T H E
N
BE G I N I N G O F T H E
R
pri
t
d
e
n
e
(
SPO I LS
!
b y p e rm issi o n from P arto n s
Li
’
”
S Y ST E M
.
”
fe o f An dre w J ackso n !
C O N S T I T UT I O N makers do al l th ey ca n t o s u pport the weakn ess
o f h u ma n vi rt u e w h en s u bj ec ted to the tem ptatio n s o f power a n d
place B u t virt u e ca n n ot be dispe n sed wi th i n this world N o
”
sy stem o f checks a n d bala nces c a n be made so per fect b u t
that nru c h m u st b e le ft a fter all to the ho n or o f gover n i ng per
so n s
Am o n g th e pow e rs e n tr u sted to the h o nor o f Preside n ts o f the
U n i t e d S tates was th e d read power o f r e m o vi n g fro m o ffi ce
w i tho u t trial o r n otice th e ci vil o fficers o f the gover n m e n t
In
the arm y a n d n avy n o o fli c e r ca n be cashi e re d n o private dis
m iss e d wi tho u t tri a l wi tho u t b e i n g heard i n his d e fe n se I n the
civi l servic e o f th e co u n try every m a n holds his place a t the wi l l
o f the head o f gov e r n m e n t
This fe a r fu l p o we r over the fort u n es o f i n divid u als a n d the
happi n ess o f fam ili es i s h e ld n e cessaril y i n o u r pre se n t i mper
fe e t civili z atio n b y a large n u mber o f pers o n s i n private li fe a n d
i t is on e o f th e te n th o u sa n d proo fs o f the i n here n t l ovi ng ki n d
n ess of h u m a n n at u re that this p ower is ge n erall y exercised wi th
a co n sid e rable regard for th e feeli ngs the n ecessities a n d th e
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1
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BE GINNING
TH E
2
OF
TH E
SP OI LS
!
”
S YS
TEM
.
righ ts of th e em pl oy ed Th e clai m o f old s e rva n ts to i n d u lge n ce
Th e righ t o f a
a n d pr o t e ctio n is alm ost u n i versal l y r e cog n i z ed
p e rso n abo u t to b e dismiss e d from a n em p l oy m e n t to as l o ng a
fe w
n otic e o f di smissi o n b e foreha n d as c a n b e co n ve n i e n tl y giv e n
pers o n s are u n fe e li n g e n o u gh to de n y Th e good policy o f b old
i n g o u t to th e faith fu l o fficer the prospect o f a per m a n e n t r e t e n ti o n
or his place a n d his pro m otio n by a n d b y to a better n o o n e
i
b u t a politicia n has b e e n foolish e n o u gh to q u est o n
I t d o e s n o t app e ar to hav e occ u rred t o th e g e n tl e m e n who
form e d the C o n sti t u tio n u n der w hi ch we l ive that th ere co u l d
ever be a Pr e sid e n t o f the U n it e d S tates wh o w o u l d ab u s e th e
po wer o f rem oval
H i s o wn respo n sibili ty for th e co n d u ct o f those
whom h e appoi n t e d wa s s u pposed to be s u fii c i e n t to make h i m
care fu l to appoi n t the right m e n to th e righ t places a n d h is feel
i ngs as a m a n a n d a ge ntl ema n were d e e m ed a n adeq u ate pro
te c ti o n t o th os e right m e n i n thei r right p l ac e s
I t i s d e ligh tfu l to observe with what a scr u p u l o u s co n scie n tio u s
n ess th e ea r l y P r e side n ts of thi s r e p u blic disposed o f th e plac e s i n
their gi ft Washi ngto n set a n obl e exam pl e H e d e ma n ded to
b e satis fi e d o n th r e e poi n ts wi th regard to a n applica n t for of
H as he the c on fid e n c e o f
fic e : I s b e h o n est ? I s he capabl e ?
his fe llo w citi z e n s ? N ot til l these q u e stio n s were satis factori l y a n
s we r e d d id h e deig n to i n q u ir e respect i n g th e pol itical O p i n i o n s o f
a ca n di dat e Private fri e n dshi p betwe e n the Pr e sid e n t a n d a n a p
a n t wa s absol u tel y a n obstacle to his appoi n tm e n t
so fear fu l
li
c
p
was th e Pr e side n t of bei ng s way e d by private m otives
My
frie n d
h e say s i n o n e o f his letters
I receive wi th co rdial
w elcom e
H e i s w elcom e to m y ho u s e a n d w e lcom e to m y heart ;
b u t with al l his good q u ali ties h e is no t a m a n of b u si n ess H is
oppo n e n t w i th all h is politics so h os tl l e to m e is a m a n o f b u si
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TIIE
B E G I N ZVI N G O F
!
TH E
SP OI L S
”
S Y S T E /ll
3
.
'
M y private feeli ng s h a v e n o th i ng to d o i n the case
I am
As
n o t G e orge Washi n gt o n b u t Pr e side n t o f th e U n it e d S tates
George Washi n gto n I wo u ld do this m a n a ny ki n d n ess i n m y
po we r as Pr e side n t o f the U n i te d S tat e s I ca n do n o thi n g
Th e re spok e th e m a n who wa s a G E N T L E M A N to th e core o f his
heart
I f Ge n eral Washi ngto n wo u ld n o t appoi n t a fr i e n d beca u se he
wa s a frie n d n o r a partisa n b eca u se h e was a p artisa n still l e ss was
h e capabl e o f rem ovi n g a n e n e m y b e ca u se h e wa s a n e n em y or a n
opp o n e n t beca u se he was a n oppo n e n t D u ri n g hi s adm i n istra
tio n o f e ight y ears he removed n i n e perso n s from o ffice n amel y
six u n importa n t col lectors o n e district s u rvey or o n e vice co n s u l
We al l k n ow that h e recalled M r
a n d o n e foreig n mi n ister
Pi n ck n ey from Pari s beca u se that co n servative ge n tle m a n wa s of
fe n sive to the F re n ch Di rector y
The oth er dismissals w e re al l
fo r ca u s e
Poli tics had n othi n g to d o wi th o n e of them
The exam pl e o f Ge n eral Washi n gto n was fo llowed by his s u c
ces s or s
Joh n A d a m s d o u bted e v e n wheth e r i t wa s strictl y proper
fo r hi m to retai n his s o n i n a for e ig n e m plo y me n t to which Presi
de n t Washi n gto n had appoi n ted him H e rem ov e d n i n e s u b or d i
n at e o ffi cers d u ri n
h
n
preside
c
y
b
u
t
o
e
political
opi
i
o
s
s
n
n
n
n
r
f
o
i
g
sak e j e ff erso n o w i n g to pec u liar ci rc u m sta n c es wel l k n ow n to
readers of h istory rem oved thirty n i n e perso n s ; b u t h e himsel f
r e p eat e dl y a n d sol em n l y declared that n o t o n e o f th e m wa s r e
m oved beca u se he belo n ged to the party opposed to his ow n The
c on trary i m p u tati o n he regard e d i n the ligh t o f a cal u m n y a n d re
fu te d i t as s u ch
I n o n e respect
J e fferso n wa s eve n o v e r
scr u p u lo u s H e wo u ld n ot appoi n t a ny m a n to o ffi c e howev e r
m erito rio u s wh o was a r e lativ e o f hi s own M r Madiso n mad e
five remova l s
Mr M o n roe n i n e M r Joh n ! u i ncy Adams two
n
ess
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BE GINNING
TH E
4
TH E
OF
!
SP OI LS
”
S Y S T E /ll
.
