Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-10-06
RADICAL uNToLERANCE..

III 1911 OdnlCl uCDsbCl was
of State. - He had the old-fashionedideas
of running the Government. He believed
the people should do the voting, and those
10 Office perform their delt gated functions
with honesty and fidelity. He thought
the ballot was sacred gift, and should
not be tr flied With. In his estimation the |
use Of that ballot was conscientious |
duty, and one in which no power had a
right to interfere. Holding these opin-
ions, and hearing that efforts had been |
made in some quarters to influence the
votes of attaches of the Government,
Mr.. Webster put his foot upon the move
ment in the following manner:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, March 90, 1871.
TO TIE Hon. THOMAS Ewing, SECRE-
TARY OF TIE TREASURY: SIR-The Presi-
dent is Of the opinion that it is great
abuse to bring the patronage of the Gene
raj Government into conflict with the
freedom of elections; and that this abuse
ought to be corrected wherever it may
have been permitted to exist, and to be
prevented for the future.
He therefore directs that information |
be given to all officers and agents in your
Department of the public service that
partisan interference in popular elections,
whether of State officers or officers of this
Government, and for whomsOever, or
against whOmsoever it may be exercised,
or the payment of any contribution or as
scssment on salaries, or official cOmpensa-
ton for party or election purposes, will
be regarded by him as cause of removal.
II is not intended that any officer shall
be restrained in the free and proper ex-
preston and maintenance of his opinions
respecting public men or public measures
or in the exercise, to the fullest degree,
| of the constitutional rights of suffrage.
But persons employed under the govern
ment, and paid for their services out oil
| the public treasury, are not expected to
take an active or Officious part in attempts
| to influence the minds or votes Of others:
such conduct being deemed inconsistent
with the spirit Of the Constitution, and
the duties of public agents acting under
| it; and the President is resolved, so far
as depends upon him, that while the ex-
/ ercise of the elective franchise by the
/ people shall be free from undue influ-
| ences of official station and authority,
| Opini on shall also be free among the
officers and agents of the government.
have the honor to be, sir, your ODE
dent servant, DANIEL WEBSTER.
Mr.. Webster thought marshaling office
holders into compact force, and bring
ing them TO the polls, was an act at vari-
ance with the genius of our Institutions,
and dangerous to the stability of our free
form of government, and hence the pro-
test against such action on the part of any
person in authority. The Philadelphia
| AGE asks: How are such matters viewed
by Gen. Grant and his officials Do they
| stand upon the platform of Mr.. Webster,
or occupy a mere partisan position? Re
| Gently, ''circular" was issued from the
National Committee of the Radical party
/ at Washington, to the persons holding
/ places in pOstoffiCcs, custom houses, and
| in the internal revenue service by which
they are notified 10 pay certain assess
ments for party purposes, or expect the
axe to fall upon their official nccks. Mr..
Webster announced that persons employed
under the Government, and paid out of
the Treasury, are not expected TO take all
active or Offlcious part in attempts
/ to influence the minds OF votes of
others; the Radical circular warns
all holders of office under government that
they may expect to lose their places, I'M
less they yield Cheerfully and promptly
| TO the party assessment. No matter how
small the salary or Insignificant the place,
its occupant must contribute his share to
the electioneering fund, and, also, toe the
mark on election day, and vote the Radi-
cal ticket, negroes and rascals not except
/ ed. No man is to be a free man who
holds office under Gen. Grant, and the
Radical party. He must become mere
tool and do the bidding of a few men.
And what effect is this practice having
upon the nation? Arc better men occu-
plying places of honor, trust and profit
By no means. Besides the gross injustice
of such a practice, it produces private
and public corruption of the grosscst and
most fragrant character. 1t also estab-
fishes the fact that the public offices are
to be had on the sole principle of purchase
and sale, and held only on condition that
they be used as sources of proflgate
influence over the freedom of elections
They are the fruits of a system now acted
upon by the Grant administration They
mean to carry the elections by any means
in their power.