New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-02-12

person or persons for Il term of not
more than two (2) years nor less
than four (4) months.
Sec. 5. This act shall take effect
and be in force after the LIST day of
May, 1879,
Jacksoni:n Orthodoxy.
Written for the Review by o. P. CHAn1PL1x
According to the Constitution the
power to remove men from office and
put others in their place is lodged with
Congress and the President. 10 the
latter power is given to appoint or no.
inmate men for Office; but before he
can issue their commissions the Senate
must advise and give its consent. The
President dominates and the Senate
confirms. In case of removal from Of
fice the Constitution fails to tell tbs
where rests the power; but those who
framed that article and were the ear]i-
est expounders of it's principles held
that the consent of the Senate would
be as necessary to remove from as to
l'appoint to Office. The power which
the people put in the hands of the Sen
ate and President was to be held in
trust for the whole people and not
merely for a party. This was the un.
derstanding when the first President
was elected. Some years after, the Con.
stltution was so construed us to give
the President partial and limited pow.
Ell to remove from office. It was un.
derstood, however, that difference in
politics, or political fayoritism, or rea-
sons other than for the public good
should not be cause for removal; and
for a period of forty years, embracing
the administration of six Presidents.
no faithful officer was removed except
tor justifiable cause, unless a few are
excepted i'll Jefferson's administration.
The average removals for each year
from all causes, for period of forty
years, were a fraction less than two,
AT the close of this period Jackson's
administration began. Then occurred
a notable revolution in civil service.
1t was boldly declared. s'To the yictors
belong the spoils.'' This doctrine of
the new administration was vigorously
enforced. Men were rewarded or
punished for their political opinions
according as they agreed or disagreed
with the party in power; and this sys.
tenn of iniquity prevails to this day,
Every administration has followed it.
The system has strengthened with the
increase Of population, business and
wealth. From sixty to seventy thous.
and persons holding government posi-.
lions are liable to be unsettled in their
avocations with each incoming admin.
istration. The beauties, of what I may
call the Jacksonian doctrine, are best
seen in an example; and the New York
Custom house shall furnish it.
This is justly regarded as most
powerful political machine by reason
of the nature and amount of business
onnected with it. From the beginning
there has been more or less mismanaqe.
ment and looseness in the conduct of
its affairs. Its use or a political ma.
chine dates from Jackson's time. Jack.
sons collector at the part of New York
was blue orthodox believer in his
doctrine and practiced it in the letter
as well as spirit. For his fidelity to
it he was reappointed at the end of
four years notwithstanding he had in
his possession $20l, 1000 not charged on
the books. Having so much scope he
gyrated round and scooped in, during
his second term, the comfortable sum
OF 81 ,225. 705.69. The investigating
committee were told by the collectors
clerks that they were in his service
and not the United States. They had
learned the new doctrine. The next
appointee was man without credit,
but an orthodox believer in the doc
trine. 1t seems to be immaterial in
politics what a mans character is If he
is sound in doctrine. He was such a
miserable rotten egg, however, that
the party nostrils couldn't stand him
and with speedy investigation he
was quickly removed. but not until he
had contracted a debt to the govern
ment Of not less than 10000 dol
lars. Somewhat after this manner
things have gone on year after year
from one administration to another.
In ten years from 1868 there had been
over eighteen hundred removals; but
we learned 4 long while ago that re-
movals and reforms are not synony-
nous terms. The Custom house is
welded to politics and run exclusively
in the interest Of the party to the dis
grace Of the whole nation, The pres
ent strife over the New York Custom.
house appointments is, on the part OF
Conkling, an attempt to enforce the
Jacksonian doctrine, 8 To the victora
belong the spoils.' Z Orthodoxy is !
good thing in politics no doubt, but