Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-08-09

appolnruent 10 o
n, ~ ~ dut,ss that devolve upon the Gov
.u,.n, of ,bs Confederate States, the one OIL
en-. ,,o o@ces is the most delicate, the most
nnero,efnl and the most to be dread'd- Iheop'h-
ion expressed By Henry Clay, some forty years
.;ncs n the. feet that 8 President OF the oni'
..a s,.,es could make himself popular through
49, rorer and patronage of his office, was
s-roneous, as subsequent experience abundant
r. demonstrated to the satisfaction OF that
.-e.. statesman himself. Distinguished men
Of both the original parties, expressed tue same
continent early in the career of the Federal
Government; but it may be safely assumed
.bs, most. ii not all Of them lived long enough
- be convinced of their mistake. They must
have found out that the patronage which IS
;,s,lv regarded as a "source of strength to
-, absolute or o monarchical government, IS a
eo,,c. Of weakness in a Republic upon the
unod.i" Of the ono of 1857. Certain 1t is,
that under that system, the othce'holders are
in constan, danger Of being superseded by the
cf6ce seekers. In a country theoretically free,
there will always be numbers Of applicants for
every place to be filled. Dean Swift said: IF
have an ofico to bestow, l make one ungrateful
friend and an enemy Of every disappointed
applicant" His remark iads an apt illus.
.ra,ion in the history of the politics and poll
sicisus of the late United States. Impartial
history tells US that when men failed to ob-
tain the pests to which they aspired, under
that government, they next sought them
through attempts to expel its administrators
from power.
OF the several honest and patriotic Presi-
denis Of the United States, it is not believed
that one strengthened his popularity in the
least, by the exercise of the appointing power.
On the contrary, there is every reason to be.
lieve that they all found it G source Of great
annoyance, embarrassment and injury to them
selves ard TO their respective administrations.
Gen. Washington is said to have expressed
the opinion that lie had lost many friends
Including some Of deserved inhuence-in con-
sequence o! his inability to provide for them
according to their wishes, and his own sense
OF their actual merits. Jefferson, in several of
bis !e tiers, speaks Of the facility with which
protested friends Of his were changed into
open foes ov the official announcement that
oth.rs had been chosen for positions upon
which lney had set their hearts. Jackson,
made more removals from Office, and Of
course, conferred appointments upon 4 larger
number Of friends than any Of his Predeces.
sors had done. And yet it is clearly demon.
s,.ablc, thst Jackson lost moro than be gain.
ed oy TIE use Of the appointing power. This
will b. ~n,anlfest to tho reader when he sees
from the record, that in the election Of 1882,
jackson lost seriously upon his vote Of 1928,
in. Nav York City, Philadelphia, and all other
places paers he had made The naostappointments,
notwithstanding the overwhelming increase Of
bis vote 10 all the rural districts of the United
S:a!es. Or tho Presidents after Jackson, the
most o:thsm, in the d~ispensation Of patronage,
acted On the principle, ITO the yictors belong
the spells )" and yet not one Of them was able
to secure his re election, and but one of them
vas honored with e denomination Mt the hands
Of hiS party.
President Davis and bis Cabinet will, we
have no doubt, give heed to the lesson of his
tory from the chapter here quoted. 1t proves
that the power OF appointment is a source Of
weakness rather than Of strengthen danger
rather than of safety to an administration
founded upon the popular will. 1t adnonishes
them OF the iuexpediency Of attempting to
fortfy their official position by reEarding
friends aud Furnishing foes, BY any system Of
personal par;izanship and favoritism. We are
happy to believe, however, that President Davis
ard his advisers need no such monitor to impel
them to the discharge of patriotic duty. We
believe that all the ends they aim at are their
eouatry's-that they look to the will of the
Confederate States as their guide, and the good
oftncse States as their end. With these objects
steadily in view, they will be sustained, as were
tie administrations of Washington, Jefferson,
Madison and Ja~ckson-maugre the d~esertion
aod denruciation of disappointed aspirants-
Lax VI OSSupJ u
peculiarly favorable position for the Inaugural.
ton OF The true future policy ct'our country.
They ere 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 par.
tizan considerations in the appointment Of the
men whom they call to their assistance in put.
ting the new government in motion. The old
Jefersonian rule of appointment is, We think,
ono upon which they can make no improve.
ment We know not what better tests can be
required than honesty, capacity, and fidelity
honesty in public and private life-capacity, to
understand and.to discharge the duties assumed
.-and fidelity to the country to which their
allegiance Is due; fidelity to the Government,
and to the institutions of the Confederate
States. Tae mac who will come fully up to
these rsq lirsments should be regarded as eli.
gibbs to Il place under our Government
S, me- of our cotemporaries are spprehcnsive
that Northern men, through their tact and Gun,
Ing, VIII obtain many Offices at the hands Of the
Confederate Government and exert q malign
influence upon it We do not share in this
apprehension, because we have too much con-
f1ence in The fidelity and vigilance Of those ct
the head Of tho government to believe that
they will admit its Northern enemies to 4 par.
ticipation in its honors aud ~eHoluments.
Some advise, as a precautionary measure,
A.. ...i:.- .r ~ U..~. ~ =. L.