Mr Calho u n tells
that d u ri n g th e s e v e n y ears that he held th e
o ffi ce o f S ecr e tary o f War o n l y two o f his civi l s u bordi n ates wer e
removed both for im proper co n d u ct I n b oth cases h e add s th e
charges were i n vestigat e d i n th e prese n ce o f the acc u sed a n d th e
o ffi ce r s were n o t dism iss e d u n ti l a fter fu l l i n vestigati o n a n d th e
reas o n o f dism issio n red u ced to wri ti n g a n d c o m m u n icate d to
”
‘
‘
Colo n e l M c K e n n ey m e n tio n s i n hi s Mem oi rs that
w h e n a vaca n cy occ u rred i n on e o f the d e partme n ts the chi e f o f
that departm e n t wo u ld i n q u ire am o n g his fr i e n ds fo r a q u al i
fie d
perso n to fil l i t
N or was this scr u p u lo u s n ess d u e to a ny lac k o f aspi ra n ts fo r
gover n m e n tal em pl oy m e n t Mr Joh n ! u i n cy Adams say s i n o n e
that h e wa s torm e n ted wi th ceasel ess wi th dail y a p
o f his l e tte rs
pl icatio n s fo r offi ce I n the last y ear o f M r M o n roe s presid e n c y
w he n th e fo u rth a u di torship of th e tr e as u ry fell vac a n t there were
am o n g th e a r m y o f applica n ts fo r the place five U n i te d S ta te s
S e n ators a n d thirty m embers o f th e H o u s e o f R epr e se n tatives 1
Up to th e ho u r o f the d e livery o f Ge n eral Jacks o n s i n a u g u ral
address i t was s u pposed that the n e w Preside n t wo u l d act u po n
the pri n ci pl es o f h is pred e cessors I n his Mo n roe l e tters he had
take n stro n g gro u n d ag ai n s t partisa n appoi n tm e n ts an d whe n h e
resig n ed his seat i n the S e n at e h e had advocated two ame n d me n ts
to the co n stit u ti o n desig n ed to limi t a n d p u ri fy the e xercise o f th e
appoi n ti n g po wer O ne of these proposed ame n dme n ts forbad e
*
u s,
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I
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W orks
o f J oh n C Calho u n ii 43 9
n
N
a
o
l
e
o
n
a
a
d
e
spot
i
t
is
sa
i
d
e
t
h
e
n
e
v
e
r
d
i
s
m
i
ss
e
d
a
w
s
J
p
y
y o n e fro m
p u blic o ffi ce w itho u t a n i n q u ir y a n d r e p ort o f fac ts a n d rare l y e v e r w itho u t
h e ari n g th e acc u s e d fun ctio n ary ; n e v e r wh e n th e q u e stio n s i nvol ve d we re civil
”
o r ad m i n istrativ e —N ap l om c I d ea
B y L i s N p ol e n
N
T Y A m e rican A pril 3 1 8 24
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o e
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ou
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BE GINNING
TH E
OF
SP OI LS
TH E
”
S Y S T EM
.
5
the re el e cti o n o f a Presid e n t a n d th e oth e r the appoi n tme n t of
m e mbers o f Co ngress to a ny o ffi ce n o t ju dicial
The s u n had n o t go n e d ow n u po n th e day o f his i n a u g u ra t io n
b e fore i t was k n ow n i n all o fficial ci rcl es i n Washi ngt o n that th e
re for m all u ded t o i n th e i n a u g u r al a d d ress m e a n t a removal
fr o m o ffi ce o f al l who had co n spic u o u sl y opposed a n d a n appoi n t
m e n t to o ffice o f thos e who h a d co n spic u o u s l y aided the electio n
The work w a s prom ptl y beg u n F ig u res
o f the n e w Preside n t
a r e n o t i mporta n t here a n d th e fig u res relati n g to this m at ter have
bee n disp u t ed S om e have declar e d that d u ri n g the first y e ar o f
the pr e side n cy o f Ge n e ral Jackso n two tho u sa n d perso n s i n th e
civil em ploy me n t o f th e gover n m e n t were r e moved from o ffi ce
a n d two tho u sa n d partisa n s o f the Pr e sid e n t appoi n ted i n thei r
,
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/
ste ad This statem e n t has bee n d e n ied I t c a n n o t be de n ied
that i n the first m o n th o f this admi n istratio n m o re rem o vals were
m ad e tha n had occ u rred fr om the fo u n dati o n o f the gove r n m e n t
to that tim e I t ca n n o t be de n ied that the pri n cipl e wa s n o w
acted u po n that partisa n s e rvices sho u ld be re ward ed b y p u blic
o ffic e th o u gh i t i n volved the rem oval from o ffic e o f com pete n t
a n d fa ith fu l i n c u mbe n ts
Col B e n to n w il l n o t b e s u spected of
overstati n g the facts respecti ng the rem ovals b u t he admits that
thei r n u mber d u ri ng this y ear 1 8 2 9 wa s six h u n d red a n d n i n ety
H e e x pr e s s e s h i m s e lf o n t h is s u bj e c t w i th l e ss tha n his u s u al
d i rectn e ss H i s estimate o f six h u n d re d a n d n i n e ty does n o t i n
c l u d e th e l ittl e arm y o f cl e rks a n d oth e rs who w e re at the disposal
o f som e o f the s i x h u n d red a n d n i n e ty
T h e e s timate o f two
tho u sa n d i n cl u des al l who l ost thei r pla ces i n co n seq u e n ce o f
Ge n eral Jackso n s accessio n to power ; a nd th ou gh th e e xact
n u mb e r ca nn ot be asc e rtai n ed I pres u m e i t was n o t less tha n two
tho u sa n d Col B e n to n say s that o f the eight tho u sa n d post
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6
TH E
BE GINNING
OF
!
TH E
SP
OI LS
”
S Y S T EM
.
masters o nl y fo u r h u n dred a n d n i n ety o n e were rem oved b u t h e
d oes n o t add as h e m i g h t have added that th e fo u r hu n d r e d a n d
n i n ety o n e vacated pl aces com prised n earl y al l i n th e d epartm e n t
that were worth havi ng N or does he m e n tio n that th e removal
o f th e postmasters o f hal f a d o z e n great ci ties was eq u ivale n t to
th e rem oval o f ma n y h u n dreds o f clerks
book keepers a n d
carriers
Ge n eral H arriso n who had co u rteo u sl y ce n s u red Ge n eral Jack
so n s co u rse i n th e S em i n ole war wh o had warm l y de fe n ded hi s
frie n d H e n r y Cla y agai n st th e charg e o f bargai n a nd corr u ptio n
wa s r e call e d from Colo mbia j u st fo u r day s a fter Ge n e r al Jackso n
had acq u i red the pow e r to recal l hi m Ge n eral H arriso n had o n l y
resided i n Colombia a fe w weeks whe n h e received th e n e ws o f h is
recal l A K e n t u ckia n who was partic u larl y i n i mical to Mr Clay
was se n t o u t to take his place
The appoi n tm e n t o f a soldier s o dist i n g u ish ed as Ge n eral H arri
s on to represe n t th e Un ited S tates i n th e i n fa n t r e p u blic o f Colom
bia was regarded by the Colombia n s as a great ho n or do n e th em
a n d a n em phatic recog n it i o n o f thei r disp u ted claim to a place
amo n g the n atio n s A p u rer patriot a worth ier ge n tlema n tha n
Ge n e ral Wi lliam H e n ry H arriso n has n o t ador ne d th e p u blic
service of his co u n try H i s S i ng u lar m erits as a scholar as a m a n
o f ho n or as a soldier a n d as a statesma n
were o n l y obsc u red b y
the c a l u m i i y a n d e u l ogi u m i n cide n t to a preside n tial cam paig n
M y st u d ies o f the I n dia n a ffairs o f th e co u n try have give n m e th e
highest i dea o f h is valor ski l l a n d h u ma n i ty
S am u el S wartwo u t was am o ng the e xpecta n ts at Washi ngto n
m o s ti n e x a c t a n d eve n reckless i n the
a n easy good n at u red m a n
m a n ageme n t o f b u si n e ss ; the last m a n i n the whole w orld to be
i n tr u sted wi th milli o n s H e had h o pes of th e collectorshi p o f N e w
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B E G I N I VI N G
TH E
THE
OF
SP
!
O I LS
S Y S T EM
”
7
.
York O n the fo u rtee n th o f March he wr o te from Wash i ngto n to
his frie n d J e sse H oy t to let hi m k n o w h o w he wa s getti ng on
( —
—
H oy t himsel f
a n d to gi ve H oy t the be n e fit of his obse r vatio n s
b e i ng a s e eker
I hold to y o u r doctri n e fu ll y wrote S wart wo u t
that n o d d rascal who mad e u se o f his o ffi ce or i ts pro fits fo r
the p u rpose o f keepi n g M r Adam s i n a n d Ge n e r al Jackso n o u t of
power is e n ti tled to th e least l e ni ty or m ercy sav e that o f ha n gi n g
S o we thi n k both alike o n that head Wheth e r or n o t I shal l get
a ny thi n g i n the ge n e ra l scramble fo r pl u n d e r r e m ai n s to be prove n
b u t I rather g u ess I shal l What i t will be is n o t y et s o certai n
perhaps keep e r o f th e B e rge n ligh tho u se I rather thi n k Massa
Pom p sta n ds a smart c h a n c e o f goi n g som ewher e pe r haps to th e
place y o u have n am ed or to th e d evil Yo u r m a n i f y o u wa n t a
*
h e bei n g n ow the s e co n d o ffi c e r i n the
place i s Col H amilto n
ov
e r n me n t o f the U n io n a n d i n all probabili ty o u r n ex t Presid e n t
g
Make yo u r s u it to h i m the n a n d y o u will get what y o u wa n t I
k n ow M r I ngham slightl y a n d wo u ld r e com me n d y op to p u sh like
a devi l i f y o u ex pect a ny thi ng from that q u arte r I c a n d o y o u n o
n g m igh ty li ttle i n fl u e n c e
ood
q
u
art
e r o f t h e world
havi
n
n
i
a
g
y
bey o n d H obok e n The gr e at g o e rs a r e th e ne w m e n ; the ol d
tro o pers bei n g a ll spavi n ed a n d ri n g bo n e d fro m previo u s hard
trav e l I ve got th e b o ts the fe t lock h ip j oi n t gravel hal t a n d
fo u n de r s ; a n d I ass u r e y o u i f I c a n o n l y keep m y o wn legs I
shall d o w e l l b u t I m dar ne d if I ca n carry a ny w e igh t w ith m e
Wh e n l e ft hom e I tho u ght m y n a g s o u n d a n d stro n g b u t th e
b e ast is r a th e r brok e n do w n here I ll tel l y o u m o re abo u t i t
I n serio u s n ess m y dear sir y o u r
wh e n I see y o u i n N e w Yo r k
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A
cti ng
S e cre tar
y o f S tat e u n til
,
th e
arrival o f M r
,
.
V an
Bu re n
.
TH E
8
BE GINNING
THE
OF
SP OI L S
!
”
S Y S T EM
.
s u pport m u st come fr om Mr V a n B u r e n a n d M r Col H ami lto n
I co u ld n o t hel p y o u a n y m ore tha n y o u r clerk
T h e Pr e sid e n t distracted w i th the n u mber o f ap plicatio n s fo r
th e N ew York collectorship a n d extrem el y fo n d o f th e m a n wh o
‘
had p u sh e d l ike a devil a q u arter o f a c e n t u ry b e fo r e at Rich
mo n d ga ve S wartwo u t the pl ace Upo n his ret u r n to N ew York
his proverbi a l good n at u re was p u t to a severe t e st fo r th e
appli ca n ts fo r posts i n th e c u stom ho u se m et hi m at every t u r n
c r owd e d h i s o ffi c e i n vaded h is h o u se a n d st u ff ed his letter b ox
Th e re was a g e n eral dismissi o n o f Adams m e n from the N ew York
C u s tom H o u se; a n d the n e w appoi n tm e n ts were mad e solel y o n
the gro u n d that the applica n ts had aided the electi o n o f Ge n eral
Jacks o n
H e n ry L e e wa s app o i n ted to a rem ote for e ig n co n s u lshi p a p lace
which he d eemed be n eat h h is tale n ts a n d a n i n adeq u ate reward fo r
his servic e s H e w o u l d have probabl y obtai n ed a b e tter plac e b rr t
fo r the fear that th e S e n ate w o u ld rej ect th e n omi n ati o n
Th e
S e n ate di d r e
j e ct his n omi n atio n eve n to th e co n s u lshi p a n d b y
s u ch a decided maj or i ty that n othi n g co u ld be do n e fo r h i m E ve n
Col o n el B e n to n voted agai n st h im
L e e I ma y add died soo n
a fte r i n Paris W here h e w rote part o f a history o f the E m peror
N apo l eo n
Terror m e a n whi le reig n ed i n Washi n gto n N o m a n k n ew
wh a t th e r u le wa s u po n which rem ovals were mad e N o m a n
k n ew what o ffe n ses w ere r e ck o n ed ca u ses o f r e moval n o r w h eth er
h e had or had n o t com mi tt e d th e u n pard o n able S l n T h e gre at
bod y o f o fficials a wai t e d th ei r fat e i n si le n t h o rror glad w h e n th e
o ffice ho u r s expir e d at havi n g esca p ed a n other d a y
The glo o m
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Van
B u re n p
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1 97
.
,
THE BE GINNING
OF
TH E
!
SP OI L S
”
S Y S T EM
9
.
”
er
s u spici o n say s M r S ta fr s bu r y him sel f a n o ffi ce h o l d er
p
vaded the face o f soci e ty N o m a n deem e d i t sa fe a n d pr u d e n t to
tr u st his n eighbor a n d the i n terior o f the d epartm e n t pr e se n ted a
fear fu l sce n e o f g u ard e d sil e n ce secr e t i n trig u e espi o n age 3n d
tal e beari n g A cas u al remark d ropp e d i n th e st r eet w o u l d wi thi n
a n ho u r b e r e p e at e d at h e ad q u art e rs
a n d ma n y a m a n receiv e d
u n cer e mo n io u s dismissi o n wh o co u ld n o t fo r his li fe co n c e ive o r
co nj e ct u re w h e rei n h e had o ffe n d e d
At that period i t m u s t be r e m e m b e r e d to b e rem oved from
o ffi ce i n th e ci ty o f Washi n gto n was like bei n g d rive n from th e
soli tary spri n g i n a wide e x pa n s e o f desert The p u blic treas u ry
was al m o st th e sol e so u rce o f em ol u m e n t S alaries were smal l
th e exp e n ses o f l ivi n g high a n d fe w o f th e o ffi cials had m a d e
pr o vi s io n fo r e ngagi n g i n privat e b u s i n ess or e ve n fo r rem ovi n g
th ei r fami li es to a n o th e r city N o o n e had a n ticipa ted a n ec e s
s i ty o f rem oval . Clerks
appoi n ted by th e ear ly P resid e n ts had
gro w n gray i n the service o f th e go ver n m e n t a n d w ere so habi t u
ate d to the ro u ti n e o f thei r plac e s that i f rem oved they we re
b eggared a n d h e l pless
A n ol d fri e n d o f Ge n eral Jackso n s wa s i n Wash i n gto n thi s
s u mm er H e w r o t e o n the 4 th o f J u l y to a fr i e n d : I hav e
see n the Pre sid e n t a n d hav e d i n ed wi th him b u t have had n o
fre e com m u n icati o n or co n v e rsati o n w ith him
The r e ig n o f
th is adm i n istratio n I w i s h a n other word co u l d be u s e d i s i n
v e ry st r o n g co n trast w ith the m ild a n d l e n ie n t s way o f Madiso n
Mo n ro e a n d Ada m s To m e i t fe e ls harsh i t seem s to have
had a n u nh a ppy e ffe c t o n the fre e th o u ghts a n d u n res tr a i n e d
speech which has hereto or e prevai led I q u e stio n whether th e
fe rr e ti n g o u t; tre as u ry rats a n d th e c o rr e cti o n o f ab u ses are
s u ffici e n t to com p e n sate fo r the r e ig n of t e rr o r which a ppears to
of
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THE BE GINNIN G
10
THE
OF
SP OI L S
!
”
S Y S T EM
have comm e n ced I t wo u ld b e wel l e n o u gh i f i t w e re co n fin ed
to evil d o e r s b u t i t spreads abroad l ike a co n tagio n spies i n
fo rmers de n u n ciatio n s
th e fec u la o f d espotism Where th ere
A stra nger is w ar n e d by
a r e l iste n ers ther e wil l be tal e b e arers
his fr i e n d o nhis first a r r i va l to be care fu l how he express e s h im
s e l f i n relati o n to a ny o n e or a n y thi n g wh ich to u ches the a d
mi n istratio n I had hop e d that thi s w o u l d b e a n ati o n al adm i n
i s tr a ti o n
b u t i t is n o t eve n a n adm i n istratio n o f a party O u r
r e p u blic he n ce forth will be govern ed b y facti o n s a n d the str u ggle
wil l be who shall get th e o ffi ces a n d thei r emol u me n ts a str u ggl e
embi ttered by the m ost base a n d sordid passio n s o f the h u ma n
heart
S o n u m ero u s were th e rem ovals i n the ci ty o f Wash i n gto n tha t
.
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th e
of
b u si n ess
paper said
the place seem paral yz ed
I
.
n
J u l y a Washi ngto n
,
irty thre e ho u s e s w hich w e r e to have b e e n b u ilt this y e ar hav e w e
l e ar n b e e n stopp e d i n co n s e q u e n c e o f th e u n s e ttl e d a n d u n c e rtai n stat e o f
thi ngs n o w e xisti n g h e re ; a n d th e m e rcha n t ca n n ot s ell his good s or coll e ct
h is d e bts fro m th e sa m e cau s e \V e ha v e n e v e r k n o w n th e c i t y to b e i n a
s tat e lik e this b e for e
tho u gh we have k n o w n it for m a n y y e ars T h e i n di
vid u al distr e ss too p rod u c e d i n m a n y cas e s b y th e r e m oval o f th e d e stit u t e
o ffic e rs is harro wi n g a n d pai n fu l to all wh o poss e ss th e ordi n a ry s y m pathi e s
o f o u r n at u re w itho u t r e gard to part y fe e li n g N o m n n o t absol u t e l y br u
tal ca n b e pl e as e d to s e e his p e rso n al fri e n d or n e ighbo r s u dd e nl y stripp e d
o f th e m e a n s o f s u pport a n d cast u po n th e cold charit y o f th e w orld w itho u t
a s h e lt e r or a ho m e F rigid a n d i n s e n sibl e m u st b e th e h e art o f that m a n
wh o co u ld w it n e ss so m e o f th e sc e n e s that hav e lat e l y b e e n e xhibit e d h e re
w i tho u t a t ar o f co m passio n or a throb o f s y m path y
B u t wha t is still m ore
to b e r e gre t te d is that this s y st e m havi n g o n c e b e e n i n trod u c e d m u st n e c
es s
i ly b e k e pt u p at th e co mm e n c e m e n t o f e v e
pr
sid
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n
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m
a nd h e
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y
w h o go e s n to o ff c e k n o w i n g its li m it e d
n d u n c e rtai n t e n u r e fe e ls n o dis ~
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THE
B E G I N I VI N G O F
TH E
SP OI L S
!
”
S Y S T E AI
11
.
positio n to m ak e p e r m a n e n t i m prove m e n ts or to for m for hi m s e l f a p e rm a
H e th e re for e take s care to la y u p w hat h e c a n d u ri ng his
n e n t r e sid e n c e
bri f o ffi cial e xist e n c e to carry o ff to so m e m or e co n ge n ial spot wh e re h e
All th e re fore that h e
m e an s t o sp e n d his li fe or r e en t e r i n to b u si n e ss
m ight hav e e xp e n d e d i n cit y i m p rov e m n ts is w ithdra w n a n d th e r e v e n u e o f
th e co poratio n as w e l l as th e trad e o f th e cit y is so far l e ss e n e d a n d d e
cr as e d I t i s obvio u sl y a m ost i nj u ri o u s polic y as it r e sp e cts th e i n t e re sts
o f o u r cit y M an y o f th e old e st a n d m ost re sp e ctabl e citi e n s o f V a s h i n g
t o n thos e w h o hav e adh e r e d to its fort u n e s thro gh all th e ir vicissit u d e s
w h o hav e gro w n w ith its gro w th n d str e n gth e n e d w ith its str e n gth hav e
b e e n cast o ff to m ake roo m fo r stra n g e rs wh o fe e l n o i n t e r e st i n th e pros
p a rit y o f o u r i n fan t m e tropolis a n d w h o care n ot wh e th e r i t adva n c e s or
,
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As a n il l u stratio n o f the state of th i n gs i n Washi ngto n at th i s
tim e I will here tra n scrib e th e story o f Col o n el T L M c K e n n ey
fo r m a ny y ears th e h o n est a n d capabl e s u peri n t e n de n t o f I n dia n
a ffai rs appoi n ted to that o ffice b y M r Mo n roe
.
,
,
.
.
,
ti m e a ft e r G e n e ral J ackso n had b e e n i n au gu rat e d th e S e cre tary
o f W a r M aj or E ato n i n q u ire d o f m e if I fl ée n to ee t/z P e i den t ?
"
ed
h
W
I said I had n o t
sir
?
I
ask
I
H a d y o u n o t b e tt e r go ov e r ?
y
hav e had n o o ffi cial b u si n e ss to call m e th e r e n o r hav e I n ow wh y sho uld I
‘
‘
go ?
it is w el l to cu lti
Y o u k n o w i n th e s e ti m e s r pli e d th e S e cr e tar y
vat e thos e p e rs o n al r e latio n s w hich will go far to w ard s e cu ri n g th e good
w ill o f o n e i n po w e r
tha n i n ti m ati n g that th e
a n d h e w o u n d u p b y m or
P re sid e n t had h e ard so m e thi n gs i n d i s p
n t o f m e ; wh e n I d e t e r
en
g
O n
m i n e d forth w ith to go a n d s e e h i m a n d asc e rtai n w hat th e y w e r e
arrivi n g at th e door o f th e P r e sid e n t s ho u s e I w s a n s w e re d b y th e door
k e e p e r that th e P re sid e n t w s i n a n d havi n g go n e to r port m e r t u r n e d
sayi n g th e P r e sid e n t w o u ld s e e m e O n arrivi n g at th e door it hav i n g b e e n
thro wn op e n b y th e door k e e p e r I s a w th e P r e sid e n t v e ry b u sil y e n gage d
w riti n g a n d w ith gr e at e ar n e st n e ss ; so m u ch s o i n d e e d that I stood for
so m e ti m e b e fore h e took his e y e s o ff th e pap r fe ari ng to i n t e rru pt h i m
S om e
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BE GINNING
TH E
I 2
5 1 01 11 5
TH E
OF
S Y S TE M
0
.
ishi n g to s e e m i n tr u siv e P re s e n tl y h e rais e d his e ye s fro m th e
pap er a n d at th e sa m e ti m e his s p e ctacl e s fro m his n os e a nd looki n g at m e
said Co m e i n sir co m e i n
N o m ore so tha n I
Y o u a r e e n gag e d sir ?
al w ay s m a n d al way s e xp e ct to b e draw i n g a lo n g bre ath a n d givi n g sig n s
o f gre at u n e asi n e ss
‘
I had ju st said I a m h e r e si r at th e i n sta n c e o f th e S e cre ta ry o f
W a r w h e n th e door w a s thro w n op en a n d thr e e m e m b e rs o f Co n gre ss
I ros e say i n g Y o u
T h e y w e re r e c e iv e d w ith gr e at co u rt e s y
e n t e re d
sir : I w ill call wh e n y o u a r e m ore at l e is u re a n d bo w e d m y
a r e e n gag e d
s e l f o u t O n r e t u r n i n g to m y o ffic e I addre ss e d a n ot e to th e P re sid e n t o f
t h e follo w i n g i m port
Colo n l M c K e n n e y s r e sp e cts to th e P re sid e n t o f th e
u e s ts to b e i n for m e d w h e n i t w ill s u it his co nv e n i e n c e
U n it e d S tat e s ; a n d~r e q
‘
to s e e h i m ? to w hich M aj or ! o n e lso n r e pli e d T h e P r e sid e n t w ill s e e
Colo n e l M c K e n n e y to da y at twe lv e o clock I w a s p u n ct u al a n d fo u n d
I co m m e n c e d b y re p e ati n g w hat I had said at m y fi rst
t h e P r e sid e n t alo n e
visit that I w a s th e re at th e i n stan c e o f th e S e cr e tary o f W a r wh o had m ore
tha n i n ti m at e d to m e that i m pre ssio n s o f a n u nfavorabl e sort had b e e n m ad e
u po n h i m w i th re gard to m e a n d that I w a s d e siro u s o f kn o w i n g w h at th e
I t is tr u e s i f sa d th e P re si
circ u m sta n c e s w e r e that had prod u c e d th e m
dent
I hav e b e e n told thi ngs th at a r e highl y discre dit a bl e to y o u a n d w hich
‘
h av e co m e to m e fro m s u ch so u rc e s as to satis fy m e o f th e i r tr u th
V e ry
w e ll sir w ill y o u do m e th e ju stic e to l e t m e k n ow w hat th e s e thi n gs a e
that y o u have h e ard fro m s u ch re sp e ct bl e
Y o u k n o w Colo n e l
I b e g pardo n sir I re m ark e d i n t e rr u pt
M c K e n n e y I a m a ca n did m a n
i ng h i m
b u t I a m n o t h e r e to qu e stio n that b u t to h e ar charg s w hich it
app e ars hav e b e n m ad e to y o u a ffe cti n g m y charact e r e ith e r as a n o ffi ce r
o f th e gov e rn m e n t or a m a n
W e ll sir h e r e s u m e d I w ill fra n kl y t ll
y o u w hat th e s e charge s a e a n d si r t h e y e o f a charact e r which I c a n
W h y sir I
N o do u b t o f that sir : b u t w h at e th e y ?
n e v e r r e sp ct
a m told
n d o n th e b e st a u thorit y that y o u w e r e o n e o f th e pri n cipal pro
m o te r s o f that vil e pap e r We M e P e p le as a c o n t i b t o r I o w a d e stablishi n g
t a n d as a w rit e r aft e r w ard i n w hich m y wi fe R ach e l w so sha m e full y
ab u s e d I a m told fu rth r o n u th o i ty n o l e ss r e sp e ctabl e that y o u took
a n activ e p a rt i n distrib u ti n g
u n d e r th e fra n k o f yo u r o ffic e th e
fi
f n
a nd n o t
w
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BE GINNIN G
TH E
lza n zl ofl l s ,
SP OI LS
TH E
OF
S Y S T EM
”
13
.
that i n y o u r r e c e n t trav e ls y o u large l y a n d w id e l y circ u lat e d
H e r e h e pa u s e d cross e d his l e gs shook his foot a n d
th e m ilitia pam phl e t
clasp e d h i s ha n ds aro u n d th e u pp e r k n ee a n d look e d at m e as tho u gh h e
had act u all y co n vi ct e d a n d prostrat e d m e ; w h e n a ft e r a m o m e n t s pau s e
‘
I ask e d W e ll sir w hat e ls e ?
I thi n k s u ch
W h y sir h e a n s w e r e d
co n d u ct highl y u n b e co m i n g i n o n e w h o fills a plac e i n th e gov e rn m e n t s u ch
as yo u fill a n d v e ry d e rogatory to y o u as it w o u ld b e i n a n y on e wh o sho u ld
‘
b e g u ilt y o f s u ch practi c e s
All th i s I r pli e d m a y b e w e ll e n o u gh b u t I
re q u e st to k n o w i f this is all you hav e h e ard n d wh e th e r th e re a r e a ny m ore
W h y y e s sir th e r e is n e m ore ; I a m told y o u r o ffic e is n o t
charg e s ?
i n th e co n ditio n i n w hich it s h o u ld b e
W e ll sir w
hat m or e ?
N othi n g
sir ; b u t th e s e a e all s e rio u s charge s sir
T h e n sir th e s e co m pris e all ?
T h ey do sir
W e l l G n e ral I a n s w e r e d I a m n o t goi n g to re pl y to all
this or to a n y p art o f i t w i th n y vi e w to r e tai n i n g m y o ffi c e n o r do I i rr
‘
t e n d to r e pl y to it at all ex p t n d flee ol m n zzy of a n a tn wh e n I thr e w
‘
u p m y ha n d to w a rd h e av e n
sa y i n g zl e n we I a m a b u t to g i oe i a tlz e
‘
ll g ti n
I ol m n ly w
n d n ozn ng
h l l oe th e tr o d/z fle w /z l f a t/t
o t t/ze tr t/
H e in
M y oath sir is tak e n a n d is n o do u bt re cord e d
t e rru pt d m e b y sa y i n
It is
Y ou
e m aki n g q u it e a s e rio u s a ffair o f it
g
ir what I m e a n to do I a n s w e r e d
N w sir i n r e gard to th e pap e r call e d
We M e P eop le I n e v e r did
dir e ctly or i n dir e ctl y e ith e r b y m y m o n e y or b y m y p e n co n trib u t e t oward
its e stablish m e n t or i ts co n ti n u a n c e I n e v r circ u lat ed o n e cop y of it
m or e or l e ss n o r did I s u bscrib e for a copy o f it m ore or l e ss : n o r hav e I
e v e r to th e b e st o f m
y k n o w l e dg e a n d b e li e f ha n dl e d a cop y o f it n o r hav e I
e v e r s e e n b u t t w o co i e s
n d th e s e w e r e o n th e tabl e o f a fri e n d a m o n g
p
‘
i
k
an l
n
oth e r n e w spap e rs S o m u ch fo that ch arg e I n r e gard to th e
j
I n e ve r circ u lat e d ny e ith e r u n d e r th e fran k o f m y o ffic e or oth e r
w is e a n d n e e s w b u t tw o
a n d a m n o t c e rtai n that I e v e r s a w b u t o n e
a n d that so m e fool s n t m e
u n d e r cov e r f m R ich m o n d i n V irgi n ia a n d
Which I fo u n d o n m y d e sk a m o n g ot h e r p ap e rs o n goi n g to m y o ffic e ; a n d
w hich o n s e e i ng w hat i t w a s I tor e
a n d thr e w asid e a m o n g th e w ast e
p
pap r to b e s w e pt o u t b y m y m ess e n g r T h e o th e r which I took to b e o n e
o f th e s e bil l s b u t which m ight hav e b e e n a n a cco u n t o f th e ha n gi ng o f s om e
‘
”
-
a nd
,
’
,
.
,
,
,
’
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TH E
14
BE GINNING
OF
THE
!
SP OI LS
”
S Y S T E I lI
.
co n vict I s a w so me t im e ago p e n d e n t fro m a m an s fin g e r a n d th u m b h e
havi n g a roll u n d e r his a m as h e cross e d Broad way i n N e w Y ork S
As to th e m ilitia pa m phl e t I have s ee n
m u ch for th e co ffin ha n d bills
r e fe r e n c e m ad e to it i n th e n e w spap e rs i t is true b u t I hav e n e v e r ha n dl e d
i t hav e n e v e r r e ad it or circ u lat e d a cop y or copi e s o f i t dir e ctl y or i n di
T hat i s m y m o n u m e n t ; its r e cords
A n d n o w sir as to m y o ffic e
r e c tl y
L e t i t b e e xa m i n e d a n d I i n vit e a co m m issio n for that
a r e its i n scriptio n s
p u rpos e n o r w ill I r e t u r n to it to p u t a pap e r i n i ts plac e sho u ld i t b e o u t
o f plac e or i n a n y oth e r w a y pr e pare i t for th e ord e al ; a n d i f t h e re is a
si n gl e fl a w i n i t or a n y ju st gro u n ds for co m plai n t e i th e r o n th e part o f th e
m y dilig e n c e or w a n t o f d e
w hit e or th e r e d m a n i m plicati n g m y capacit y
r e gard to th e i n t e r e sts o f all havi n g b u si n e ss w ith it i n cl u di n g th e gov e r n
m e n t th e n sir y o u shall hav e m y fre e co n s e n t to p u t a n y m ark u po n m e
y o u m a y thi n k prop e r o r s u bj e ct m e to as m u c h opprobri u m as shall grati fy
thos e wh o hav e th u s ab u s e d y o u r co nfi d e n c e b y th e ir s e cre t att e m pts to i i
ju re m e
Co l o n e l M c K e n n e y said th e G e n e ral wh o h a d k e pt his e y e s u po n m e
d u ri ng th e whol o f my r e pl y I b e li e v e e ve ry w ord yo u hav e said a n d a m
satis fie d that thos e w h o co m m u n icat e d to m e thos e all e gatio n s we r e m istake n
I tha n k y o u sir I re pli e d for y o u r co nfid e n c e b u t I a m n o t satis fie d I
r e q u e st to h ave m y acc u s e rs br o u ght u p a n d that I m a y b e all ow e d to co n fro n t
‘
‘
—
th e m i n yo u r pre s e n c e
N o n sir h e a n s w e re d I a m satis fie d W h y
th e n p u sh th e m att e r fart h e r ? w h e n risi ng f ro m his chair h e took m y a m
a n d said
Co m e sir co m e do w n a n d allo w m e to i n trod u c e y o u to m y f a m
il y I acco m pa n i e d h i m n d wa s i n trod u c e d to M s ! o n aldso n M j fir
! o n aldso n a n d so m e oth e rs wh o we r e pre s e n t partook o f th e o ffe ri n g of a
g lass o f w i n e a n d r e t ir e d
T h e n e xt m or n n g I b e li e v e it w a s
o r i f n o t th e n e x t so m e m or n i n g n t
far o ff a M R b s n a ve r y w orth y ge n tl e m a nl y fe llo w a n d well k n o w n to
m e ca m e i n to m y o ff c e
Y o a e b u s y Colo n e l ? h e said as h e e n t e r e d
‘
‘
N o sir n o t v e ry I r e pli e d ; co m e i
I hav e l e ar n e d to w rit e a n d talk
too at th e sam e ti m e Co m e i n ; si t do wn ; I a m glad to s e e y o u L ook
i n g ro u n d th e o ffic e th e e n tir e w alls o f w hich I had cov e re d w ith portraits of
‘
I n dia n s h e ask e d poi n ti n g to th e o n e that h u n g ov e r m y d e sk W h o is
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THE BE GINNING
OF
‘R eel
TH E
SP OI LS
!
‘A n d
S Y S T EM
”
15
.
that ?
I an s w e re d
that ?
S ni n g a o
I
r e pli e d ; a n d so h e co n ti nu e d H e th e i r ask e d f V h o w rot e th e tre a t i e s
w ith th e I n dia n s a n d gav e i n str u ctio n s to co m m issio n s a n d i n g e n e ral car
T h e s e a r e w ithi n th e circl e o f
ri e d o n th e corre spo n d e n ce o f th e o ffi e ?
m y d u ti e s th e whol e b e i ng u n d e r a g e n e ral s u p rvisio n o f th e S e cr e tar y o f
W e ll th e n a ft e r a pa u s h e said th e o ffic e w ill n o t
W
I an s w e re d
‘
‘
‘
T his
h e r e pli e d ; G e n e ral J ackso n
W hat o ffice I ask e d
su i t m e
told m e this m or n i n g it w a s at m y s e i e b u t b e fore s e e i n g th e S e cr e tar y
o f W I tho u ght I w o u ld co m e a n d hav e a l i ttl e chat w i th y o u fir s t
I ros e fro m m y chair say i n g T ak e i t m y d e ar sir tak e it T h e
‘
s word of ! a m ocl e s has b e e n ha n gi ng ov e r m y h e ad lo n g e n o u gh
No
‘
said h e i t is n o t th e sort o f pl a ce fo r m e I pr e fe r a n a u ditor s o ffic e wh e r e
form s e e stabli s h ed T his w orth y citi e n had i n th e fu ll n e ss o f his h e art
do u btl e ss a n d ou t o f p u re aff e ctio n for G e n e ral J ackso n m ad e that disti n
g u i s h e d p e rso n ag e a pr e s e n t o f th e pair o f pistols w hich G e n e ral W ashi n gto n
had c arri e d d u ri n g th e w a r o f th e R e vol u tio n
’
’
~
.
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Colo nel M c K e n n ey retai n ed hi s o ffice som e ti m e lo n ger b e
ca u se th e S ecretary o f War ass u red the Preside n t that i ts d u ties
were com pl e x a n d n u m ero u s a n d co u ld n o t be d ischarg e d b y a
perso n i n experie n ced i n I n d ia n a ff ai rs H e te l ls u s h ow e ver
that h e was k e pt i n co n sta n t s u spe n s e a n d had occasi o n all y a n
omi n o u s war n i ng
M y chie f cl e rk M r H ambleto n cam e
i n to my roo m on e m orn i n g soo n a fte r I had take n m y seat at m y
tabl e a n d p u tti n g his ha n ds u po n it l ea n e d over
I l ook e d u p
‘
a n d saw hi s ey es w er e fu ll o f tears !
To m y q u estio n
I s a ny
‘
thi n g th e mat te r M r H ambleto n ?
Yes sir I am pai n e d to
i n form y o u that y o u are to be displaced to day i W e al l fe el i t
O u r co nn ectio n has bee n o n e o f u n brok e n harm o n y a n d we a r e
grieved at th e tho u gh t o f a s e parat io n T h e Preside n t has a p
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M
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em
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l
.
2 00
.
16
BE GINN IN G
TH E
OF
TH E
SP OI LS
!
S Y S T EM
”
.
poi n ted Ge n eral Thom pso n a m e mber o f Co n gress o f Georgia
h e boards at m y mo th e r s a n d I have i t fro m h im sel f H e say s I
shal l remai n b u t the rest o f the clerks he shal l d ismiss to mak e
‘
room fo r som e of the Pr e side n t s frie n ds
Well M r
I
‘
replied i t is what I hav e bee n co n sta n tl y looki n g fo r Yo u r
a nn u n ciatio n d oes n o t at al l s u rprise m e i n deed i t p u tg a n e n d
to m y s u spe n se a n d apart from the pai n o f l e avi ng y o u all a n d
t h e th o u gh t that o th e rs are to be c u t ad ri ft as wel l as m y sel f I
fe e l r e li e ved
H e walked a fe w ti m e s across m y room a n d th e n
retired to h is w hich j oi n ed m i n e T wo h o u rs a fter I h e ard
w alki n g a n d e ar n e st tal ki ng i n th e pass a ge
They co n ti n u ed fo r
hal f a n ho u r Whe n th ey ceased M r H ambl eto n cam e i n to m y
room h is face a l l d ress e d i n smi les s a y i n g I t 2s not 10 5 e ”
What is n o t to be ?
Yo u are n o t to go o u t Whe n Ge n eral
Th o m pso n cam e to the secretary thi s m o r ni n g w ith the Pres
i de n t s re fer e n ce to hi m to assig n h i m to y o u r place h e was to ld
b e fore h e co u ld act h e ( the s e cretary ! m u st see the Preside n t
T h e r e s u l t o f the secr e tary s i n tervie w wi th the Presid e n t was y o u
w ere to be ret a i n e d a n d Ge n eral Thom ps o n i s re ferr e d back to
~
t h e Pr e sid e n t fo r e xpla n ati o n
Th omp so n i s i n a ra ge abo u t i t
A n oth e r ill u strative a n ecd ote which tho u gh i t m a y n o t be
w hol l y tr u e is s o lik e othe rs that are k n o w n to be so that I v en
t u re to thi n k i t is at l e ast fo u n d ed i n fact A m e m ber o f ! o n
gre ss app o i n t e d to a fo re ig n missio n co n s u l t e d the Preside n t as
t o th e choic e o f a s e c r etary o f l e gatio n
The Presid e n t d e
c l i n e d al l
i n te rfe re n c e a nd r e m a r ked to th e m i n ist e r that the
U n ited S tat e s g ove r n m e n t w o u l d h o ld hi m re spo n sible fo r the
m a n n er i n which h e di scharged his d u ti es a n d that he w o u ld c o n
s e q u e n tl y be at lib e r ty to cho ose h i s o wn s e cretary The mi n ist e r
ret u r n ed his ac kn owl e dg m e n t ; b u t be fore taki n g leave so u gh t
,
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"
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!
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TH E
18
BE GINNING
OF
TIIE
!
SP OI LS
”
S Y S T EM
.
have bee n i n this D epartme n t n othi n g i n relati o n to y o u has
tra n spired to which I wo u ld take the slighte s t obj ect io n n o r have
”
I a n y to s u g g est
These facts wil l s u ffi ce to sho w that th e ol d sy stem of appoi n t
me n ts a n d r e m ovals was cha nged u po n the access i o n o f G e n era l
Jacks o n to the o n e i n v og u e ev e r si n ce wh ich Gov e r n or Marc y
c o m pletel y a nd aptl y described whe n he said that to th e victors
belo n g the spoils S om e o f th e co n seq u e n ces o f this cha n ge are
the fol l o wi n g
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
'
The g over n m e nt form erl y served b y the el i l e o f the n atio n i s
n o w served to a very co n siderabl e exte n t b y i ts re fu s e
That at
least is the te n de n c y of the n e w sy stem beca u s e m e n o f i n te l l i
g e n c e a b ili ty a n d virt u e u n iversall y d esire to fix thei r a ffairs o n a
basis o f perma n e n ce I t is th e n at u re of s u ch m e n to make each
y ear do som e thi n g fo r a l l the y ears to co m e
I t is thei r n at u re to
abhor th e arts b y which o ffi ce is n o w obtai n ed a n d r e tai n ed I n
the y e ar o f o u r L o rd 1 8 5 9 the fact of a ma n s holdi n g o ffi ce u n d e r
the gover n m e n t is pres u m ptive evide n ce that h e is o n e o f three
characters n am el y a n a dve n t u r e r a n i n compete n t perso n or a
sco u n drel F ro m this remark m u st be excepted those wh o hol d
o ffices that have n ever b e e n s u bj ected to the sp oils sy stem o r
”
o ffices wh ich have b e e n take n o u t o f poli tics
I
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The n e w sy stem places at the disposal o f a ny gover n m e n t
ho wever co rr u pt a horde o f creat u r es i n every tow n a n d co u n ty
bo u n d bod y a n d so u l to i ts de fe n se a n d co n ti n u a n ce
II
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
places at th e di sposal o f a ny ca n didate for the preside n c y
wh o has a sligh t prospect o f s u ccess a n other hord e o f creat u res i n
eve ry to wn a n d c o u n ty bo u n d to s u pport his pre te n sio n s I o n ce
III
.
