The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-15
Col. w. L. Hemingway Rotation
in Office.

EDITOR CLARION: / observe that the
only objection urged against the renomi-
nation of Col. w. l.. Hemingway, as
State Treasurer, is that he has already
held the office two terms. The doctrine
CT rotation is relied on to defeat him,
and that alone, for all concede that he
is honest, faithful and capable. | sub
nit that this doctrine has never been
applied to ministerial Offices without
patronage, and was not designed to
apply to such Offices. The purpose OF
the doctrine was to limit the tenure of
Executive Offices, which controlled large
patronage, lest the incumbent might,
through an improper use of the patron
age, fortify himself in position against
he will of the people. The reason of
the rule does not apply to ministerial
offices, and, as before remarked, the rule
has not in fact been applied to such
offices heretofore. In proof of this
assertion / have only to refer to the fact
that in our own State many sheriffs,
clerks, county treasurers and other
county officers have held for repeated
consecutive terms, with growing credit
to themselves and satisfaction to
the people. Not only ministerial
but legislative officers have like
wise served for years. and we need
only refer to Messrs. Hooker, Singleton,
Money and Muldrow, all of whom served
in Congress for four terms, aud some of
them for longer period. Col Lamar
resigned in the midst of his second term,
but who doubts that he could have been
reelected so long as he desired? Web
ster, Clay and Calhoun served in Con-
gress for many years, and old Tom Ben
ton for thirty years in the United States
Senate alone. This doctrine of rotation
would have robbed the country of the
services of these distinguished statesmen
after their second terms, to the infinite
loss of the people and the Republic.
As said by the people of Greene county
IN mass meeting assembled, 1--WE
believe the doctrine of rotation in
office to be good and sound policy in
a general way, but when used as an ar
gumeDt against reelection of officials
who through years of faithful service
have proven themselves altogether hon
est, capable and efficient, we can but
regard It's use as a puerile and absurd
effort on the part of partisan and disap-
pointed malcontents, who are afraid to
trust their own merits in seeking to OBJ
tain office and political preferment from
a discriminating public"
In no State has the doctrine been an
piled to the Office of State Treasurer.
We only enumerate few of the States
that have retained their .Treasurers be-
You'd the two terms.
In Pennsylvania David Rittenhouse
served as State Treasurer for thirteen
years.
la Ohio VIM. Farland served for thir-
zen years, and was succeeded by Henry
Brown who also served thirteen years.
md was succeeded by Joseph Whitehill
who likewise served thirteen years.
In New York Gevadus Bancher served
twenty years.
In New Jersey, james Mott served
ixteen years, Peter Jordon eighteen
1ears, and r. NJ. Smith fourteen years.
In Connecticut, John Lawrence served
hirtecn years, Isaac Spencer seventeen
Tears, and Andrew Kingsbury twenty
our years.
In North Carolina, old John Haywood
erved for forty years, surviving party
hanges meanwhile.
In South Carolina, 5. A. Courts served
hlrteen years.
In Kentucky, the present treasurer
Fas recently nominated by reclamation
fter having served eighteen years.
So, nowhere do find warrant for the
tempted application of this doctrine to
his Office It certainly finds no warrant
n any sound business principle, and /
ave shown it has none in party policy
nd practice
Ii it can be shown that COL Heming-
ray is not honest, capable and faithful |
o the constitution, the Jefersonian
tandard, ] say let him go, bur coming |
p to the full measure of this standard |
5 he does, think he should be retained. |
The friends Of Col. Hemingway do 4
ot claim that he is the only person in |
he State capable of performing the /
uties of State Treasurer, but they do I
lain that he has rendered the State in
aluabie services and that it is safe to /
rust him. As private citizen, he Is I
Iithout superior. Devoted to Missis-
lppi and her interests, be has ever been
ound among those most jealous in their I
forts to promote her material welfare
nd progress. An agriculturist by birth,
ducation and training, his sympathies
nd friendships are naturally with the /
gricultnral class. The State Grange
as never more flourishing than when ne
resided over its cestinies. But be IS
o demagogue, and would scorn to foster
lie idea that the interests of-fhe State
squired that one class Of citizens should
> built mp 81 the expense Of another.
y Democrat, ne has, while serving
nring saveraI terms Is Chairman Of the E.