Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-11-24
Letter from Senex.

twenty-s several States from indirectly usurp- ing and absolutely defeating the power?
 Letter from Senex.
 Washington ?. C., Oct. 27th, 1857.
 The test for office laid down by the unani- nous consent and universal practice of the de- mocratic party, has always been, is the appli- cant honest, is he capable, is he faithful. This is the true Jeffersonian rule which experience shows works well, and no reasons exist for its change or modification. But rotationists cry out for change and wish to engraft their rule upon the creed of the democratic party of Arkansas notwithstanding the practice of that party, since the formation of this government, has been against such proscriptive policy to candidates and barefaced dictaton to the people, by in eff. feet saying you shall not re-elect whom you choose.
 To those democrats who favor the rule, for reasons perhaps of the belief that it has been the practice of the democratic party at some time, and especially the present administration, would say that the record shows the contra ", and shall from time to time give a few of the prominent instances to establish this asser. ton. To cite them all would be an endless a- bor
 Gov. Andrew Johnson has but recently been elected by the legislature of Tennessee, to the United States Senate for 6 years from the 4th of last March. There was no opposition to his election in the democratic party, and his election shows that the democracy of Tennessee do not practice rotation. He has been elected to office by the democrats of his county, congressional district and State, at every election that has taken place in the State for the last twenty one years, with the exception of one term the opposition in 1851, having a majority of the legislature, Renrymandered his congressional district, to prevent the possibility of the elec- ton of democrat. He was elected and re- elected to the Legislature for several years was elected and reelected to Congress for many years, and after the opposition made his dis trct hopelessy against him, he was elected governor of the State in 1853; and Was again reelected governor of the State in 1855. He declined being a candidadate for governor at the last election, but it seems the democrats of Tennessee did not wish to prescribe him be- cause he had held office so long and 50 faith. fully, and have sent him to the Senate electing him before his term of office as governor ex- prires.
 Two changes have taken place in the heads of bureaus here since my last. Col. Ppillps of Eirrrio eth uditor bas haar rornovaI a,l Dr. Tate of the same State appointed. Col. Phillips was appointed by the last administra- ton, and his removal, as 1 understand, was solely upon personal grounds. Hon. J ohn B. Floyd Secretary of War, being friend and warm advocate of the new appointee, succeed ed ill bringing sufficient influence to remove Col. F., and has thus rewarded friend The only charges that have heard as made against Col F., was that he was very active, while a public officer n his efforts to secure the re-nom- ination of Mir. Pierce, went to the Cincinnati Convention and was quite active there against the nomination of Mir. Buchanan Whether or not this was the cause of his removal can not say; certain l am, however, that rotation had nothing to do with it.
 The other case is the removal of J. M Brod- head 2d Comptroller of the Treasury, and the appointment of James Madison Cutts, the fath- erin law of Senator Douglas Why the remo- val and appointment was made I cannot say, but do say that family" or "rotarion" had nothing to do with it. Mir. Cutts father was appointed 2d Comptroller 40 years ago, and the new appointee has been employed in the office as clerk for more than 20 years, and was at the time of his appointment employed as such. But he has been rotated from a clerk ship to the head of the bureau. The reason assigned for the appointment of MT. C., is that he has been employed in the office for many years and is familiar with the whole operation of the admirable financial system which now exists, would have compelled the rotationists to prescribe him.
 If the proscriptonists can make any capital out of these changes, and in fact all that have been, or will be made by the administration here and will still insist it is with them, they have started out with the determination of being easily satisfied.
 These are the only removals that have taken place here since the 1st of July, with the ex- ception of some 10 or 12 clerks in the depart- ments, for Know Nottingham and black repub- licansism, or sympathy herewith, inefflcency and neglect of duty. ! state what cannot be con- troverted; hot not one person out of he 15OO employed here, has been removed upon the ground of rotation. Furthermore, that in the federal offices throughout this government that rule has not operated. All of the changes that have taken place were effected by the democrats in the localities of the offices, desiring them upon the grounds of fitness of the applicant to discharge the duties of the office, and that the public service and the interests of the demo- cratic party required a change.
 SENEX