Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-07-07
POLITICAL IIIsToRY.


Inc race OF htNoluuOnarY lfeSldcntS ran
out with tho second tern of James Monroe
They directed the administration of the Fede-
raj Government from the establishment Of the
Constitution in 1850 TO the ilh Of March 1926
The last of their number was succeeded by one
of the most distinguished Of the second gener.
alton Of American statesmen q man as pure
and unselfsh in his patriotism as he was upright
and faithful in the performance Of every public
duty. lie adopted the policy Of his predcccs-
sors as the rule Of his administrative conduct
( The lire Of principle and Of practice which
made Washington first in peace, as he was first
in war which gave Madison success through
a period Of great financial trouble at home, and
Of bloody conflict with powerful enemy abroad,
and which made the double term Of Monroe as
peaceful and popular as it was eminontly useful,
was in no wise departed from. Firinncss,
blended with moderation, and economy 10 Office,
conjoincd with liberal encouragement Of Home
4 Industry among the People, marked his Admin
s,ration, and John Quincy Adams, with Henry
Clay as his Secretary Of State. left the Govern
ment on the lih of March, 1880, as he had re-
-eeived ii from the last Of the Presidents Of 70,
uncorupted by exiravagnnce, unmarked BY vio-
lcnce, and untainted by prescription, and the
then unknown and piraiical principle of ''ihe
spoils." Our National Destiny appears 10 have
fixed this period as the end of the pure Consii-
tutional rnle Of Administration, which the H.
lus.rious trainers Of tho Government. Just forty
years before, had contemplated, and which FIVE
Of their number had snccessiyely carried out.
The decadonce Of Revolutionary example began
with the Inauguration Of President jackson. It
was a foregone conclusion that il should be de-
parted from The defeat and ostracisn Of ono
Of the wisesl and best men this country had
ever called into eminent public service, depend
ed upon radical change Of Administrative pol
icy. II was also entirely necessary that ii
should become essentially and thoroughly par
iisan. system Of rewards and punishmenis
was required 10 be held out 10 advance 10 ac-
complish the end Of Mr. Adams defeat for re-
election. The original Jackson leaders, from
! Maine ,s I.suisiana, unfersguud ,L.s, a-d --eIu
prompt to mako 1t known 10 their suhalicrns Of
every degree. The eleventh hour men were
tempted by the hopes Of rapid promotion for
services on the husiings, to abandon an admin
isiraiion which they had caused to know would
recognize no other claim TO office than fitness
for the stations made yaean, by The ordinary
casualties OF death or resignation. The sys-
TEN 'sos introduced, aud with fearful and sum
mary rnPidiiy on the incoming Of the new Pres
ident To what results II led-how it soon ae-
cnmulaied and concentrated power, and its dis
pensaiion ia the hands of one man, and with
what certainty the bad precedent was followed
by the successors Of General Jackson, the pres
ent generation need SCARCELY be reminded. But
it might be interesting. possibly useful, even
at this day,-to inquire, Who did This thing
Who, besides General Jackson, contributed io
: the defeat Of John Quincy Adams and the over.
throw of the Conservative and Constitutional
! rule of Administration, delivered 10 him by
Monroe. and which he so wisely and strictly
observed through his four years of Executive
service' In other words, who were the mer