Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-07-14
From the Pine Bluff Enterprise. Rotation

vor ot the old eXpedient of demagogues of rotation in ofice," and goes even so far as to call it "prineple," and sometimes a demo- cratic principle" Now, let us examine this thing few moments, and see what it really is, whence it originated, and what it will lead to. What are the real objects of those who profess to advocate this rotation principle, as they call it? Is it anything more or less than to give themselves, or some of their friends, a chance at some of the offices of the country; by put. ting out of the way some old tried veteran, that the people would infinitely prefer, if you let them run an even race. Is it not an attempt to promote their own chances of an election, by diminishing the number of those from whom the people are to make a choice? Is it not a virtual abandonment of the old rule of Jefer son-"ls he honest, is he faithful, is he capa- ble?"-by adding tail to it that destroys the rule itself, viz: has he been former incum- bent of the office, or have the people ever en- dorsed his honesty, fathfulness and cahability before?' If they have, why, that is damning sin, and he must stand aside for one who never has been endorsed by the people as possessing those qualities, and perhaps never would be, if you leave them free to choose. Is not this a mere limitation on the choice of the people and the freedom of election, and, consequently, anti-democratic and against the very letter and spirit of our constitution and laws? Do not those advocates of this humbug set up claims to the different offices, irrespective of any qualities to fill them properly? Do they not regard the offices as so many plump teats from which the public pap is to be sucked, and that every calf ought to have its turn? have no doudt that these calves have stronger suction powers than men of brains, who they wish to crowd out of the way, but doubt very much their capacity to do anything else but suck, or they would put their clainas to public favor on diff terent footing than mere rotation. But who are those advocating this thing called rotation?" Was it any of the founders of our system of go- vernment, or any of our fathers of the revolu- tion? Was it any of the great exEounders of the constitution, who have adorned the demo. cratic party since the adoption of that insru- ment? Or, is it any of the great leaders of the democratic party of the present day? Not one; for their whole lives contradict the very idea of such thing. Did they not all wear them selves out in the public service, and when age and inirmity had cTept upon them, and they asked to retire, still the affections of the people clustered around them, and i'll most every in- stance, when great emergency would arise. the eyes of the whole people would turn to the place Of retirement of those sages, and with a shout of joy, recall them again to the stage of public lie. Look at the Old Dominion, that has never swerved from the democratic faith and see how she has acted towards her faithful public servants: her Washington, Jefferson Madison, Monroe, Henry, Randolph and host oi others; and look at her present delegation ln Con .ress, nearly all of whom have grown gray in her service, and nearly every one of whom, ln the session of Congress before the last, was at the head of some one of the most important committees, of either house, welding all lnt1u- ence equal to any three Ol such mem berS as had been rotated into their seats, and would have continued to have done so, but for that torrent of black republicanism that the north had rOta- ted into Congress, and who in turn rotated those old and faithful public servants out of their well eraned positions, to the eternal i jury of the country. This was done far as they had the power; but in the Senate they did not have the power, and Tn that body there stood her two representatives, one at the head of the committee on foreign relations, and the other at the head of the committee on finance, form- nS bulwark and tower of strength to roll back that memorable torrent of abolition flna- ticism. Look, too, at South Carolina not less celebrated for her devotion to democratic prin-
 
 Lounds. her Haynes, her Calhoun, her Cheves, her McDulfie and her Buffers. Did the word rotation ever find an advocate in her borders? And look at the whole Union; did the Old Hero of the Hermitage, or Polk, or Pierce, or Buchanan, or Cass, or Douglas ever advocate such doctrine? Not one of them. But on the contrary, several of the latter have been the victims of this demagogue rallying cry Of 'rotatlon in oftice," and but for the pre-em- inent qualities of the venerable Cass, that caus- ed Mr. Buchanan to call him to the head of the State Department, the country, in this crisis, would be deprived of his valuable servi- ces for those of great M chlgan calf. Whence, then, came this thing called "rotation in ofhce" and who has tried to d Jnlty lt, with the appel lation of democratic doctrine? The first 1 ever heard oI lt, was in the drunken hard cider campaign of l0iO, as a wing and cpon-rallv vlng cry; but the slern and lndomltable democracy bought 1t then, they have continued to do Snce. The success of that 0mpai5u, and of the battIe-cry, has induced demaso 5ueS of every party to adopt 1t since, when they were conscious of no merit of thelr own to recon mend them to office. But it has not been ;,i- vocaed by democrats who understands the history of his party and comes about as near being democratic principle as he Vice Presl- dent of the Uuted States comes of being member of the Presidents Cabinet
 This thing of "rotaion in office" was once before started in this State, and the lameuted Sevier rotated out of his seat iu the Senate, and those who rotated him out, rotated them selves right into the enemy's ranks. 50 1t has ever been, and ever will be- the watchword to divide our glorious old party. And now, Mr. Editor, you may take my worl for 1t, that it ever you hear democrat commence advocating ''roatlom in offce,' that he will in less than one year rotate himself right into the enemy's camp. JEFFERSON.