Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-04-30

AHE PAST IhE CHEAT AEAAhEA-
No blunders in Legislation or States
manship, no hollow alliances in politics,
are ever harmless. The South at length
reaped the inevitable harvest from the
seeds of mischief which it had sown.
Brought face to face with the question
whether it was the duty of Congress to
protect the right Of property in slaves in
the Territories, the National Democratic
nominating Convention Wa rent ssUn-
der, sud tCD Democratic candidates,
with distinct and ~sntagonistic platforms,
were presented 70 the People. The result
was, the success Of the Republican party,
secession, and war, with all its multi
piled horrors. The machinery Of party
and conventions, platforms, and con
~tantly recurring popular elections Of
President, could not fail to bring about
this result in the end, IL there had been
uo other cause and, God knows, the
causes were many.
The chief duty OF each new President
was 70 distribute offices among his parti-
zans, who gave him no rest, day or
night. To this was 1t last added the
onerous duty Of settling how and among
whom the profits Of contracts should be
divided. To have these matters properly
seen 70, Od0rOus delegations were sent
from great cities, members of Congress
wrangled with each other and the Presi-
dent, a. to their respective shares of the
patronage or plumber TO be dispensed.
and the merits Of rival claimants; and
the settlement Of these claims became
the gravest business Of the President for
the first three months after his installa-
ton. Wing or Democrat, he was slike
besieged and HARRISON and TAYLOR
were worried out Of existence by office
seekers, and the guarrels among the pol
iticians who took possession Of each Of
them, and coolly proceeded to arrange
for him his cabinet and diplomatic ap-
pointments.
For it is to be Known that the President
no longer had the right to select his own
Cabinet-Ministers but they were chosen
for him by his conscience keepers, with
no regard to MS opinions or preferences,
or to the qualifications Of the persons
selected, but weighing merely the claims
Of the different States to those appoint
ments, and how they were to be APP
portioned 50 as to give the least offence,
and most benefit the party.
Oaiee-seekers, numerous as the Egvp-
tian frogs, entered Washington like an
Invading army, with each new Presi-
dent. When General TAYLOR was cleo
ted, there was q large infusion Of re-
spectacle old gentlemen with white
e~ravats, the fossils Of the antediluvian
Wing period. With Mr.. BUCHANAN
came a determination Of rowdyism
and Kansas-rufianism. Men came
from the remotest corners Of the Union.
some after particular Offices, some after
no Office in general plain, Ignorant
men, many Of them, who ~innocently
imagined that al they had TO do Was 70
reach Washington, walk up 10 Mr.. b.
CHANAN's front door, inform him who
they were, and forthwith be in posses
sion of an Office. This is literally trse
aud that many Of these in a few DAYS
were pennies, some even sleeping on {
the steps Of the Treasury Building and /
Patent Office.
Under the workings Of this hideous /
and abominable system, the Depart- S
ments abounded with incompetent and q
faithless officers, who more and more {
Increased as the disease Of the Republic Z
drew near, aud were indeed the symp- C
IONS Of its dissolution. No other quail u
hcation than party fidelity was required b
with unobnoxious m~ediocrfty. to he tbe e
Commissioner Of a Bureau. or evsn a
Secretary and many Of these @apnoint Il
ments were characterized by the most OF
hideous nnatness. Secretaries A. W
were manufactured out Of peaceful - i,
yers and private gentlemen. a nrsot,a. =
continued in the COnfederaev IN - q.
midst Of q great war. Secretaries ~ 49, =
Treasury were sought for among - :
innocent Of all knowledge Of fnance Fl
and Of the course Of trade and exchange =.
There bave been Secretaries Of the Navv q,
who hardly knew one end Of a shin from Ia
ether ; and it was always desirable ~
that the Secretary Of the Interior shoDld in
a little about Patents, Pensions o.
md the Public Lands as possible. Wbue
he Heads Of Bureaus We're often mere
,~oliticians, and lawyers Of a very low nj
denomination, the Clerks did an the 81
,usiness. The allowance Of claims. or Ia,
enorts ia favour Of claims, written bv "a.
be clsimsnts or their attorneys, and the le.
vsrdiag Of profitable contracts, we're do
roe6yed BY improper influences and fer