Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-05
NO. 40.
THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS.

the great body Of citizens take in the prog
ress Of the country toward a more general
and complete establishment at twhatever cost,
of universal security and freedom in the ex-
ercse Of the elective franchise. While many
topics of political concern demand great at
tention from our people, both in the sphere
of national and State authority, find no rea-
son to qualify the opinion l expressed in my
last annual Message, that no temporary or ad-
ministrative interests Of Government, how
ever urgent or weighty will ever dsplace the
zeal of our people in defense of the primary
rights of citizenship and that the power Of
public opinion will override all political pref
udices and all sectional and State attachments,
in demanding that all over our wide territory
the name and character of citizen of the
United States shall mean one and the same
thing, and carry with them unchallenged Sc
curity and respect I earnestly appeal to the
intelligence and patriotism Of all good ciu-
zens of every part of the country however
much they may be divided in opinions on
other political subjects, to unite in compel
ling obedience to existing laws aimed at the
protection Of theright Of suffrage. respect
fully urge upon Congress to supply any de-
fects in these laws which experience has
shown, and which it is within its power to
remedy. 1 again invoke the cooperation of
the Executive and Legislative authorities Of
the States in this great purpose. l am fully
| convinced that if the public mind can be set
at rest on this paramount question Of popular
rights, no serious object will thwart or delay
the complete pacification of the country, or
retard the general diffusion of prosperity.
REFORMING THE CIVIL SERVICE.
In former Message l invited the atteu-
ton of Congress to the subject of the refor-
nation of the civil service of the Government
and expressed the intention of transmitting to
Congress- as early as practicable, a report up
on this subject by the Chairman of the Civil
Service Commission. In view of the facts
that during n considerable period the gov
ernment of Great Britain has been dealing
with administrative problems and abuses in
various particulars analogous to those pre-
sented in this country, and that, in recent
years, the measures adopted were understood
| to have been effective and in every respect
highly satisfactory thought it desirable to
have fuller information upon the subject,
and accordingly requested the Chairman of
the Civil Service Commission to make thor
| ough investigation for this purpose. The re-
suit has been an elaborate and comprehen-
sive report The report sets forth the history
of the partisan spoils system in Great Britain
and of the rise and fall of the Parliamentary
patronage, and of official interference with
| the freedom of elections. 1t shows that, af-
ter long trials of various kinds of examina-
| tions, those which are competitive and open
on equal terms to all, and which are carried
on under the superintendent of single
commission, have with great advantage been
established as conditions of admissions to al
most every official place in the subordin-
ate administration Of that country and
of British India. The completion of
the report, owing to the extent of
the labor involved in its preparation, and the
omission of Congress to make any provision
either for the compensation or the expenses
of the commission has been postponed until
the present time 1t is herewith transmitted
| to Congress While the reform measures of
another government are of no authority for
| us, they are entitled to influence to the extent
to which their intrinsic wisdom and their
adaptation to our institutions and social life
mpy commend them to our consideration.
The views l have heretofore expressed con-
cerning the defects and abuses in our civil
administration remain unchanged except in
so far as an enlarged experience has opened
my sense of the duty, both of officers and of
! the people themselves, to cooperate for their
removal. The grave evils and perils of par
tisan-spoils system of appointment to office
and of office tenure are now generally recog-
nized. In the resolutions of the great par
ties, in the reports of departments, in the de-
bates and proceedings of Congress, in the Mes
sages of Executives, the gravity of these evils
has been pointed out and the need of their
reform has been admitted To command the
necessary support, every measure of reform
must be based on common right and Justice,
and must be compatible with the healthy ex-
istence of great parties which are inevitable
| and essential in free State. When the peo-
| pie have approved a policy at a national elec-
ton, confidence on the part of the officers
| they have selected and of the advisers who,
in accordance with our political institutions,
should be consulted in the policy which it is
| their duty to carry into effect is indis-
pensable. 1t is eminently proper that they
should explain it before the people as well as
illustrate its spirit in the performance of
their official duties.
| 1t hardly need be pointed out that very
| different considerations apply to the greater
number of those who fill the subordinate
places in the civil service. Their RESPONSE
bilty is to their superiors in official position.
1t is their duty to obey the legal instructions
of those upon whom that authority is de-
volved, and their best public service consists
in the discharge of their functions irrespect-
| i've of partisan politics Their duties are the
same whatever party is in power, and what
ever policy prevails. As a consequence it
follows that their tenure of Office should not
depend upon the prevalence of anyA policy,
or the supremacy of any party, but should
| be determined by their capacity to serve the
people most usefully, quite irrespective of
| partisan interests The same considerations
that should govern the tenure should also
prevail in the appointment, discipline and
removal of these subordinates. The author
| ity of appointment and removal is not per-
| quisite which may be used to aid friend or
reward partisan. but is trust to be eXeF-
| csed in the public interest under all the
sanctions which attend the obligation to Ap-
ply the public funds only for public purpos-
es. Every citizen has an equal right TO the
honor and profit of entering the public ser
vice of his country. The only just ground of
discrimination is the measure of character
and capacity he has to make that service most
useful to the people. Except in cases where,
upon just and recognized principles, as upon
the theory of pensions, offices and promo
tions are bestowed AS rewards for past seTVi-
oes, their bestowal upon any theory which
dsregards personal merit is AN act of injustice
to the citizen, Us well rs breach of that
trust subject to which the appointing power
is held.
PROPER METHODS OF EXAMINATION.
In the light of these principles, it becomes
of great importance to provide just and Ade-
quate means, especially for every department
and large administrative Office whore person
al discrimination on the part Of its head is not
practicable, for ascertaining those qualifca-
tions to which appointments and removals
should have reference. To fail to provide
such means is not only to deny the opportun-
ity of ascertaining the facts upon which the
most righteous claim to office depends, but OF
necessity to discourage all worthy aspirants
by handing over appointments and removals
to mere influence and fayOritism. II it is the
right of the worthiest claimant to gain the Rp-
pointment, and the interest of the people TO
bestow it upon him, it would seem clear that
a wise and Just method OF ascertaining person
al fitness for office must needs be an impOF-
tant and permanent function Of every just
and wise Government 1t has long since be-
come impossible, in the great Offices, for those
having the duty of nomination and appoint
ment to personally examine into the indiVid-
ual qualifications of more than a small pro
portion of those seeking office, and with the
enlarnement Of civil service that DToDOrtion