The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-04-21
territorial Administrator.


Senator Williams, Of Oregon, recently
introduced into the Senate 3 bill TO
prevent the absence Of territorial officers
from their official duties. The measure
came up for consideration on Friday,
when Mr.. Williams remarked that
territorial governors, judges and sec
retaries frequently absented themselves
for six months at time, to visit Wash
ington and other Eastern cities. Coming
from a State which was SO lately a
Territory, he doubtless speaks from
knowledge on this point He might
have added that these officers, as 5
general thing, are unfit and unworthy
to i'll the positions conferred upon
them.
The student of ancient history is
familiar with the Venality and corrup-
ton which attended the administration
of those satraps who were despatched
from Rome to govern the provinces.
True, there wss now and then a pro-
consul, who administered affairs in an
honest, incorruptible manner, but the
majority Of these governors lsboTed
solely TO fill their private Golfers. They
robbed and despoiled their subiecs, and
accumulated riches to scatter lavishly
on returning home. The same was true
Of the English officials sent to manage
affairs in East India Though only
one, Warren Hastings, was brought to
trial, there were score of Crown ap-
polntees whose oorruptions and mis-
deeds were notorious, and finally led
to the abolishment of the East India
Company. The East India revolt may
be directly traced TO their mal-admin-
istratiOn of affairs
We have witnessed similar condi-
ton of things in this country-the only
difference being that whereas Roman
and English officials aimed to accumu-
late wealth, our territorial officers have
eagerly grasped for both wealth and
political preferment at Washington.
Territorial government is in itself when
rightly managed, conducive to peace
and prosperity, and rests lightly upon
the people. But it is undeniahly true
that our territories have been cursed
with poor and dishonest rulers. For
example, the people of Colorado are
now bitterly complaining of those set
over them by the Government. When
they desired, in common with the
people of Nevada, to avail themselves
of the enabling act passed by Congress,
an unserupulous set of public men
among them defeated their wishes for
an admittance into the Union, simply
because they could not secure the State
berths to be filed.
The truth is, these territorial ap-
pointments have, as g general thing,
been given to broken down politicians;
men who, having failed at home, apply
for them with the hope of retrieving
themselves financially and politically.
Arriving st the scene of their intended
labors, they do not look about them in
order to promote the prosperity and
welfare of the people, but on the con-
trary engage forthwith in mining spec
ulations, or begin to figure for seats in
Congress. Appointed as favorites of
the President, they carry out his policy
and Weld to his behests. The terrific
rial history of Kansas affords abundant
proof of this fact. Governor, now Gen.
Geary, it will be remembered, threw up
his position under Mr.. Buchanan, be-
cause he could not retain it without
compromising his self-respect a.....I
On going to the Territory these Off
cials find the people aiming to advance
their individual prosperity, and giving
themselves but little trouble about
politics or government. In their eager
ness to secure political promotion, they
soon stir up dissatisfaction s,mong them
on account of their territorial condi-
ton, and lead the people to apply for
admission into the Union long before
they are prepared for or justly entitled
to such admission. As q result, We find
Territories becoming States ere they
have q population one fourth large
enough to warrant such change, or,
as in the case Of Colorado, thoroughly
dissatisfied and discontented, because
unjust hopes of adn1ission-aroused by
scheming politieians-are not reahzed.
Now, there needs to be thorough
reformation in this respect In select
ing territorial officers, the Government
must take capacity and qualifications
into consideration, and not despatch
men whose only claim to their position
lies in the fact of their having been re-
pudiated at home for supporting the
| Administration. When such reform
| is instituted, we shall witness less i'm
patience and haste on the part Of Ter
ritories to secure admittance into the
Union.-N 7, Con-. ADJ.
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