The New York herald., 1869-05-04
IHE ADMINISTRA

WASHINGTON, May Q, 1869.
The experience OF the most observing men at the
capital does not recall period in the history Of any
administration showing parallel to the dissatsiac-
ton that now preveils IN the party in power In con-
sequence OF the extraordinary distribution Of the
Official patronage. The scenes and scrambies tina.
have been exhibited here during the past two
months have been beyond comparison disgusting,
and almost beyond the hope OF reconciliation, de-
moralizing.
The greater portion Of the prevalent discontent
has been ocaasioned 10y the peculiar and extraordi-
pary the President has made OF his appointing
prerogave, and If there have been no open and
positive demonstrations, expressive Of disapproba-
ton and indicative OF the most positive evidence of
dissatisfaction, It is attributable to an over
ruling necessity to preserve the political
peace, rather t;an to the existence OF predominant
ing spirit of federation ana forbearlncc
With the absence OF members OF Congress all
efforts their part to obtain oice for their friends
have ceased, and this circumstance Is beginning TO
reveal the state OF feeling produced by the unavail-
ing solicitations that have fallen cold upon the OF
the Executive.
The resolution offered on the last day Of the session
by Senator Carpenter calling upon the heads Of the
departments at Washington for such data as would
furnish the number OF appointees from each State.
the length OF time they had resided IN such State
prior to their appointment, and the names of the
persons upon whose recommendations they were ap
pointed, had more Significance than appeared at the
time II was submitted.
II the asseverations OF members may be regarded
as conc usive testimony they were, IN numerous
instances, utterly powerless to serve their constu
ents In the way OF appointments from the fact that
the President had appropriated SO many places for
friends whom he desired to gratifs by comforting
upon them some place OF honor or pvht
III 4. A..sf.
tan o6iees 70 confer it ia armeA ria. the President
appropriated two and made the appointments
against the remembrance Of the entire delegation
for the mere qualification Of personal wish. But
such complaints are numerous, and there Is scarcely
member who Is ready TO confess 10 any obligation
to the appointing power for the recognition OF
gle recommendation for once.
But the dissatisfaction general 1t is is not
fined to the President. Since the scramble for Office
commenced there has been feeling OF distrust not
only between members from the same State,
put among members from different states. For
q long time q system has prevailed recognizing
the local privileges Of members-assgning to each
his field Of operation in the distribution OF
government employment. For example, a men,
Der of the House has been allowed to
designate the appointees for his district con.
cedng to Senators certain general privileges.
But latterly there has been an oversteppng of the
allotted bounds. Members have been encroaching
upon each others territory and have even gone 50
lar as 10 transcend the boundaries Of States For
example, member has q friend residing IN & State
remote from the one he represents. This friend Is
repudiated by the members OF the state TO which he
properly belongs. The member who proposes to
adopt him has lin appointed and charged to his
state, and when his colleagues TO ask for Gp-
polntments they find that they have accomplished
the sum OF their allotment by the preerment Of i.
ported population.
Another loose practice that preva,s is for men,
bcrs TO sign recommendai!.;ls unfortunately Tor
persons to retain ana lc sci places without regard
to locality sg often without regard TO merit or pre-
v,us political condition; so that they are guilty Of
the inconsistency OF sometimes preferring adven'
turers to their own constituents, and 0. recon-.
mending persons for 5ace without any knowledge
OF their merits.
0senato- Ti-,mbun comprehendcd the ultimate con-
sequence OF the loose practices OF members and OF
tho ~eqradiag occupation TO which members conde.
scend In becoming the mere solicitors OF an ONCE
begQing crowd who make their periodical appeals
for government benefits. IL was vrtuous precept
advanced by the senator that ONCE should be the
price of good behavior, and II was well sustained
by his threat to make II penal onence for mem
bers TO solicit Office. But mark the response Of Mr..
Tessandea, n he wanted to be good fellow he
must follow the example Of other good fellows and
tre,ige the rounds of the departments begging clerk
ships Mr.. Fcssenden's idea Is the popular one, not
| because they are over anxious to serve their con.
sttuents but because they desire 10 retain control
over a little patronage. Mr.. Trumbu will never
succeed In making II penal offence for members to
solicit .ofYice. TOO many members have sons and
other relatives for whom they wish TO provide, and
| they will never vote that II Is crime to provide
| for their own families, whatever becomes OF their
The appointing business has been unfortunate IN
| itsconseauences IRON the very beginning. There is
| apparently no permanency to the present Cabinet
! Mr. Iorc VAS called from tho Most complete rciira