Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-06-27
Office and the Union.

ecuting the War for the Union, no party and
no political distinction shall be known but
that of Unionists and Secessionits. He who
is for the Union frankly, heartily, uncon-
ditionally-is entitled to any appointment or
position in the Military service of the ccun-
try that his abilities and character will com-
mand, and the fact that he supported for
President, Lincoln, Bell, Douglas, or Breck-
inrldge. is not to be coasi dered in assigning
that position. Gen. Butler, Gen. Dix, and
hundreds more such, obtain coveted COM
mands and commissions in the service,
| whether regular or volunteer. not by favor of
the President, not as implying or involving
any change in their political convictions or
relations, but as simple, nakad right. The
fact-if it be fact-thst they would vote TO
oust the Administration Tomorrow does not
initiate in the smallest degree against their
right to be treated by that Administration
quite as we'll as they treat Messrs. Banks,
Fremont, and other eminent Republicans
In preparing and providing for the defence
Of the Union, party politics are not allowed
| to be considered.
Should this rule be extended to civI Offices
as we'll Anti>Republicans say it should,
and clutch at now and then a careless SEN
tence in the Tribune as favorng their posi-
tion. We think differently and here are
our reasons:
The modern Democratic party, based on
the comb nation of Crawford, Calhoun, and
Jackson MN to oust Messrs. Adams and
Clay, succeeded in power an Administration
which never removed man from Office be-
cause Of lis politics. The new dynasty de-
| liberately changed all this, substituting for
the broadest toleration a systematic pro-
scription. We are not arguing that this was
right or wrong: we simply state historical,
undeniable facts.
The late Administration claimed to be
lineal successor of Gen. Jackson's, and acted
on the principle established by him of 8. re-
warding friends and furnishing enemies."-
No Republican was placed by it in any civil
station that Democrat wanted, nor left in
one unless in the very rare instance where a
Republican was deemed peculiarly if not ex-
clusively qualified. We doubt that fpe Re-
pubicans in all were in Office under the Fed.
eral Government in this city on the day of
the late Presidential election. Mr.. Lincoln
was chosen in defiance of desperate exer.
tions and heavy contributions from this army
of officeholders. Those who, for eight years
at least, had been vigorously prescribed,
now came into power. Would it be Just, or
wise, or human, to keep in Office all or the
bulk Of these defeated proscriptionsts i? Are
they to obtain Office by the narrowest pro-
scription and hold it by the broadest toler-
tion
Wesay No-em phatically No-that would
be monstrously wrong. Whenever the Dem.
cratic party shall be willing to divide the Of
fees fairly between the parties, and esta5>
fish irrevocably the rule that no man shall
be turned out of Government place whereof
the emoluments fall short of $4,000 per an
mum, rave upon proof and impartial judg.
ment of incompetency or unfaithfulpess on
his part we shall be NEST happy to unite with
them ir establishing that rule. But, SO long
as they uphold and enforce the systematic
prescription If their opponents, we cannot
consent that they shall be exempted from
the less agreeable application Of their own
rule.
Rtrk ha T. Al II +
that ?" Let us see:
The Republicans having elected Pres- |
dent, portion of the Democrats fermented !
rebellion with view to cissolving the |
Union. The residue of the Democrats unite
with the Republicans simply and only IN |
maintaining and defending the Union. This
is right and patriotic. But nobody would |
have denied that, had there been no rebel |
lion, the Offices would have enured to the Re- I
publieans. They claim them now. Does
the fact that half the Democrats Aaue rebeled
against the Un,on inUaiidate this claimp We
think not. We hold it simple, natural. un-
deniable justice that those who have, during
the last eight years, 80 vigorously prescribed |
the Republicans, should now give place to
them. If the long established Democratic
rule with regard to victors and spoils be the
true one, then there is no more to be said.
lfit be-as we hold it-unsound, then pro-
scription should be rebutted by displacing
those who established, enforced, and have
profted by it.
Five. sixtbs of the persons now in the Rev
eDue service at this port are Democrats who
suppanted men at least as good as Them
selves on purely political grounds. They
have had good time by virtue of that
change: it is now time for another. We in
sist that that other be made systematically
and soon.
sGr A great many Southerners are send.
ing their families North for protection, vet
they talk about the horrible and barbarous
war of extermin alton the North is wagihg
against them. Will any gentleman Of seces.
sion procliyities, tell as whether this isn't the
first instance on record where party at war
have cent their women and children to their &
enemies from protection