Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-10-27
The Presidents Appointments.

We have all become so accustomed, quad
rennially to hear the clamOr of the opposi-
ton for the time being over the appoint
ments, by the Executive, of the various
officers of his administration, that no ordi
nary bowling of wolf is sufficient to startle
the people and this year the public are so
generally satisfied that the fault-fnding makes
supposed action Of our Minister 20 Spain has
furnished a fresh text fer the Jeremiahs of
the republic, and for lack Of better topics,
the unfortunate Sickles has been berated all
through the land. Even the friends of the
President feared, that for once, he had made
a grave mistake, and momentarily expected
a change. 1t now turns out, that the threat
ening note that was to plunge us into inev-
table war, was never written that the
dignifed protest, which was presented, was
inspired by the State Department, and was
received in the kindest spirit. So all the in
teresting, and other, "reminiscences Of Gen.
Sickles' carly life, which have been raked up
by enterprising journalists, have amounted
to just nothing, so far, at least, as their eff
feet on the President or his advisers is con-
cerned; and the recital Of the private life Of
this man of a stormy youth, has had just the
same influence as any other sensation story.
But as Sickles is not the only oficeholder,
so the complaints made of him do not stand
without company, and the Administration
has been a sufficient time in power to enable
men to Judge of their truth. OF course,
mistakes have been made-sOme Of them
grievous ones many of them have been cor
rected, some cannot be. 1t is idle to suppose
that any man can be sufficiently acquainted
with thousands of applicants to make always
the most judicious selections, and the infor-
nation poured in by volunteers is usually of
80 mixed a character, as to afford little real
light. For most of the weaker appointments,
we believe that Members of Congress, more
exercised as to their own reelection than the
welfare Of the public, are responsible. 1t is
hard for the most Independent President to
refuse the applications Of one hundred and
fifty Of his congressional supporters, even
when they present the name Of an Ashley.
Until we can secure a settled Civil Service
system, regulated by fixed rules, such evils
cannot be avoided by any Administration
The claims of localities are now often strong
er than the demands of fitness, for position.
and a fair allowance must be made on ac-
count of the evil practices which have become
a part Of our policy. Vet with all the draw
backs and ~hindrances, little real fault can be
found with our officials at home or abroad.
The revenues are better collected and more
sp~aringly spent than ever before our repre-
sentatives abroad, selected by the President
himself, reflect honor on our country, and
increase its influence among the nations of
the earth. 1t has been his policy not to dis
place the good men who had become famil-
iarized with their duties, and this most diff
cult resolution has had the h~appiest results.
Men of ability. have always had the happy
faculty of securing most competent ssistants
and Judged by this test, the President has
given fresh proof Of the aptitude for affairs
which his friends firmly believe him to
possess.