True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-07-21
The Rotation Question.
For The True American.

Mn. EDIfoR 81 have witnessed with |
deep regret the course Of things in the
present Congressional canvass. | can bat
depIOre, the weakness and falsity of de-
signing men, witch threaten the disrup-
iiOn Of the Republican patty. in Ohio
No one can doubt, that IL the people
were left alone, free 10 act according 10
the rules and usages of the Republican
party; that it must gain in strength
and vigor. If, however. the schemes
secretly set on foot, months ago, are not
checked by the honest voters, its doom
viii be sealed. To my mind this propo-
sition is perfectly clear. There is no
Republican, but knows that the party
came into power upon the principle of
I" Rotation in Offices" and without the
recognition of that rule, the party would
not live a day. 1t is essential to a gov
eminent of the people; it is Republican
ism ITSELF And should the party aban-
don its fundamental doctrines, and set
up new creed, no one is bound to sup.
port its nominees, for they he7e been
placed in nomination in violation of its
cherished rules.
Frequent changes in the Representa-
tiVes, is requirement of the Constitution,
and its observance was urged by the early
Fathers Of the Republic, as the means Of
purifying our national councils. Not
withstandiDg, we have had long and valu-
able experience in its application the
wisdom Of the last delegation in Congress
from Ohio, have discovered that the theo.
ry Of our forefathers was wong, and that
the requirements of the constitution rested
upon false basis, that rotation in Office
was mere vagery, and that The public
wea! not only requires their return 10
Congress, but that they should be kept
there for life. Months ago the country
was flooded with letters from meddle-
some persons, outside the district 10 which
they were written, professedly confden-
tial, urging the denomination of this, or
that, particular member of Congress,
thus secretly forestalling public opinion,
and fraudulently packing the conventions
10 secure the denomination of the in.
; cumbents. In addition to this unfair and
secret effort to pack the convention, the
menial service Of low grade of letter
writers was employed that, to the dis
grace of the Ohio press. made it TEEN
weekly with fulsome puffs Of this, or
that, worthy, able and distinguished
member Of Congress" But to the crown
ing argument in favor Of their reelection,
and the continued receipt Of three thou
sand dollars per year, are theylindebted TO
one of these scurrilous letter writers, to
| the N. Y. Times, TO The effect that the
whole North, must continue their members
of Congress without change for life, be-
cause The Southern States do that thing;
that the Republicans must trample their
principles under foot, and al once abandon
the rotation principle, and as party,
solemnly declare, that God in his Provi-
dence, had at last provided the people of
Ohio with the only men that possess the
ability 10 serve them in the national
councils, and therefore, the people must
meet, and pro formu crown them in their
places for life.
To such an unwarranted, and extravi.
giant demand, as applicable 10 this 2lst
District naturally turned to the record
to see what faithful ability tile Hon. Jno.
A. Bingham could show, during the three
sessions he had been a member. | asked
what bill he had introduced What reso-
luton he had proposed! What report he
had made or What question he had
submitted !? and to all these, the record
answered, none. Finding no record. /
turned TO the subsidized press, that issued
one continued stream of laudation in bis
favor, and asked what he had done' to
which the Herald and Republican an
swered that we must initiate the South,
and school our men in public life. /
knew he had lodged many important
questions, had franked his old speeches
vemped anew 10 all parts of the District,
and had filled the mail bags with flower
seeds, TO his friends. Finding no act of
Mr.. Bingham's that warranted such iniu.
dicious and partisan conduct, on the part
of what should be an impartial press, ii
was but natural 10 inquire, whether there
was any truth in the claim, that the South
never changed their Representatives, but
kept them in Congress for life.
No absurdity ever appeared that did
not have It's honest advoca tes-deluded
they may have been, but still honest. -
How many honestly believed in the exis-