Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-12-01
For the True Democrat TTNN NO s

n,rnent on which the rotatlonlsts nave laio so
 nch stress, which appears in pretty much all
 e;r Articles, and by which they attempt to bol-
 E ur an unsound position, we affirm It to be
 m Known fact that among those on whom the
 ,nle have bestowed office, year after year, and
 a iong series of years, promoting them to
 s;tions of the highest civic trust and power,
 re has been perhaps less corruption than
 ,onp any equal number of men. In pre-
 aine number we had occasion to cite the
 mes of some prominent democrats who had
 ved long in the councils of the country, we
 ed hot repeat them nor refer to the hundreds
 lpatriots of various parties that might be ad-
 d and against whose fair fame islander dare
 kpoint its malicious finger; but we call on
 < erotatjonsts to name their instances of cor
 ption on the part of old and long trusted pub
 servants, those whom the people had time
 d apain continued in their service. If their sertions are true our whole history must be
 owded with such cases; every man in the com nujfv ought to be able to name score or more
 them. Let each reader test his memory and
 te the result. No, gentlemen rotationists, e plant tools and guilty workers of corrup-
 n. Those who have made committees of in-
 ' to be found among that class of dema-
 gnes who for the moment may deceive the
 ople and obtain temporary official station, but nscious of their own vile propensities, and owing their inability to sustain themselves for y length of time, seek out opportunities for making lay while the sun shines" The re- I'd proves that all these official thieves and indlers but had lease of official life as brief
 the life of the summer insect. Their cor ptiOn was not the result of " continuance in ice,'' for they were corrupt before they ob. ned office, nor would even the principle of ation prevent the mischief as the rascals ge- rally make their pile" the first chance.- ,ain we ask the rotationists to produce their 'ances of such infamy on the part of one 10 had again and again received the suffrages
 the people-such cases as are pertinent to q Will illustrate and confirm the truth of their ,ument
 But there is another species of corruption be- es that form of it that yields to the pressure
 pecuniary temptation or the thirst for unlaw-
 gain; it is also exhibited in that lust of office power that leads men to the betrayal of nciple, endangers the stability of the republic, l pnis iu jeopardy the liberties of the people. e cDncede that few notable instances of this i'd of corruption have occurred in the history
 the democratic party and of the country, but
 have vet 10 learn that their effects have been so grave character as alleged by the rota- they either did injury to the sta ty of the republic or the liberties of the peo- ]. Let us select a few of the most prominent es, to wit: of Van Buren, Benton, Houston Foote. These gentlemen had been houor- by the confidence of their several States ee of them had been the chief magistrates .reof. They were promoted to the councils
 the republic; the great democratic party aped its honorS upon them, year after year, Sha liberal hand. All had seats in the se- e, and one was elevated to the presidency- r Years their voices were potential, their very mes tower of strength. At last they each all fell; turned away from the principles t bad made them what they were; became ltors to their party and their friends. Did country fall with them? Did the demo- tic party fall with them? What single fran SC or right of the people was put in jeopardy9 eyer the influence of corrupt office holders id work mischief to the democracy and the lntry, it should have been done in these cases,
 they are the strongest that have occurred )h, ye of little faith" know ye not how much oeror the great body of the people are in 'ir aggregate intelligence to the glory of even , brightest intellect, and that those who re- ve their power and influence by and through people are as harmless as the dust the mo
 mt they separate themselves from the peo- ]? These men only destroyed themselves, tbprp 1o +bo,,,
 erence;" others may follow in their steps d y will meet their doom; the country and the ty will continue to prosper. 'Twere as sen- le to argue that the fall of the meteoric stones It are occasionally precipiated to earth put Jeopardy the stability of the eternal heavens g thus put the facts of history against the Plantations of the rotationists, we throw the hi of experience upon the unseen future and ell gent readers will decide which IS the more rhy of credence
 There is another difficulty, MT. Editor, that ,gests itself Ill this matter of the adoption of ,prnciple of rotation, we do not at all pre-
 t it as an argument against the practicablity the principle, but still the obstacle does seem .of no trihng dimensions. When we come Consider the vast number of town and city, vnship county, circuit, district and state off $, and of federal offices located within the
 its of the State, that are to be filled, filled tine principle of rotation, We sadly fear that .supply, great as it is, of those who are will g to serve their country will soon be ex- lsted and hat the natural increase will hardly sp pace with the demand It is not every Zen that Is blessed with so good an opinion blmself that he could be induced to accept, ch less to seek, office. We know that among planters, farmers and working men, the re- ents of the country as distinguished from the a, you will scarcely find one in ten that lld he induced to accept office. This is partly n the fact that they "can do better in the pur- of their avocatious, and partly because they generally modest enough to bel eve them Ves more or less unqualified and untitted to the Der discharge of the duties of an office of any oortauce, and hence prefer some one else, in om they have greater faith, should accept position; then there are numerous social, re- bus, aud other associations and societies ose organization requires certain number of cers, and many thus find all their spare time 'ped. Every one wto Is at all acquainted h this most important and deserving class of citizens is well aware that this feeling gene- Iy prevails among them, and as they consti- E the large majority of our population, hence ] arise the difficulty of obtaining the neces- ' supply of public officers. It is very true, Tever, we may, on the contrary, depend on
 towns and cities doing their duty--their ole duty. Heaven bless and multiply the ms, the great centres whence radiate intellec- light and heat! There is no lack of ability be found in them--nor yet of willingness to ve the dear people. From Napoleon to Ft. ith, and from Yellville to Fl Dorado, there hot a village but can send forth its array of ent. Why, there are several of. these reser- rs of intellect and ability located, at short in- vals right along our western border--several vns whose name and fame is recognized oughout the Slate-from each or either of ich could be selected gentlemen enough, talk
 them at their own estimate of themselves, fill the senatorial delegation, every seat of !, cabinet, and two or three first class appoint nts abroad; and as for the smaller fry" their me is legion. States, like individuals, grow pr through what they waste; no wonder, then, the sutcry about the poverty of Arkansas len she has permitted so much talent that ght have been made available to run to utter ste. Why 1t is thai the people have not res ed these gems ot purest ray serene" from dark caverns ot obscurity, and decorated em with that polished setting, to wit: the sur lndings of official pomps and dignity that eir value deserves, IS mystery. Whether
 Is obtuseness of perception Is caused by some n remembrance of the old adage, faintly float [ through the popular ear, that '' fools rush in