Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-01-22

tinct. However, all this is but the natural Sc.
quel of the prevalence of the doctrine that places
in public employment, instead of being honors
and trusts requiring in return, full and fair
equivalents to be rendered to the Government,
are mere "spOils." The idea that any man or
interest has the right to Office carries with it ne
cessarily, the corollary, that the pay incident
to Office is reward, not to the faithful and eff
cent discharge of official duties, but for partzan
services at the polls and elsewhere-a doctrine
nowhere to be found in the Constitution, or laws
of the land. The introduction of Mr.. Smiths
bill, is indeed very palpable stride on the road
to the adoption of the practices which prevailed
in old Rome at the period when her society and
government was most corrupt; that is, when
her offices were auctioned of, and the Emperor s
fayorite horse, if we mistake not, was invested
with the functions of the Consulate. So we are
going.
PRESIDENTIAL DUTIES AND PRESIDENTIAL
ANNOYAYCEs. The Journal of Commerce,
that so universally says the right things at the
right time and in the right way, discourses
somewhat philosophically over that most inter-
minable bore-the avalanche of curiosity mon
gers and seekers after small offices that hangs
upon the White House, an utterly insupport-
able incubus. 1t was the death of President
Harrison, if not of President Taylor President
Buchanan, being Injured to standing such
boring by his long previous connection with
official life here, has not had his CONSTITUTE ton
affected by it. Nevertheless, that it has proved
serious interruption to his discharge of more
or less of his public duties, there can be no
doubt. We quote the article from the Journal
Of Commerce on the subject, in the hope that
its republication here may have the effect of
inducing such people to abstain from crowding
upon the Executive at all hours--in season and
out of season:
at cannot have escaped the observation of
gentlemen accustomed to visit Washington, and
at all familiar with official life in that CITY, that
avery large proportion of the time of the officers
OF the Government is occupied by persons having
no business to transact, or any excuse beyond a
mere idle curiosity, for intruding upon them,
during the hours demanded for official business
Our institutions are republican, or, IL the reader
chooses, democratic in their character, and we
would 60 as far as any reasonable person could
desire, in Justifying and sustaining the simplest
and most democratic customs, in the relations Of
our Federal officers to the people at large.
",
the varied interests of the people, and such the
facilities for travel that the capital is constantly
filled with visitors from every part of the land
not excepting the red men Of the Wilderness
Americans are blessed with a large share OF Gu
riosity, aud of the thousands who visit Washing
ton every week, few ladies or gentlemen would
return satisfied had they not visited the President
of the United States. The levees, which are
public to eveTyt ody, to all classes and condi-
lions Of mes and women too, afford very @ God
opportunity for the qualification of this curiosity
nj lnuo fnrd Stir nftn
these occasions is becoming large as to posi-
lively be a burden aud hardship upon the Pres
ident and his family These levees are crowded
bv every class of people, from Senators to coach
men, from ladies OF title to servant girls, and are
becoming almost beyond the capacity of the
White House.
But apart from these public receptions, the
Presidents business hours are intruded upon
constantly by persons having no business with
him, and who merely call to pay their respects )
And beyond this, thousands who have business
OF some sort with the Government imagine it can
olly be done with the President himself, where
as IT most likely belongs appropriately to some
of the Cabinet officers, or perhaps to some subor-
dinate Bureau through which it must pass
The nature of our institutions has had ter.
dency to encourage this practice, and to carry il
almost to the extreme point at which a d ffefent
one must inevitably be adopted. At the present
time 1t is next to impossible for the President to
discharge his official duties, OH account Of the
great inroads made upon his time in matters
which have no necessary relation To the Execu-
tive department. or which AT all events oup bit
not to be carried before the President except
through the appropriate channels We imagine
that the day is not far distant, when the PTesi-
dent will be obliged TO adopt a standing rule to
admit no one whose business does not immedi-
ately and appropriately come under his direction
and control. such a system would not only re-
lieve him from very great annoyance but would
enable him to give a suitable hearin. to those
whose applications or business require hearing
by the Chief Magistrate. This he is often una,
bic to do; and perhaps; as d matter of necessity
important cases are decided where the parties
feel that they have not been fairly presented and
understood
"A proper appreciation of the circumstances
ana customs to which we have referred on the
part of persons visiting Washington on business
or pleasure, would doubtless lead to a very con-
siderable reform. Individuals while they think
their own case will occupy but little time, do
not reflect that thousands are in the same posi- =
ton, and that 1t is the aggregate Of these annoy
ances which makes the system so buriensomp
and which must, at no distant day. lead to a
compulsory change, unless the good sense of the
people should lead them voluntarily to abate the
evil.n
FISAscIAL.-Sweeny, Rittenhouse, FAINT 4
Co bankers, quote stocks, currency land war.
rants, &C., to-day, as follows, viz: