The Daily Cincinnati Republican, And Commercial Register

THE CLERKSHIP
An opposition in politics, or rather a diversity of views as to leading measures of policy, or in regard to the general fitness of candidates for the suffrages of the people, decorously and candidly expressed, has always been regarded as exercising a salutary influence in determining upon the principles and measures most suitable to be adopted, as well as upon the individuals most worthy of the people's support. An honest opposition tends to awaken discussion, to arouse public attention, and to spread correct information among the people; all of which are necessary to a right view of the subject under consideration.
To such an opposition, conducted thus, even should their arguments fail to convince us that our positions are untenable, or that our opinions are unsound, we can always extend the right hand of fellowship. We can extend it to them because we claim the right to assert and maintain our own opinions; and we acknowledge the same right as existing in others.
But trickery and fraud, whether they be practised by those associated with us, or by those whose views differ from our own, we must continue, as we always have done, most unequivocally to condemn.
These remarks were suggested on reading an article in the Cincinnati Gazette of Saturday last, under the caption of "Correct Sentiments," which heretofore escaped our notice. It is specious and exceedingly plausible and entirely characteristic of the individual from whose pen it emanates. We had hoped that occasion would not have been given us to connect a local matter (altho' it is of absorbing interest to the people) with the general politics of the day. We have hitherto sedulously avoided it, as has also, we believe, the individual most deeply interested. The opposition have repeatedly disclaimed an intention of giving it that direction, and we had resolved to leave it to be determined upon its own abstract merits. We will of course be understood as alluding to the appointment of a Clerk to the Court of Common Pleas of this county, which took place in April last. Acting upon this determination, we have heretofore opened our columns to all parties, giving an advantage to none, and without even expressing an opinion upon the merits of the controversy; although the individual who received the appointment, had always been firm, uniform, and consistent democrat. We took this position of neutrality under the expectation that our brethren of the tripod would conduct toward all parties with equal fairness; which expectation was sustained and justified by the knowledge of the fact that the editor of the Gazette had on former occasions given evidences of his good opinion of the individual appointed. The article of Saturday last, to which we allude, has entirely changed our opinion. Instead of now believing that the pretended neutrality of the Gazette was the result of a desire to avoid bringing this subject into the general discussions of the day, we are convinced that it has been avoided until the present time, so that when it could be made available for party purposes, it might be used with the greatest possible success in distracting the supporters of the present administration. We believe, also, that the editor of the Gazette, knowing that he could not openly assail the gentleman who received the appointment from the court, with any hopes of success in injuring or degrading him before the people, has taken the present course for the purpose of accomplishing that, by indirection, which he could not hope to effect by direct means. But to the article in question.—The editor of the Gazette, after lauding and eulogizing the sentiments contained in a preamble adopted by a meeting of the citizens of Sycamore Township, (which by the way is entitled to all the praise bestowed upon it,) proceeds to state that certain individuals of the Jackson party will be competitors before the Convention for nomination; and asks, what are the people to gain by the squabbles of such men? and intimates that they are without character or standing.
Now, this is rather a sagacious trick, as it strikes us. There is a double object to be gained by it, in our opinion; and we think it can be made so to appear. Let us try. A number of gentlemen have been spoken of for nomination for the several offices to be filled at the coming election. If the opposition can sow dissension among the Jackson party—"aye, the Jackson party"—if a schism can be created among the friends of those whose names are to be submitted, a doorway may be opened for the introduction of some of those into office who square their political opinions according to the standard of the said editor of the Gazette. Again the said editor, together with some others of his companions, having determined to postpone the claims of Gen. W. H. Harrison, to make room for the legitimate Bank candidate for Congress, it is thought necessary to make some other provision for him. We understand, that Gen. Harrison, together with his friends, are at this time busily engaged in circulating petitions through the county, requesting the court to appoint the said Gen. Harrison to the Clerkship, in place of Mr. Goodin, who has formally received it. Gen. Harrison's success in obtaining signatures could in no wise be injured by having the idea generally diffused, that Mr. Goodin has withdrawn—which in our humble judgment, is the aim and intention of introducing his name into the article in the Gazette of Saturday last. We have Mr. Goodin's authority for saying that he has at no time thought of being a candidate for the Legislature, or of relinquishing his claim for the Clerkship. He states, that his appointment having received the sanction and approbation of nearly three thousand of the citizens of this county, expressed by voluntary petitions to the court to confirm his appointment, together with numerous approvals by public meetings, he has determined to contend, by all constitutional and legal means, for his rights. So much for the article in question. If the editor of the Gazette hopes to distract the ranks of the Jackson party; or if he hopes to displace a worthy friend of the present administration, for the purpose of making room for one of his political friends—and that, too, when he professed a willingness to leave the subject of the clerkship to be determined upon by its own merits—it would be advisable for him to resort to more justifiable means; and to lay his plans with such skill as to avoid detection; which he has not done in the present instance