New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-13
EXECUTIVE PATRONAGE.

| 6A6CUT1vE XAT6UNA06.
! Senator Wharton has introduced bill
which reduces, to some extent, patron
age which. without giving strength to a
party, throws responsibility and odium
upon the executive. The bill steps off in
the right direction, and may be so
amended, in future, as to cut off, abso-
lutely, source of much political trouble.
As we have stated, the bill provides that
wherever the executive shall fill vacancy
in an unexpired term of Office, such COM
mission shall expire on fixed Gay dur
ing the session of the Senate, and that the
| executive shall nominate to the Senate
candidates for the vacancy. This is bet
ter than that the executive department
should remain in the control of such pat
ronage, while the press and party may
have to endure or even to defend its exer-
else. We accept the bill as something,
although true Republican principle re-
quires that all vacancies occurring in
offices elected by the people should be
filed by popular election.
The attention of the Legislature can
not be too often or too strongly called to
the pernicious consequences Of appointing
parish clerks, sheriffs and constables by
the executive department at New Orleans.
In Massachusetts and every other Repub-
ican State the parish and district officers
are elected by the people. How would it
satisfy the people Of Massachusetts if the
Governor Of the State should appoint the
officers of the township Of Braintree
Those sturdy opponents of the one
man power, those sagacious men
who know that their fathers fought
for the right of the people to
choose all their own officers would strike
with the sword Of necessity any such
monarchical feature from the charter of
their liberties. No doubt those who
cumulated all these powers upon the ex-
ecutive of Louisiana thought they thereby
gave strength to the party which he
headed. Experience always vindicates
history. Every dynasty has been over
thrown by its satraps and satellites. A |
Governor can not know the best men,
even Of his own party, to fill all the mu-
nicipal Offices of distant parish. Sup
pose he chooses an Objectionable incum-
bent. 1t discourages the party friends of the
Governor. 1t exasperates and concentrates
the hatred of his opponents. The people
Of a parish can not get clerk or sheriff
to suit them without overthrowing the
party Of the Governor to correct the par
lsh appointments of the Governor. If
The appointee objected to happens to COM
nit default, or perpetrate an act of op-
preston, it is made an issue in the State
elections. All the parishes which COM
plain of executive appointments make
common cause against the executive ticket,
ind add to the bitterness of State con-
est the active discomfort of all who have
'een dispossessed of or who aspire to the
parish offices. Can the influence of a
politician detailed from New Orleans,
+ chosen from the parish appli-
ants, Offset this vindictive violence?
The executive is fortunate if the
'alance Of popularity equals the
concentrated disgust and disafection. If
re contrast the effects Of this policy with
hat which prevails elsewhere it will be I
ound to be very unwise. If the parishes
lect their own officers and fill their own
acancies, there must always be great di- I
ision among the people upon the COM
arative merits Of those candidates whom
he majority may no inmate or elect. The 6
uarrels Of these people must be among !
Their animosities will be +
in domestic conflicts. Take 1
ON them these possibilities of domestic
because one candidate for local
flee is elected over another, and their
unanimous and harmonious hatred is
and converged against the
official administra ton of the State =
hich has filled an appointment to which
le people consider themselves entitled.
e would ask our Representatives to re-
oct why the country members are now
quired to demand that the recognition +
Governor Kellogg shall not be adj p
tilted. There would in such case be no ""
'ssible chance for parish appoint .
ents by Mr.. McEnery. Hence tho execu- B
7e title is made to control the legality 81
the legislative department. 4
The Governor was right in his request
at the patronage, in our opinion un-
sely accumulated upon the executive
partment, shall be curtailed. The
nate would concur in the principles of
elective republic by renting the cleo
N Of all municipal and parish officers
all cases to the people of the parishes, .,
t in default of such measure it will be or
II to secure to the representatives of the til
ople in the Senate the right to review az
appointments filed by the executive 49,
an unexpired term of Office at the earli- fa
moment compatible with the session
the Senate t !o'
WHAT WAS THE OBJECT7 -,