Litchfield enquirer., 1872-11-28
5 ROTATION IN OFFICE.


 persona! Collisions fs Congress, including C
 Glgnce ct Washington Public Life during seu
 erdl Administrations.
 ROTATION IN OFFICE. s88 t.lz.s
 Rotation in office is all very well in the. ory, and it makes jingle of words SC pleasant to the ear that many people have accepted as sound doctrine, without an examination of it's scope and tendency. A fundamental error lies at its base, and it's works much injury in it's practical op- eration. It rests on the hypothesis that every competent man has claim to office or public favor of some kind, and that when one has enjoyed the emoluments o1 distinction of place for time he should give way to his neighbor. In other words, official benefits are the property of in- dividuals, and not of the nation. and are to be bestowed with reference to the profit and convenience of those who seek them, irrespective of the manner in which their duties are performed. This is true of elective as well as executive or judicial offices. In the towns of New England men are chosen to the legislature merely because it is their turn. Mir. Bartholo- new goes this year, has his ride on the railways free, and pockets his per diem of two dollars. Next year MT. Doolittle urges his claim for the same purpose Probably MT. Bartholomew and Mir. Doo- little take their seats as perfect ignera- muses, who will gain nothing in wisdom and experience. during the session, and in failing to re-elect them, their constitu- ents do no injury to the interest of the State. But when this practice obtains in Congressional elections it may happen that man of intellect and culture, whose modesty and inexperience have deterred him from taking part in the current dis cussions of the House at his first session, will be rotated out of office, who. might be an influential member, capable of look ing efficiently after the interests of his when he has worn off his rustic bashfulness, studied parliamentary law, and familiarized himself with the rules of the House. The business of leg islation requires practice and experience as much as the law of the mechanic arts. The Southern States, from the early days of the republic up to the revolt in 1860, always exercised degree of influence in the councils of the nation largely dispro- portioned Ito their numerical strength. To be sure, they sent their best men to Congress; and when they proved them selves worthy of confidence they kept them there for long period of years. Thus mediocre men became influential legislators by dint of observation and ex- perience, and were able to impress them selves upon Congress far more effectively than others of superior endOwments and culture, but who remained only a short time in public life. William R. King came to the Senate when Alabama was ad- mitted into the Union, and was cOntinu- ously reelected until his term of service reached the ordinary lifetime of 8 genera ton. He was not 8 man of brilliant in- tellect, and his education was principally gained in Congress But he had digni- ty of mind, elevation of character, sheer ity, and honesty, and although he always acted with the Democratic party, was dis tinguished for fairness, impartiality, and patriotic intentions. He was chairman of Ehe Committee on Commerce for many years, and was repeatedly chosen Presi dent of the Senate. He was in the House from North Carolina when quite young man, and subsequently was appointed of legation ct Madrid. He was B wise. prudent, and safe legislator, in- dustrious, attentive to his duties, and his opinions and judgment were respectfully considered. He was appointed minister to France by President Tyler, and was elected Vice e-President on the ticket with General Pierce, but died before taking his seat as presiding officer of the Senate. An anecdote will illustrate the difference between the notions of high-toned Southern gentleman and worthy Demo- crat from the North on party ethics and N01r xron onvN& IT. rNV0 rubber of whist at the old Indian Queen Hotel, the winter after the inauguration of General Taylor, with MT. King, Gov ernor Van Ness, of Vermont, and Colonel of Illinois, then in the House of Representatives. Richardson inquired of Colonel King whether certain gentle man nominated for register of the land office in Dixon, Illinois, had been con- irmed. The Senator replied in the neg ative.
 'Then you will oblige me by voting against him." .....
 "What is the objection to him?" was the inquiry. ..-@.
 Nothing, that know of, except that he is bitter Whig, and he is to supplant a good Democrat, said Richardson.
 ''That is not 0 sufficient reason with me-, answered Colonel King. elf I were president of the United States, I should probably appoint political friends, but my duty as Senator, acting upon nom- ination, is rather judicial than partisan. I have only to inquire whether the nom- inee is competent and proper man for the office, not whether he is Whig.
 AS the Senutor left the room. Richard son remarked, 'sWhat - old fool of q politician that is!''
 Another instance where long service in Congress secured dull man of moderate distinguished position, was in the case of Linn Boyd. of Kentucky. He was below the average of talent and cul- ture in the House, never won any reputa- ton either in committee or on the floor, but he had been reelected from the Bardstown district for sixteen or eighteen years; and upon the strength of his ex- perience, although singularly unfitted for the duties of the office, he was elected place, in possession of an able man and adroit manager, second in polit- ical importance only to that of President of the United States.
 RELATIVES IN CONGRESS. -.
 There was spectacle in the Twenty third Congress without precedent in the history of the government. and which has never since been witnessed in the Capitol. Samuel l.. Southard was Senator from New Jersey, and his father was a member of the House of Representatives from the same State. Father and son are rarely seen in Congress together. The most notable instance is the Dodges, who rep resented respectively the Territories of Wisconsin and Iowa as delegates, and as Senators when they came into the Union as States. Henry Dodge, the father, fa- nous as an Indian fighter, was a citizen of Wisconsin; his son, Cesar Augustus Dodge, who achieved no great distinction in any way, was from Iowa They were respectable men, of moderate ability, honest, and faithful to their duties. The younger Dodge was appointed minister to Spain by President Pierce.
 James Barbour was 8 member of the Senate from Virginia, while his brother Philip was in the House of Represents tives: They were both conspicuous in the public service, patriotic men of high character, but of different temperaments