The Nevada journal. [volume] (Nevada City, Calif.) 1851-18??, 1857-06-26
FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE s6th, 1857
Prescription.

Jefferson, as he honest, is he capable ?"
were propounded concerning a candi-
date FOR Office, the Father Of his Coun-
try acted upon the principle. Jefferson
only expressed what Washington prac-
tised years before. The relation of the
former to the latter is a notable example
Of the iberalized ideas of him who
''was first in war, first in peace, and
first in the hearts Of his countrymen."
Jefferson, while cabinet officer, was at
war with the policy and acts of the ad-
ministration, and the language he used
to express his opposition would not, in
these days, be tolerated. He sympa-
thised with Citizen Genet in his nefa-
rious attempt to array the people of the
United States against George Washing
ton. He affiliated with the Jacobin
clubs formed in the country to aid kin
dred bodies in France, against the ear
nest endeavors Of the administration, of
which he was a part, to avoid entangling
alliances with foreign powers. And
when the treaty of John Jay was ap-
proved by the President, abuse of the
illustrious patriot was mingled with JEFF
ferson's invectiye. Yet was the bitter
ness Of the subaltern officer overlooked
by the magnanimous old chief, the NOR
al and intellectual worth, the expert
ence and undoubted patriotism of the
man retaining him in position he was
qualified to FILL Of such patriotic
greatness of mind and forbearance was
the first President possessed. The les
son was not lost upon his immediate sue
cessors. Rota tsaa-.in Office was not
known to the elder Adams, and Jefer-
son profted by the example set before
him. Honesty and capability were cs-
sential requisites with the great apostle
Of old fashioned democracy. lie who
had proven himself worthy, whatever
his political views might be, was not
sacrificed to make room for one whose
only recommendation was that he had
assisted in elevating a President to pow,
er. The reply to the opportunities of
such for place in return for political ser
vices, by the patriots of o!den time, was
worthy Of the age,-"Sir, you have on,
~ done your duty to your country,
which is d.s from ever citizen, and duty
deserves no reward" In laying the
foundations Of nation, change and ex-
pertinent were counted hazardous. In
times when political peculation is rife
in the land they are doubly so. II
there was a hazard when the fires Of
patriotism-Aurned brightly, in rotation in
Office, much more imminent is the dan
ger now, when spoils are counted the
legitimate fruits of success.
Not till within the memory of men
still young, was prescription known in
our national councils to any extent
Jackson first acted thoroughly upon the
doctrine afterward cnunciated by Mar
cy, "to the victors belong the spoils.
The dogma is now indicted into the
democratic party, if not all others, and
We hear that James Buchanan is to smell
of each applicant for office, to discover il
the faint familiar to his nostrils. of Fed
eralism it may be, is about him. The
Jefersonian questions are laid aside fol
a new catechism. "Have you lost youl
identity by party machinery, and be-
come like myself, a platform, senseless
inanimate thing! Have you merged
soul and body in tie party, swear by
the Kansas Code for your Bible, and
hope to so to Douglas when you die
And did you vote the clean Democratic
ticket, scoundrels and all, at the last
election r. If the answer is satisfacto.
ry, hoary-headed, faithful servant Of
the government walks the plank for the
crime of not being a slave to an oligar.
ehy more despotic than any on which
the sun ever shone or night added ter.
rors.
This principle pervading the federal
government, is carried out in all party
ramifcations. "Cut off his head" j,
the sentence of one who dares ;hink
and act for himself as his God-civer
conscience dictates.
While the domination of party drill
continues, the bane of politics will re
main without an antidote, and knaver,
ride victorious at our State and Nationa
capitals.
The tyranny of the Inquisitioi
Church, sprouted the seeds of reforma
ton, and taking courage from history
the political future of the country is no