Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1858-03-11
Presidential Patronage.

Gen. JACKSON was the first of the
American presidents who disregarded
that " decent respect for the opinions of
mankind" which required that remoya!
of subordinates from Offices should be
justified by at least some pretext other
than the party relation of the incumbent.
lie inaugurated the system Of removal of
officials of every grade for that cause
alone, to make room for the clamorous ap-
plicants Of his own party, boldly defend
ing it on the ground of the right which
power gives. Succeeding presidents have
followed his =" illustrious" precedent. 1t
has become the established rule that ey-
cry office under government which either
lucre or ambition might covet, is consid-
cred perquisite of the innings" and
is made to change incumbents with each
change Of administration. The old JEFF
fersonian inquiries-"is be honest ?"
=" is he faithful :" :" is he capable ?" are
superseded by the epigrammatic motto,
(" TO the victors belong the spoils." But
it was reserved for Mr.. BUCHANAN to
bring this policy to its grand culmina-
ton, in the removal of his own appoint
ees and par,izan friends for a mere diff
ference of opinion on single and minor
question of national policy-and that
question the Lecompton atrocity-the
true record of which, and of the presi-
dents completely Herewith, history will
indite with reluctance, and the American
citizen of a future day be unable to read
without blush.
The immense patronage of the presi-
dental office, giving to its dispenser the
practical control of branches, which, by
the theory of our government, are, and
in practice should be, independent of the
Executive, is an anomaly in our Repub-
lican system-a relic of old-time despot-
isms-alike inimical to the rights of the
people and of the State. The security of
the people in the enjoyment of their free
dom and franchises. demands its abate-
ment. We verify believe, as we devout-
ly pray, that leading feature of the next
great overturn in the onward progress of
civilization, will be great reduction, if
not the entire abolition, of so dangerous
means of tyranny-unless, indeed, by
the voluntary introduction of this and
kindred ameliorations, as the advancing
public sentiment demands them, sudden
and violent changes of the forms and in
stitutions of government are forestalled
and prevented.
Such an abuse of the appointing pow
er as we are now Witnessing, on the part
of the present chief executive, in arbi-
trary and untimely removals, and in the
Withholding, for nearly or quite year,
of large number of the most desirable
as if for the purpose of re-
tanning in his own hands the means of
corrupay influencing the legislation of
the present congress-and, if not grossly
slandered, is actually using them for that
purpose-making himself, in effect, law
maker, whom the people elected only to
execute the laws-may well direct the
attention of the people to a power SO
fraught with facilities and inducements
for corruption-impediments to a fair
representation of their rights and wishes,
and to just and impartial Legislation. 1t
is well for the people Of all the States to
beware, in time, of an engine which may,
at any time, be turned against any of
themselves, to deprive of rights or to
impose wrongs, as now it is employed
against their fellow citizens in Kansas
The beginnings of a tendency to cen
talization, or of encroachment by the
central power upon State sovereignty,
should be watched and rebutted with
jealous care. A few steps further in the
now progressing dcgeneracy, and our
elective chief magistracy will become
quadrennial aristocrcy, having, except
as to duration, less effectual limitations
than some Of the confessed monarchies of
the old world, and welding. for the en-
forccment of its DEGREES and the achieve
ment of its purposes, more powerful
weapon than the sword-piz: PLUMBER.
E- We desire to call the attention of
hose Interested To the advertisement of