The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-08-04
The Official Patronage system-Its Evils.

! The Official Patronage System-Its Evils.
English institutions are becoming "Amcri.
canizcd" with alarming rapidly Hitherto it
has been the custom of Ministerial M. P.'s for
particular counties or boroughs to recommend
to the Government the names OF candidates for
local offices within their own districts, and as
general rule, their recommendations were atten-
ded to. But the other day, Sir Patrick O'Brien,
M. P. for Kings county, complained that his
recommendations had not been duly honored,
and boldly claimed the right of patronage"
And the Secretary for Ireland virtually acknowl-
edged the validity of the claim. Before long,
doubtless, we shall see our American system in
full vogue in England.-M Y. Times.
We are perfectly willing to let England
have it, for 1t is an injury to America, and
will do more to corrupt Congress than any
thing else The evils of the patronage sys-
tenn are already to be seen in the increasing
venality and corruptness of Congressman.
Since the government patronage was
virtually taken from the President and given
to Congressman, the bad effects have been
visible to the whole country. All recon-
mendations for appointments are made by
Congressman, and they are in reality the APP
pointing power. 1t nominally is exercised
by the President, but only nominally. The
President may have selected worthy man
to fill certain office in a certain State. A
member OF Congress from that State, how
ever, has been paid to get the appointment
for some other man, who is proved to be a
rascal by using bribery to get the appoint
ment. The Congressman goes 10 the Presi-
dent and demands the appointment of his
man, the President is obliged to yield, the
good man is dropped, and the scamp gets
the office. Hence a majority of the United
States Offices will soon be filled with incom-
petent or unworthy officials.
Nor is this the only evil. The system has
a corrupting and degrading influence upon
Congressman themselves. Instead of recon-
mending good men they will recommend the
men who will pay them the most for the
appointments Thus they will become unscru-
pulous and dishonest, and unworthy to
make laws for the nation. What security
for the country is there that men who are
willing to sell their influence will not be
equally willing to sell their votes? None
at all on the contrary. there is every reason
to think that they will. Then, instead of
lcgislating for the good of the nation, they
will leglslate for their own profit, and any
scheme, no matter how damaging to the
interests of the country, or hurtful to the
national honor, Can he put through Congress
if tie parties engineering it have money
enough to buy a sufficient number of votes
We are opposed to this system of Con-
gressional patronage. 1t is hurtful to the
interests Of the people, for they are saddled
with IL lot of incompetent officials, who are
sure to steal because they will have to do so
to get back the money paid for their APP
pontments. 1t will disgrace the nation by
causing its legislative body to consist of
political hucksters, demagogues and scamps.
1t VIII injure every business interest of the
country, because such men would not hest
tate to pass any measure, however injurious
in its effects, provided they got paid for it.
We want the patronage to be left where
it belongs-with the President. There is
no need for it to corrupt him. If, however,
it must corrupt somebody, let it be the Pres
ident. 1t is better to have corrupt Presi-
dent than corrupt Congress-one unscru-
pulous mau than three hundred. We do
not make any personal applicationof this nor
do we believe such to be the case nOao, but
we give it asa warning of what is sure to hap
pen, if the present abOminable system is
kept up Does the Times, itself, approve
this system9 If not, why does it congratu
late England upon adopting the worst fea-
ture of our system of governmental We
hope that the press of the country irrespec-
tive of party, will he united in opposing the
present manner of making appointments.
The appointing power was taken from the
President for extraordinary reasons. The
law by which this was effected was never
popular or entirely satisfactory to the peo-
pie At this time there is no excuse for it.
or for any dilution of it. Let the appoint
ing power be restored to the President, to
whom it rightfully belongs, and let Con-
gressmen be kept as pure and indebted as
ConUressmen cnD he kent