The Senate having under consideration a resolution requesting from the heads of Departments “information of the names, age, and compensation of all inferior officers, clerks, and employés in their respective Departments at Washington, showing from what States they were respectively appointed,” &c., Mr. Abbott, of North Carolina, moved the following addition:—
“Resolved further, That in the opinion of the Senate the distribution of the official patronage of the Government not embraced in local offices in the States should be made as nearly equal among all the States, according to their representation and population, as may be practicable; and that to confine such patronage to particular States or sections, either wholly or partially, is both unjust and injudicious.”
On the latter resolution Mr. Sumner spoke as follows:—
MR. PRESIDENT,—If I have rightly read the history of my country, there was before Vicksburg an army commanded by three generals from Ohio,—General Grant, General Sherman, and General McPherson. Now, if I rightly understand the proposition of the Senator from North Carolina, he would require that the generals in command of our Army should be taken geographically,—not according to their merits, not according to their capacity to defend this Republic and to maintain with honor its flag, but simply according to the place of their residence,—and no three generals should be in command from one State. Do I understand the Senator aright?
Mr. Abbott. My amendment reads, “as far as practicable.”
Mr. Sumner. Very well,—“as far as practicable.” I would inquire of my friend whether fitness for office or service in other departments of the Government does not depend upon capacity, talent, preparation, as much as in the Army? I ask the Senator if it is not so?
Mr. Abbott. The purpose of this amendment was not to override all such considerations; it was to give an expression of the sense of the Senate that States should not be ignored in the distribution of this sort of patronage. Nothing in it prevents three generals from Ohio being in the command of one army, or the appointment of three Cabinet officers from Ohio; but it is simply to express the sense of the Senate that these things ought to be done with something like fairness and justice, as between the different States.
Mr. Sumner. I take it there is no Senator who does not accept the general idea of the Senator from North Carolina, that all things should be done in fairness, and that all parts of the country, every portion of this great Republic, should be treated with equal respect and honor. That is clear. But first and foremost above all is the public service: that must be maintained; it must not be sacrificed; and how can it be maintained, unless you advance to prominent posts in this service those who are the most meritorious, and who can best discharge the duties of the post?