The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1877-06-07

hy Grant under an act Of Congress ans
iailed. WhyP Let "a calmly .xamin,
this matter under the lights OF our .polit
zeal history, OF the Constitution. aud o
common sense. In doing this. I shnl
cite nothing aud say nothing TO which :
sensible man ought not TO pay some r.
-prct
!. The reformers say (.ee the Int~rna
tional Review Tor May) that Officer.
must not be appointed a. the reward 81
partisan services We may separate
this into two parts-"parti-an' and ser
wees. On the tirst point we call Wash
ington, the fret President OF the United
States. lie said. before be entered upon
the Presidency. that he apprehended
most danger and difficulty from the ~.
pointing power. lie laid down the prin.
/ cipie that no private interest or friend.
ship should swerve him from appointing
men Of the frst abilities and intrg
riiy. Nobody doubts that that l. a
just and correct principle But.did he
say that be would appoint no partisan9
No man iavoring his views OF govern
LIenR Never. On the CONTRARY. hs az.
pressed and : carol Of the birds
of the children. the Ella
sstal fife and flute. gnu
ne 70 seek his lonely house
y city hostel where lodged;
"e taded from me in the str..,
the bright beams OF the ,;.;n,
.it So Shadow men ma r4-.
-practices rim. Turni- ".
prr.ent ad .rp.rs
and N0yrs were conspicuous partisans
and advocates Of Hayes. Were they ap.
pointed Tor partisan services or not1
they are all able men. aud IN a proper
sense it tor their places. Would you
have the President forget all th-ir ssr
vices, and hunt among the Charles Ad
amses. George Hoadlys. aud Judge Stal
los. for some man who had not been his
partisan. and had not rendered s~rvics7
Take the case OF Jackson. lle appoint
ed his intimate friend Eaton Secretary
OF war and maintained him there. when
he discharged Calhoun. Benin A Co.
What would you have him dot The very
statement OF the case l. enough.
2 The gext thing said by the reform.
ers e that the members Of Congress
ought not TO advise and be needed in ap.
pointmcuts TO office. lest the men In Of
ice should be their servants and neglect
duty 10 the Government. (See May
number OF international Revicw.) Why
should not members Of Congress advise
appoiutmeuts7 IL was the theory Of the
Constitution. and the constant practice
OF the Government 100 years age. I ap
peal to the Constitution. Let "a see
how the matter stands under that char
ter, which ought still 10 be respected
The Constitution gives the sole power Of
appointment TO the President. excerpt
such miuo- appointments a. may b. vra
ted in the heads OF departments. IL al
so gives the S-nate sole power TO advis-
and consent 10 the same. To- one word.
the Constitution makes the senators the
official advisers Of the President Aud
will any man OF common sense say that
they without whose consent no app. ilt
ment can BE- made are not the proper
person. TO ADVISE the President about -
pointment.7 Did Washington or Huy
President tail TO do thi-7 Now. come 10
the members Of the House They np
propriatc all the money paid 20 all the
officers OF the Government Will they
be- very liberal In appropriations 20 an
administration which has never consult.
ed thcmY when each member has IN
turn been snubbrd. will that admini.tra.
ton stand long2 IL is against human
nature. aud you may depend that in such
a case human nature viii beat all admin.
istrations
To save the President labor which
il would b. impossible Tor him 10 per
form in such a country a. ours. u u pro.
per and absolutely necessary 10 vest the
minor appointments in the heads Of de-
oartments. aud the smaller ones in the
heads Of bureaus This Is proper divi.
sion OF labor and responsibility. IL is
here where the "ciyil service reform
proposes TO do most OF it. work and hos
does il propose 20 do it3 BY compcti-
tive examinations The reformers want
every body in the 5000 clerks aud tide
walters examined. aud what shall they
be examined on7 On reading. writing.
arithmetic. book keeping, etc Are these
the things 10 which public officers iail9
Are these the things most necessary to
secure the responsibility OF public OH
ccr.7 The very question - irony. satire
The things which are wanted are intcEri.
Is and attention to duty The comprti-
tive examination never did and never
will determine any thing in regard 10
these qualities.
There are two things to be done 10 se
cure an improved civil service, aud they
are very different from the present
schemes. First. let the head, Of d-part
mrnts be held responsible ior the fitness
and competency OF the minor officers
whom they appoint. Secondly. let all
minor officers be retained, when they per.
form their duty properly aud have not
been active in politics This is al that
can be done The Constitution of the
United States can not be- changed by
act Of Congress. nor will mvmbvrs Of
Congress. OF the human nature they rep
resent submit to being deprived Of their
lust influence on the Government by =
hue aud cry for civil reform. which. after
ull. means nothing bat thc prct"utious
virtue of few disappointed politicians
10 j. time such sham. were exposed The
officers Of general administration, the di-
| plomatic officers, aud the principal Gus
| tom House officers. are properly consid
| ried ~ political. which are at the dispos
/ ~ oi the President Bot 81 the minor
/ uffie.s should be- cousidersd. like those ol
/ he army aud navy. a. beyond the prov
incs Of party politics. This is the cas-,