Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-08-14
From the Richmond Enquirer.I

OF all the duties that devolve upon the Govern
ment of the Confederate States, the OF filling
the offices is the most delicate the most ungrateful
and the most to be dreaded. The opinion expressed
by Henry Clay forty years since to the effect
that President of the United States co lid make
himself popular through the power and patronage
of his Office, was erroneous, as subsequent eXpe-
rience abundantly demonstrated to the satisfaction
of that great statesman himself Distinguished men
of both the original parties, expressed the
tinent carly in the career of the Federal Govern
ment but it may he safely assumed that most if
not all of them lived long enough to be convinced of
their mistake. They must have found out that the
patronage which is justly regarded as "source of
strength" to an absolute or mOnarchical govern
ment is source of weakness in 4 Republic upon
the model" Of the one of 1881. Certain it is that
under that SYSTEM the oice-holders in constant
danger of being superseded 10y the office seekers
In a country theoretically Free there will always
he numbers of applicants for every place to be filed
Dean Swift said: If have office to beStow,
make ungrateful friend, and an enemy Of every
disappointed applicant" His remark finds an apt
illustration in the history of the politics and poti-
clans of the late United States. Impartial history
tells that when failed to obtain the posts to
which they aspired under that government, they
next sought them through attempts to expel its ad
sninistrators from power.
Of the several honest and patriotic Presidents of
the United States, it is not believed that one
strengthened his popularity in the least, by the
ercise of the appointing power. On the contrary,
there is every reason to believe that they all found
it great source of annoyance, embarrassment, and
injury to themselves and to their respective ad-
1ninistrationS
Gen. Washington is said to have expressed the
opinion that he had lost many friends, including
some Of deserved influence, in consequence of his
inability to provide for them according to their
wishes, and his own sense of their actual merits
Jefferson, in several of his letters, speaks of the
facility with which professed friends of his were
changed into open foes by the official announcement
that others had been chosen for positions upon
which they had set their hearts. Jackson made
removals from Office, and of course conferred
appointments upon a larger number Of friends than
any of his predecessors had done And yet it is
clearly demonstrate, that jackson lost more than
he gained by the of the appointing power. This
will he manifest to the reader when he sees from the
record, that in the election of 1882, jackson lost
seriously upon his vote of 1928, in New York city,
Philadelphia, and all other places phere lie had
mule the most appointments, notwithstanding the
overwhelming increase of his vote in all the rural
districts of the United States. OF the Presidents
after Jackson the most of Them in the dispensation
Of patronage acted on the principle ITO the victors
belong the spoils y and yet, not one of them was
able to secure his reelection, and but of them
was honored with denomination at the hands of
his party.
President Davis and his Cabinet will, we have
no doubt give heed to the lesson of history from
the chapter here quoted 1t proves that tie power
Of appointment is a source of weakness rather than
OF strength-of danger rather than of safety to an
administration founded upon the popular will. 1t
aduloaishes them Of the inexpedency of attempting
to fortlfy their official position by rcwardng friends
and furnishing foes, BY any system of personal par
tizanship and favoritisn. We are happy to believe
however that President Davis and his advisers need
no such monitor to impel them to the discharge of
patriotic duty. We believe all the ends they aim
at are their eQlnrys-that they look to the veal of
the Confederate States their guide and the good
OF those States as their end With these objects
steadily in view, they will be sustained as were the
administrations of Washington, Jefferson Madison
and disadvantages the deserticn and denuncia-
ton of disappointed aspirants.
The Confederate administration occupy a pecu-
liarly favorable position for the Inauguration of the
true yfuture policy Of our country. They are in
power through the united action of the seeded
States, and not through any party in these States
They are therefore, called upon to rise above all
personal and partizan considerations, in the ap-
poIntment OF the men whom they call to their assis-
lance IN putting the new government into motion
The old JeHersonian rule Of appointment is we
think, one upon which they can make no improve
ment We know not what better tests can be re-
CURED than honesty. capacity and fidety-hones-
~ in public and private ife-capacty to understand
and to discharge the duties assnmed-and fidelity
10 the country to which their allegiance is due; fl.
aety to the Government and to the institutions of
the Confederate States. The man who will come
July up to these requirements should be regarded
as et'gtete to place under our Government
oo,ne OIL our contemporaries apprehensive that
Northern men, throug Oh their tact and cunning. will
obtain many offices at the hands of the Confederate
government and exert malign influence upon il.
Ye do not share in this apprehension, because we
have too much confidence in the fidelity and vigi-
sieve thatthey will admit Northern enemies To a
participation in its hcnors epl ,moluments.
Some advise, as a precautionary measure that
the exclusion Of all Yankees from Office be inserted