The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-05-29
The Distribution or Once.

We made some remarks q few DAYS ago,
upon the evidently gross perversion of the
duties Of the heads OF the several Depart-
ments IN devoting so large portion of their
time in Cabinet meetings to distribute the
small offices of the government among the
hungry applicants, as rewards for unscrupu-
lous partizan services. The chief attention
of the members of the Executive, is appar-
emily now absorbed in this degrading and
Illegal service. The chief end of the govern
ment is made to look after the interests of of
ice seekers, and to reward unprincipled po-
Etical adherents. The evil has become 80
evident and fragrant, that the cautious and
tolerant editors of the National Intelligencer,
who have lived so long eye witnesses of the
insidious changes wrought in the aims and
modes of administering the government at
Washington, that they are not sensibly shock
ed at any new evidences of a decline Of pub
lie virtue, utter the following condemnation
Of this growing evil:
In casually CHANGING day or two ago, over
the columns of journal published in a
neighboring city, our eye was caught by the
following paragraph:
THE Cabinet today May 15) considered
the appointment of appraisers in the prinoi-
"pal custom houses, but the result has not
"transpired.n
We confess there is something in the iux-
Imposition into which this simple announce
ment brings the Executive Head of the Gov
eminent and his Secretaries, on one hand.
and that useful but in point of political dig
nifty, not most pre-eminent class of function
aries, custom house subordinates, on the
other, which strikes us with sense of in
congIuity, and prompts the inquiry. whether
the policy OF rotation" i'll at least its minor
grades OF operation, might not be executed
without a solemn conclave of the eight
highest dignitaries in the land to preside over
the details of its administration From
the frequency with which it Is announced in
the papers of the day. that 1.-THE Cabinet is
engaged in celebrating on the appointment
now of one class of officers and now OF anoth-
er, of deputy post-masters to-day, and light
house keepers TO morrow, a stranger would
be not unlikely to suppose that what in mod
ern parlance, is called 1.-The Cabinet for the
name is a modern importation int, this coun-
try. was little more than nominating boarC
and appointing council for the distribution
and dispensation of Executive patronage
Certainly he would be apt to imagine that i
they had any other duties TO perform they
would find it exceedingly difficult to discharg,
them with fidelity while devoting Recessdri,!
% much of their attention to What would
seem, in the judgment of the newspaper qdid
nuncs, to be the chiefend of their existence.
Here is an entire perversion of the prescrib
ed duties OF the Secretaries. They each hav
their separate Department of the public in
terest to watch over and direct. 1t was neve
designed in the organization of the executiv
government, that the Postmaster General IT,
Attorney General, or the Secretaries of Wa
and Navy, should have anything to do wit
the appointment of subordinate officers, o
that the Secretaries of War, Navy or Treas
ury should control the appointments of Post
masters. 1t is usurpation on one part, an
an unwarrantable concession and delelictio
on the Fart of those who permit the interior
ence with the proper duties of their seperat
Departments.