be very loud
mouthcd politician, and forthwith he is COM
mssioned to represent our country abroad
at some place of which he knows MS much
rs the authorities there know Of him. My.
riads of tricks nre resorted to; myriads of
lies are told, und great devotion to the party
IS placed upon record. Finally, the great
farce is over; every body being appointed; the
foreign appointees set out on their missions
to start few farces upon their own hook,
and perllads to make themselves and the
country ridiculous for some years to come.
The home appointments turn out pretty much
in the same way.
The game having commenced and the ma
chine being in operation, it works along; peo-
pie cri,icisc it, abuse it, laud it, and decry it;
opposition gains head; politicians work up
another convention, nominate somebody else,
and another election turns out the whole
establishment; tho same scenes are enacted,
with similar results, and thus runs the world
away"
WASH NC TON, Feb. Z.
In tho United States Senate on Tuesday,
Senator Douglass Nebraska Bill was further