Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-05-04
The Spoils-The Spoils.

Alexandria Sentinel We extract the following par
ayaph:
Mr.. Thomas j. Suttcr. Of New Jersey has been
appsiuted public gardener, in the place OF james
Maher, deceased. He was strongly recommended
for the situation by a large number of the most
prominent men in his State, and doubt not from
the character Of his recommendations, that he
will fully meet the wishes and expectations of all
who feel an interest in the Improvement aud
adjournment Of the public grounds. lleis Jersey
blue by birth and in spirit.
If any one, during the Presidency OF Washing
ton or Madison or Monroe, had predicted that the
'spoils' principle in American politics would be
carried to the extent developed in the above OK
madman. At that time the very highest Offices
were conferred upon the best men, without refer
cncc either to party services Or to the force and
influence Of recommendations. At this day. to
such an extent has the pursuit Of the "sp'ils'
carried the American Democracy, that not even
SO humble an officer as the public gardener can be
appointed without the aid of political influence
and the Recommendations Of tho " most rromi
nent men Of the State
Old Jimmy Maher." who has been the public
gardener for twenty five years. was good-humor-
ed lrishman who was appointed during the Ad-
ministration Of Gen. Jackson. We donot SUPPOSE
there ever was Wing in the Union who thought
Jimmy Makers Office a political one. lie WAS a
Democrat-but he held Office during Gen. llarri-
sons, Gen. Taylors, and Mr.. Fillmore Admins
trations. We do not suppose that i, ever occurred
to either Of those Presidents that the oifee of
public gardener had any connection whatever
with politics. Possibly. If such idea had
effected q Judgment in their minds. they would
have removed Jimmy Mahcr from his humble
Office and appointed some partisan who like jim
my's successor, came recommended by IA large
number Of the most prominent men in his State
The public gardener in Wash;ngto is officer
who simply superintends The Presidents flower
garden, and the National Conservatory below tho
Capitol, whore there are some rare plants and OK
oGcs. IL tho most acute intellect in the Union
can discover any connection between the duties Of
such an Office and the principles of the Democratic
party. we will surrender the question Ii Democracy
makes man better judge OF botany, and of the
proper mode Of taking care of Government flow
ers, we confess that have, heretofore, been in
profound ignorance of the fact
Makers successor that strikes ut the root of the
matter. 1t is the fact-thc shameful and discred-
liable fact-that this humble Office having not the
remotest connection with politics in any shape or
form, was made the subject Of grave delibera,ion
by the Chief Executive officer of the Nation. and
was at last awarded to man who came "recom-
mended by large number of the most prominent
men in New jersey" and who, we are further in
formed, is a Jersey blue by birth and in spirit"
Our readers need not to be told that by this last
expression the writer simply meant that Mr.. SUIT
ter is modern Democrat,
Think Of it! The President of the United
Statcs-the man who occupies, VIC are often told,
the highest civil station in the world grayely sit
ting down TO award the humblcst Office in the
land to the man who could bring the best crcd,n-
tials of his Democracy! Perhaps even his Cnbi.
net were summoned around him-summvnci, aot
to discuss the weighty affairs of S,ate-not to
canvass the probabilities Of war in Europe. and
the supposed effect of such a war upon the inter
ests Of the United Sta,cs-not to investigate the
general financial affairs Of the Great Republic
not to deliberate upon those great questions of
practical political economy which are popularity
supposed to occupy statesmen in their closets and
Cabinet Ministers around the Council board
None al those! The President of the United
States summons his CONSTITUTIONAL advisers for
no such purpose. lie summons them to deter.
mine which one Of the dozen Democrats who are
applying for the Office of Public Gardener comes
best recommended by 'the larges, number of the
most prominent men, and> furnishes the most
satisfactory and unimpcachable evidence of his
genuine Democracy! What Notifying and bu.
initiating reflection! What n cheapeaino Of the
high Office Of President of the United States
What a sad commentary upon the debasinc. de-
moralsing. and corrupt spells doctrine Of III,
Democratic party!
The most prominent men recommended Mr.
Sntter, 1t seams. Not only the most promiucn
men. but Large number of them Senator's
no doubt-Mr. Thompson and Mr.. Wright. Rep
resentatives, no doubt-Memlers of the Asscmbl,
High Federal and State oficias-pcrhap. III,
Chief Executive Of the Commonwealth him. elf
All this certifying and recommending done to SO
cure for particular man the Office Of gardener t.
the President Of tho United s'atesl
Wswill undertake TO soy that these certificates
all laid strsss.upon the fact that Suffers chic
quali6mtisn consisted in the circumstance tim
he was . De,nocrat-perhaps that he had "co,,tri
butsd' tssas success u Mr.. Buchanan in Ne,
Jerrey. sTbuss are Ne all indebted to this appin,
psnt fae3bA diseoysry Of q fact not heretofor
known 10 Tie poople Of the United States hat