The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-12-02


sf6ase WIN ylolafe or oppose the enforce
.inerkEn tli1s LAW On III subaee
~ IRE citcfsons OF the past zeal, fno ugn|
s ss,ctcs1 MED ofa1y with sEtate Offices not
fk,led 10 elicit III the politicai discussions;
which ateesided them all over the county
new and decisive eyisience ee the deep In
Lteiast which the great body OF citizens tase
In the progress os the country toWafds
more general and complete establ
at whatever cost, OF universal security a .i1l
srnatIn,n Ii, the exercIse Of the elective
,ra1ichise. Whtle many topics OF political
concern demand great attention from our
neopIe. both Ia the sphere OF national enc
| State authority, I find NO reason TO qualIiy
fine opinion expressed In my last amman
Enessage,s that no temporary or anmlnlstIa-
tive interests OF government however UT,
| gent or weighty, will ever dispiace the 1eal
| OF our people In defence OF Inc primary
rights OF citizenship, and that tine power Oh
pubiic opinion will override oil politicai
preiud.ces AMI all sectional and state at
tachmeuts In demanding that all over QUIZ
wide territory the name ana CHARACTER OF
citizen OF the United States shall mean one
and the same thing, and carry WIN tnem
nncha,lenoed security and respect. I earn
estIy appeal to the intelligence and patriot
ism OF all good citizens Of every part OF the
country, however much they may be d.
yided in opinions on other political sub
iects, to unite in compelling obedience to
existing laws aimed at the protection OF the
right of suffrage. respectfully urge upon
Congress to supply any defects in these
laws which experience has shown and which
If is within its power to remedy. again
invoke the COOPERATION Of the executive and
legislative authorities OF the States ID this
great purpose. am fully convinced that
If the public mind can be set at rest on this
paramount question Of popular rights no
serious obstacle will thwart or delay the
complete paclfcation Of the country, or re-
tard the general diffusion Of prosperity.
In former message ] invited the atten-
ton of Congress to the subject OF the
reformation Of the civil service OF the Gov
eminent, and expressed the intention Of
transmitting to Congress as early as prac-
ticable q report upon this subject by
the chairman OF the Ciyil-Service Commits
sion.
In view Of the facts that, during con-
siderable period, the Government OF Great
Britain has been dealing with administra-
tive problems and abuses, in various par
ticuars analogous to those presented ia this
country, and that in recent years the mea-
sures adopted were understood to have been
effective and in every respect highly salts
factory, thought it desirable to have fuller
information upon the subject, and accord
inglv requested the chairman OF the Civil
Service Commission to make thorough in
ycstigation for this purpose. The result has
been an elaborate and comprehensive re-
port. $50.
The report sets forth the history OF the
partisan.spoils system in Great Britain. and
of the rise and fall of the Parliamentary pa
tronage, and OF official interference with the
freedom Of elections. 1t shows that after
long trials OF various kinds OF examinations
those which are competitive and open on
equal terms to all, and which are carried on
under the superintendent OF single COM
mission, have, with great advantage, been
established as conditions of admission to
almost every official place in the subordi-
nate administration Of that country and OF
British India. The completion OF the re-
port. owing to the extent OF the labor in.
yolved 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
may commend them to our consideration.
The views I have heretofore expressed
concerning the defects and abuses in our
civil administration remain unchanged, eX-
cept in so far as an enlarged experience has
deepened my sense Of the duty both Of
| officers and OF the people themselves to CO.
operate for their removal. The grave evils
and Ecrils of partisan.spois system of
appointment to office and Of office tenure
are now generally recognized. In the reso-
| lutions OF the great parties, in the reports
| OF departments, in the debates aud proceed
ings OF Congress, in the messages OF EXecu-
| tives, the gravity of these evils has been
pointed out and the need Of their reform
has been admitted. ........- r.. ..s
| TO command the necessary support every
measure Of reform must be based on COM
mon right and justice, and must be compat-
| ible with the healthy existence OF great
parties, which are inevitable and essential
In free state.
When the people have approved a policy
at a national election confidence on the part
of The officers they have selected, and OF the
advisers who, in accordance with our pollt-
ical institutions. should be consulted in the
policy which it is their duty to carry into
effect, is indispensable. 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.
VERY different considerations apply to the
greater number OF those who till the Subor-
duate places IN the civil service. Their re-
sponsib ility is TO their superiors in official
| position. 1t is their duty to obey the legal
| instructions Of those upon whom that au-
thority is deyolved, and their best public
service consists in the discharge of their
| functions irrespective of partisan politics.
| is in power and whatever policy prevails.
| AS consequence, it follows that their tell
| ure of office should not depend on the pre-
valence OF any policy or the supremacy OF
any party, but should be determined by
| their capacity to serve the people most USE
| fully, quite irrespective of partisan inter-
ests. The same considerations that should
govern the tenure should also prevail in the
appointment, discipline, and removal OF
| these subordiuateS. The authority OF ap-
| pointment and removal is not perquisile.
which may be used to aid friend or reward
| q partisan, but is a trust to be exercised In
the public interest, under ali the sanctions
which attend the obligation to apply the
public funds only for public purposes.
, 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 charac-
ter and capacity he has to make that service
most useful to the people Except in cases