It
,
,
,
.
TH E
BE GINNING
THE
OF
!
SP
OI
LS
S Y S T EM
”
19
.
apple ~woma n i n Wall S treet wh o had a perso n al i n terest
i n the ele ctio n o f a Preside n t
I f Her ca n didate gai n ed th e day
h er old m a n wo u l d get the place of porter i n a p u blic ware
h o u s e The circle o f corr u ptio n embraces h u n dred s of th o u sa n ds
I V The spoils sy st e m takes from the gover n me n t o fficer thos e
m otiv e s to fideli ty which i n pri vate li fe a r e fo u n d u n iversal l y
n ec e ssar y to sec u re i t
As n o d eg r e e o f m eri t whatever ca n sec u re
hi m i n his place he m u s t be a m a n o f h ero i c V i rt u e w h o d oes n o t
act u po n the pri n ci pl e of getti ng th e most o u t o f i t whil e h e holds
i t What e ver fidel i ty may b e fo u n d i n o ffi c e h olders m u st be s e t
d ow n to th e credi t o f u n assisted h u ma n virt u e
I n a word the spoi ls sy stem re n ders
u
re
dece
n t orderl y a n d
p
dem ocrati c gover n m e n t im possible N or has a ny govern m e n t o f
m oder n ti mes give n s u ch a wo n derfu l proo f o f i n here n t stre ngth as
is a fforded by th e fact that this g over n m e n t a fter thir ty y e ars of
rotatio n still exists
At w hose d o o r is to be laid th e blam e of th u s d e ba u chi n g th e
gove rn m e n t o f th e U n i ted S tates ? I t m ay perhaps b e ju stl y
divided i n to three parts F i rst A n dr e w Jack s o n im pelled by
his r u li n g passi o n s rese n tm e n t a n d gratit u de o zo th e d e ed N o
other m a n o f his day had a u daci ty e n o u gh S e co n dl y T h e exam pl e
a n d th e poli ticia n s o f N e w York fu r n ished h im with a n exc u s e fo r
doi ng i t Thirdl y The origi n al i m per fe ctio n o f th e gov e r n m e n tal
machi n ery see m ed to necessi tate i t As soo n as K i n g Ca u c u s wa s
overthrow n the spoil s sy stem b e came alm ost i n evitabl e a n d per
haps Ge n e ral Jackso n o n l y precipi tated a cha n ge which soo n e r
or later m u st have com e
Wh i le th e co ngressio n al ca u c u s sy stem lasted co n fin i ng th e
sphere o f i n trig u e to th e city o f Washi n gto n politicia n s d i d n o t
m u ch wa n t the aid o f the rem o te s u bordi n at e o ffi cers o f th e
kn ew
an
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,
”
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B E GIN NING
TH E
20
OF
SP OI LS
TH E
”
S Y S T EM
.
govern m e n t B u t whe n the area of preside n t maki n g wa s exte n ded
eve ry tid e waiter co n stabl e
s o as to e mbrac e the wh ol e n atio n
porter a n d postmaster co u l d l e n d a ha n d W e l l the n d o n o t
b u rst with vi rt u o u s rage u n ti l y o u have d u l y re fl ect e d u po n th e
fact too w e l l k n o w n t hat th e average disi n terested voter c a n o n l y
w ith di ffic u l ty be i n d u ced e ve n to take th e tro u bl e to go to the
polls a nd deposi t hi s vote Wi tho u t th e sti m u l u s o f i n terest e d ex
o f a preside n tial cam paig n to be
i
n
h
w
i
s
the
w
ork
a
t
o
o
o
e
t
c
g t
p
do n e
Who wil l pai n t the fl ags a n d pay fo r the Roma n ca n d i e s
a n d s u ppl y the st u m p ?
Th e patriotic
a n d pri n t the doc u me n ts
citi z e n d o y o u a nswer ? Wh y do e s he n o t d o i t th e n
T h e spoils sy stem w e may hope how e ver has n earl y r u n i ts
co u rse I t is alread y w el l u n derstood that every serv i ce i n which
l
z
f
z
s
o
e
e fficie n c y is i n dispe n sabl e m u st be ta ken ou t o
; a n d this
fp
process happil y b e g u n i n som e d epartm e n ts o f m u n i c i pa l g ove r n
m e n t w il l ass u redl y co n ti n u e Th e first ce n t u r y o f the existe n c e
o f a natio n w hich is to last th irty ce n t u ries or m ore sho u l d be r e
”
garded m e rel y i n the light o f th e Great Rep u bl ic s experime n tal
tri p A l eak has developed i tsel f I t wil l be stopped
Th e co u rse o f th e ad m i n istrati on with regard to rem ovals ex ci ted
a clam or so lo u d a n d ge n eral as to i n sp i r e th e opposit i o n w i th n e w
h opes The ol d federalists who had aided to e lect Ge n
eral Jack
s o n were esp e cial l y shocked
Occasio n ally too th e o ffi c ers r e
m oved d id n o t s u bm i t to decapitati o n i n sile n c e The m os t
r e markable prote st p u blish ed at the time w as from th e w i fe o f o n e
o f th e removed M rs
B ar n ey a da u g hter o f the cel e brated J u dge
Chase H e r h u sba n d s case wa s o n e o f pec u l iar hardship a n d sh e
n arrated i t with th e eloq u e n ce o f sorrow a n d i n dig n atio n
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h u sban d sir n e v e r w a s y o u r
his h e art h e gav e y o u th e fu ll
My
of
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ov e r fl o wi n g patriot
m e as u r e o f his lov e for y o u r m ili tar y
e nem y
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I
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THE
TIIE
B E G I N N I I V G 0F
SP OI LS
”
S Y S T EM
21
.
s e rvic e s H e pre fe rre d M r Ada m s for th e pr e sid e n c y b e cau s e h e tho u gh t
H e w o u ld hav e b e e n a
h i m q u ali fie d a n d y o u u n q u ali fie d for th e st a tio n
ti a ito r to his co u n tr y h e w o u ld have had e v e n m y scor n a n d hav e d e s e rv e d
y o u rs had h e s u pport e d y o u u n d e r s u ch circ u m sta n c e s H e u s e d n o m e a n s
to oppos e y o u H e did a pa triot s d u ty i n a patriot s w a y F o r this h e is
proscrib e d p a n i s nea ! O h ! h ow p u n ish e d ! M y h e art bl e e ds a s I w ri t e
! r u e l sir ! ! i d h e co m m it a n y o ffe n s e w orth y o f p u n ish m e n t agai n st G od
or agai n st his cou n try or e v e n agai n s t y o u ? Bl u sh whil e y o u r e ad this
qu e stio n ; sp e ak n o t b u t l e t th e cr i m so n n e gativ e m a n tl e o n y o u r ch e e k !
