New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-05
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
TIE UNwRTTTES LAW OF PARTIES
10 tie Editor or The rriouae.

TO the Editor oil The Tribuae. lllf
SIR: Therei great vitality In the unwr;tta,,.,-1
OF political parties. Tho legislator shrinks be,or.
authority; and, In its presence the warning NJ
men, the appeals Of true patriots and the deeree. :,
statutes OF the land, become powerless At thu n,s
time, the expediency Of extending the right OF ana
and, especially the necessity Of providing efectra pe
for preserving the purity Of the ballot are oues,,
which beginning TO attract the earnest attento .
Congress, and an unusual degree Of public nteres W.
newspaper, Of which have any knowledge has .ho,ss
moro faithfully than THE NEw.YoRK TRIBUNE n ~.
duce these results general popular acknovlsdens,,
Of the existence Of material political evils ia not Re-
ever, sufficient In all cases. 10 insure their removal,
the body polite; and their extrpation becomes An go
OF great difficulty, when they their origin ana sr
port to the general prevalence Of demorazng taeo,,
and practices The power OF the sodiery OF the unI
States WILL doubt, always be able to subdue the aroS
assailants OF the Republic; but something different ,,o,
military power Is required to remove deeplyrooted ma
ltcal errors from the minds Of the people.
No legislative action OF Congress ever estabH.b
the United States true republican principles IN
"IwpartiaI Suffrage" and the "Tenure-of.o o,cs !,
while what called the patronage Of the National a.
ministraton is constantly, bg popular eos btougb,
into conflict with the freedom Of elections Tha w,sso,
Of the legislator cannot de wise means for the
evils which arc not only tolerated, but supported NV A.
influence so powerful Even II the rights Of "Inpa,,r
Suffrage" were declared by the laws of the United state,
ft would be something like heartess mOckery 70 say "a
the citizen "sIr. you have the ineshmabe nAtto
vote according your judgment and the dictates yo
conscience In casting your vote, be careful 10 preserve
the liberties of your country, and your personal d,
dependence The Government will protect you In tie
exercise of the freedom Of the elective franchise Bat
remember Sir hat IN all elections ora Presidiof ne
L.. 49,
Ttl candidate you shall be deprived, virtually Of the
right 10 hold an office OF honor or profit under the Admin
istratlon Of the successful candidate" IGff
This fair statement Of the case shows the operation o.
only one Of the principles OF the unvrtten law which has
been adopted by the political parties OF our counta
law which has maintained its evil supremacy for many
years; and neither constitutional declarations nor Coz
gressional statutes have been carried into effect VITA
more energetic fidelity. fl-
President Of the United States may, in the dscharg
Of his official duties, recommend the enactment repeal
or amendment OF laws, with the view OF bringing ns
statutes of the nation into conformity with his own p
cullar theories OF good government But as his wisdom
cannot be infallibe IT, at any time he shall sttenptH
means of official patronage and official proscrpusn,p
force his opinions members Of Congress, or on any
officers executive judicial, Of the National Govern
ment he win undertake to exercise powers which hare
not been granted to HIM either by the Constitution
the laws and which not III harmony with repubisa
principles.
The election Of President Of the United States tcs
not confer any exclusive rights upon those who yoed
him; nor does it, by the operation Of any statue,hs
from the minority who voted against him any OF ~
rights and privileges which have been granted to TIA
by the Constitution and laws Of the country The pE
lar and piratca dogma which declares that ito the We
tors belong the spois" forms no part OF the osanav
Of the public.
Wdshis gton, d. O., Jan 2s, 1869. ~.