Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-04

[From the Providense n L. Jcurnal.l
Never before since the practice of remov-
sls from Office for politlcal reasons was es
tablished by Andrew Jackson, has there been
an administration SO tolerant of its oppo.
nents as this and there has been none more
abused by the Democrats for doing partially
what they have done uniformly and thor
oughly. After a contest of remarkable Bit
terness, and in which the successful candi-
date had been misrepresented and SANDER
ed, even beyond the ordinary measure Of
American politics, the new administration
hnd every place in the government ia the
hands Of its enemies, and full half Of them in
the hands Of the enemies Of the government
itself, men who with parrieidsl hands were
striking at the Union, which not only pro-
tected them, but fed them. Those who
we're not openly disloyal, represented not
The Democrats party at large, but the great
er part of them, thai faction Of It which had
deliberately planned and ruthlessly carried
out the rebellion in which their chief has
since openly and actively engaged, aT
II Mr.. Lincoln had decided to break down
wholly, as he has in large degree, the spoil
system which the Democrats inaugurated,
and have always practiced upon, and never
50 much as under the last administration,
had he determined to distribute the govern
ment patronage. ratably among the political
parties, he would still have been obliged to
remove the gtea ef portion Of the Office hold
ers, for they belonged mainly, not only TO
the minority, but the smallest faction of the
minority. Fore sight years efery man enter
tanning republican doctrines, has been ostra-
cised by the FedeTal GoFsFnment. he might
better haEe haen a-heathen so far as his
chances for place Refe concerned. 81 q
For four years every man entertaining the
dOctrines that were accepted by the majority
of the Democratic party IN The North, and BY
large numbers in the South; was equally Os.
tracised, and allthe patronage OF the Gpy-
eminent was given according to the wishes
and in furtherance Of the designs of men
whose primary object was the psrpetnaton.
and extension Of slavery, and who did NOT
hesitate at the overthrow Of the Government
in the fnrthersnee Of that purpose. We do
not say that all the Office holders were Of
that class; We should do great injustice to
loyal and honorable men Ia orr own State if
we did; bat we say that such was the spirit
that controlled the admiRistration, and that
such was the temper IN which the offices
we're distributed. ---.-.----.
No man who made himself conspicuously
unacceptable to that spirit and temper could
hope for favor from Mr. Buchanan. A DOUG
la5 man, Who believed that the people Of q
territory should be permitted to decide for
themselves if they would have free labor or
slavery, was in the eyes Of the administration
as much herstic as Black Republican, or
even an Aboiitionist,
Such was the state Of the public Offices
when Mr. Lincoln acceded to power. The
depai tnients st Washington were full Of men
who hardly made decent .pretext for eons
eealing their treason. The President could
not give an order, bat the chances wero that
it would pass through the hands of seces-
sionist on the way TO its execution. Nearly
all our diplomatic and consular agents were
In the interest of the Confederacy; one Of
them forwarded to the Confederate authorities
lists of American vessels about to sail, with
the dates of their departure, 80 that the priva-
teers in their service might the more con-
Feniently prey upon the commerce ths. the
pirstical traitor was paid for protecting
Others busted themselves in persuading the
governments to which they were accredited
that the Union was falling to pieces, and
that their interests pointed them to the South
ern portion Of il. Etg H
After all the ciamor that has been made
shout the ''proscription'' Of this Admins
tration, we have no doubt that the proportion
Of Democrats in Office to-day is greater thar
the proportion Of Democratic voters in thl
loyal States and leaving out of the accoun
those who were removed for disloyalty, tn
proportion would be very, much greater
Apart from questions Of loyalty, no admins
trstiou has ever bad so much cause for intol
erance, and none have exercised 50 muci
tOleration.