Carl Russell Fish

“ Any one who saw the sight presented in the month of March, 1829, on the first accession of General Jackson to the presidency, or the similar exhibition that was displayed in March, 1841, when General Harrison became chief magistrate, can readily conceive the crowds of expectants, the hungry and importunate beggars, the miserable scramble for office, and the terrible annoyance to the president and cabinet, which will be revived with full energy about these days in Washington. ”

“ The most important break was that which occurred when Douglas proved unwilling to support the administration in its Kansas policy; when, in 1858, he was contending with Lincoln for the senatorship from Illinois, he was read out of the party, and the whole executive patronage was turned against him. [34] It was probably because of these feuds that Buchanan's appointments were more severely criticised than those of any previous president except Jackson. In themselves they do not seem to have been noticeably worse. ”

“ The contests for the appointments in these cities throw much light on the politics of the time, and one example is worth giving as an illustration of the influences at work in securing appointments. In New York, the focus of the excitement, the most respected of the factions was the New York Hotel set, consisting of the capitalists of the Democratic party. These men were reported to have a special claim on the president, as they had contributed heavily to carry the Pennsylvania state election, which had such an important bearing on the nominating convention of 1856 ”

“ If he had had no patronage, if the spoils system had not been in vogue, all might have been well; but, as conditions were, the appointment to a petty post-office might be fraught with much import to the safety of the Union.
Lincoln made 1457 removals, there being 1639 places within his gift. [38] When it is remembered that to many posts in the South no appointments could be made, and that consequently no removals are noted, it will be seen that the sweep was the most thoroughgoing that had ever been made ”

“ In 1849 the Whigs still had some qualms of conscience about making any extensive sweep; but, as the Republic said, “If, forsooth, the administration adopt the construction contended for by the party of the spoils [that the Whigs should make no removals] , proscription will be perpetuated and the Whig Republican party proscribed forever.” [12] “Thus far on my way to Washington,” wrote Seward, “I find myself floating on a strongly increasing tide of people. . . . The world seems almost divided into two classes, both of which are moving in the same direction ”

“ In making appointments, Lincoln pursued a middle course between Polk's independence and Pierce's attempt to please all factions. He took pains to consult every one who had any right to be heard, but controlled everything with a loose yet powerful rein. [39] He had the faculty of pleasing men by asking their advice even if he did not take it. He let everything that would settle itself do so, provided certain general conditions were complied with. He made no attempt to obtain the men best fitted to perform the functions of the various offices, except in case of the very highest ”

“ Was this rotation in office? Marcy was an Old Fogy, and seems to have been largely influential in selecting men for foreign posts; the New York Herald was led to complain that Young America was exiled to Central America. It advertised white hair-dye for office-seekers. [21] Aside from these family quarrels, Pierce's appointments excited comparatively little comment; the press was apathetic.
For President Buchanan it was left to round out the spoils system. Pierce had made 883 removals, [22] thus practically exorcising all non-Democratic elements from the civil service. ”

“ A significant contest took place in regard to the New York appointments. Seward became friendly with the president's brother, and expected, as senator, to control the patronage in that state; but Taylor developed an unusual respect for the vice-president, and when the time came, Mr. Fillmore, an opponent of Seward, was found firmly intrenched in the confidence of the executive. February 27, 1849, Seward, always optimistic, wrote to his wife that he and Mr. Fillmore had “begun to agree.” ”

“ Lincoln wrote to an over-zealous postmaster the best letter ever written on the subject of the participation of government officials in party politics. [41] While offices in general were used to prevent, and not to encourage, faction fights, and so skilfully used that the end was often obtained, minor places were often employed to please powerful individuals; and Lincoln did not forget himself in this connection, but appointed relatives and friends to places which might profit them and not harm the country. ”

“ Weed, Autobiography, 587, 590-591. ↑ Fish in American Historical Association, Reports, 1899, i. 78; Congressional Globe, 31 Cong. 1 sess. 74, 160; Appendix, 480-496; also 31 Cong. 2 sess. 36-42. ↑ Seward, Seward, ii. 145; Weed, Autobiography, 596-598; Clay, Private Correspondence, 611; Fish, in American Historical Association, Reports, 1899, i. 79 ”