— o u th e co n trar y i t w a s o n e o f th e b e st acts o f his l i fe
sir
o
Wh n h e
N
ba r e d his boso m to th e hostil e ba y o n e ts o f his e n e m i e s h e wa s n o t m ore i n
th e l i n e f 122s a n zfy tha n w h e n h e vot e d agai n st y o u ; a n d h a d h e fall e n a
m art y r o n th e fie ld o f fight h e w o u ld n o t m or e hav e d e s e rv e d a m o n u m e n t
tha n h e n o w d e s e rv e s for havi n g b e e n w ors e tha n n a r ty r e d in s u pport o f
th e d e ar e st privil e g e a n d chart e r e d right o f A m e rica n fr e e m
en
Car e l e ss
as y o u a r e abo u t th e e ffe cts o f yo u r co n d u ct it w o u ld b e idl e to i n form y ou
o f th e d e pth a n d q u alit y o f that m is e ry w hich y o u h av e w ork e d i n th e
bosom o f m y fa m il y E ls e w o u ld I t e ll a tal e that w o u ld provok e s ym pa
thy i n a n y thi n g that had a h e art or g e n tl e drops o f pit y fro m e v e ry e ye
‘
n o t acc u sto m e d to look u po n sc e n e s o f h u m a n cr u e lt y
w ith co m pos u r e
B e sid e s y o u w e re appris e d of o u r pov e rt y ; y o u kn e w th e d e p e n d e n c e o f
e ight li ttl e childr e n for food a n d rai m e n t u po n m
n d s s al a y
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k ne w th at adva n c e d i n ye ars as h e w a s w itho u t th e m e a n s to pros e cu t e
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w o u ld b e to h i m a barr e n h e ath a n i nhos pi tabl e w ild
Y ou w e re abl e
the re fore to a n ticipat e th e h e art r en di n g sc e n e w hich y o u m a y n ow e
ali ze as th e sol e w ork o f y o u r ha n d T h e sick n e ss a n d d e bilit y o f m y h u s
b and n ow calls u po n m e to v i n dicat e his a n d his childre n s w ro n gs T h e
n at u ral ti m idit y o f m
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a n d a spirit
sir as p r o u d as y o u rs altho u gh i n a fe m al e boso m d em a n ds
ju stic e At y o u r h an ds I ask it R e t u rn to h i m what y o u have ru d e ly
torn fro m his p oss e ssio n ; giv e back to his childre n th e ir form e r m e a n s o f
s e cu ri n g th e ir food a n d rai m e n t ; sho w that y o u ca n re l e n t a n d that y o u r
r u l e has had at l e ast o n e e xc e ptio n T h e s e v e it y practic e d b y y o u i n this
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THE BE GINNING
22
THE
OF
SP OI L S
!
”
S Y S T E I LI
.
i n sta n c e is h e ight e n e d b e ca u s e acco m pa n i d b y a bre ach o f y o u r fai th
sol e m n l y pl e dge d to m y h u sba n d H e call d u p on y ou told yo u fra n kl y
that h e had n o t v ot e d fo y o u W hat wa s y o u r r e ply ? It wa s i n s u b
‘
stan ce this that e v e ry citi e n o f th e U n i e d S tat e s had a right to e xpr e ss
his political s e nt i m e n ts b y his vot e that n o charg s had b e e n m ad e agai n st
M aj or Bar ne y ; i f n y sho u ld b e m ad e h e sho u ld hav e j u stic e do ne ; h e
sho u ld n o t b e co n d e m n e d u n h e ard T h e n h oldi n g h i m b y th e ha n d w ith
appare n t war m th y o u co n cl u d e d B e ass u re d sir I shall b e partic u larl y
ca u tio u s h o w I list e n to ass e rtio n s o f applica n ts for o ffice W ith th e s e as
s u ra n c e s fro m yo u sir th e P r e sid e n t o f th e U n it e d S tat e s m y h u sba n d e
t u r n e d to th e boso m o f his fa m il y \V ith th e s e r e h e ars e d h e w ip e d aw a y
th e t e ars o f appr e h e n sio n
T h e P r e s i d e n t w a s n o t th e m o n st e r h e had b e e n
r e pre s e n t e d T hey w o u ld n o t b e r e d u c ed to b e ggar y haggard w a n t
w o u ld n o t b e p e r m itt e d to e n t e r th e m a n sio n w h e r e h e h d al w a y s b e e n
a stra n g e r T h e h u sban d a n d th e fath e r had do n e n othi n g i n violatio n o f
h i s d u t y as n o ffic e r
I f a n y m aliciou s sla n d e r e r sho u ld aris e to po u r his
po i so n o u s bre ath i n to th e e ars o f th e P re sid e n t th e acc u s e d Wo u ld n o t b e
co n d e m n e d u nh e ard a n d his i n n oc e n c e wo u ld b e tri u m pha n t th e y w o u ld
still b e happ y
It w a s pr e s u m abl e also t h at poss e ssi n g th e co n fid e n ce
o f thr e e s u cc e ssi e ad m i n istratio n s ( W hos e t e sti m o n y i n his favor I p r e
s e n t e d to y o u ! h e w a s ri ot u n w orth y th e o ffic e h e h e ld ; b e sid e s th e sig n a
t u r e s o f a hu n d r e d o f o u r f rst m e rca n til e ho u s e s e stablish e d th e fact o f his
h avi n g giv e n p e r fe ct satis factio n i n th e m a n n e r h e tra n sact e d th e b u si n e ss
o f his o ffic e I n this stat e o f cal m s e c u i ty w i th o u t a m o m e n t s w ar n i n g
lik e a clap o f th u n d e r i n a cl e ar sk y y o u r dis m issal ca m a nd i n a m o m e n t
t h e ho u s e o f j o y w a s co n v e rt e d i n t o o n e o f m o u r n i n g
S i w a s n o t this
th e r e fin e m e n t o f cr u e lt y ?
B u t this w a s n o t all T h e w i fe who m y o u
th u s ago n i e d dre w h e r b e i n g fro m th e ill u str i o u s Chas e w hos e voi c e o f
th u n d e r e arl y br ok e th e sp e ll of British all g a n c e w h e n i n th e Am e rica n
S e n at e h e s w o r e b y H e av e n tha t h
o we d n o al l e gian c e to th e British
! ro wn o n
too w hos e S i g n at u re w s broa d l y b e for e y o u r e ye s a ffix d
to th e ! hart e r o f o u r I n d e p e n d en c e T h e h u sban d a n d th e fath e r who m
y o u hav e th u s w ro n g e d w a s th e fi r s t born s on o f a h e ro whos e n aval a n d
m ilitar y r e n o w n bright e n s th e pag e s o f y o u r co u n try s histor y fro m 7 6 to
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BE GINNING
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SP OI LS
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S Y S T EM
.
23
ith w hos e achi e v e m e n ts post e rit y w ill n o t con d e sc e n d to co m par e
y ou rs ; for h e fo u ght a m idst gre at r da n g e rs a n d h e fou ght for I n d e p e n d
By th e sid e o f th at fath e r i n th e s e co n d B ritish w fo u ght th e s o n
e nce
a n d th e glorio u s 1 2 th o f S e pt e m b e r b e ars t e sti m o n y to his u n s l i a k e n i n t r e
w
h
a n d th u s d e riv e d ; a fa m il y o f childr e n dra w i n g th e ir
A
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from th i s d ou b l e r e vol u tio n ary fo u n tai n yo u hav e re ckl e ssl y
e xist e n c e
cau s e l e ssl y p e fid i o u s l y a n d th e re fore i nh u m an l y cast h elpl e ss a n d d e sti
t u t e u po n th e icy boso m of th e w orld ; n d th e children a n d th e gran d
childr e n of J u d ge Chas e a n d Co mm odor e Barn e y r e pov e rt y strick e n u po n
th e soil w hich o w e s its fr e e do m a n d fe rtilit y i n part to th e ir h e roic patriot
1815
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read e r o u gh t to be i n form ed I thi n k that his frie n d
Maj or L e wis opp os e d this fa tal r e m oval p o licy
a n d b e n e fact o r
I n r e l ati o n to the pri n ci pl e
from the b e g i n n i n g to th e e n d
I e mbra ce
h e o n ce wrote to Ge n e ral Jackso n
o f rotati o n
this occasi o n to e n ter m y sol em n pro test agai n st i t ; n o t o n
acco u n t of m y o ffi c e b u t beca u se I h ol d i t to be fra u ght wi th
I f ever i t sho u ld be car
th e gr e at e st m isch i e f to th e co u n t r y
ri e d o u t i n ex /ens o th e day s o f this r e p u blic will i n m y opi n i o n
have bee n n u mbe r ed fo r w he n e v e r the im pressio n s h al l beco m e
g e n e ral that th e gover n m e n t i s o n l y val u abl e o n acco u n t o f its
‘
o
fi ees th e gre at a n d para m o u n t i n t e r e st o f th e c o u n r y w i ll b e
l ost sigh t o f a n d the g o ver n m e n t i ts e l f u l timatel y d estroy ed
Th is at least is th e h o n e st co n victi o n o f m y m i fid wi th r e gard
”
to these n ovel d octr i n e s o f rotati o n i n o fli ce
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