Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-01-02
APPOINTMENTS TO OFFICE.

al ROAINAMGN1S IL OEFISG.
The last " Register contains a letter Of Hon. R
G. Puryear, copied from the American Organ,s
in relation to q conversation between him and the
LIST Assistant Postmaster General about appoint
ments to Office, the Office under consideration being
that of Postmaster at Madison, Rockingham. Mr.
Puryear says in this letter.
"When made the application for the appoint
ment, Mr.. King asked me if the applicant were
Know-N Nothing? I replied that I did not know
whether he was or not and asked him if it were
possible that his being Know-Nothing would be
an objection? He replied, Eyes, l am acting I'M
der orders not to appoint any Know. Nothing, and
to turn out all whom l know to belong to the or
der" then asked him if native born citizen and
foreign Roman Catholic, both equally competent,
were to- apply for the appointment, on which
would he bestow it? He said he should be COM
PEELED to appoint the foreign Catholic. then left
the Department, and do not know whether any
appointment has yet been made or not"
Mr.. Puryear says the LIST Assistant Postmaster
General told him that IF native.born citizen and
foreign Roman Catholic, both equally competent
were to apply for an appointment" he should be
compelled to appoint the foreign Catholic" Now
we do not charge Mr.. Puryear with falsehood, but
we do not believe that Mr.. King told him any such
thing. Mr.. Puryear, who is OF the bitterest and
No foreign Catholic ever has been appointed to
office in this country, and such person ever will
be appointed. Mr.. Puryear has evidently permitted
his feelings-his hatred of the Administration-to
get the better of his discretion and his judgment
His disposition to find fault with the Department is
SO fixed and so intense that it has affected either
his hearing or his memory.
l: is welestablished rule with political parties
to prefer their friends in appointing to Office
and hence Wing administrations appoint Wings,
and Democratic administrations appoint Democrats.
This we say, is the general rule and it is correct
If President Pierce would not, general rule, ap-
point Whies, what reasonable man can expect him
to appoint Know-Nothings? Why, We are surpris-
ed at the assurance of Col. Puryear. The admin
istration is right in refusing to appoint Know Moth
ings to office; and trust it will turn out all such
now in Office, and that speedily. The people expect
this at its hands. Men bound by anti Constitution
al oaths prescribe natve-born as we'll adopted
citizens account Of their religious opinions, and
to exclude from all places of honor and trust natu-
rallied citizens not the men, to say the least to
hold office under LIBERAL Constitutional, Democra-
tic administration. Why, what right, according to
their doctrines according to their oaths, have
Know No,hings to Office at the hands of Democrats :?
Are they not sworn to cote only for Of their oacn
number! or only for some one nominated By their
Order? The chalice is commended to their own
lips-they fed out of the same spoon which they
had filed and made ready for their opponents; and
yet they, who have no thirst for Office" but who
profess to hold that that the Office should seek the
man, and not the office" are complaining that
bnd Inv no dpiD Nhoir
complaints will fall without effect the of the
people. If they were Whigs-f they had not placed
themselves by their oaths by their bgotry by their
skuking midnight secrecy, and by their fierce,
lignant unjust, and nsidious warfare upon the De-
mocracy-outside the pale of respectable political
parties. attention might be given to their COM
plants, and some respect paid to their claims for
office.