Winchester Republican

NEW-YORK.

The New-York council of appointment has commenced its operations, and doubtless will not cease until the state is completely purged of the leaven of Clintonian-federalism. Seven hundred and seventy-four removals and appointments were made in one day! One would suppose that it was a perfect bargain and sale business! We happen to know something about it, and thus it is.--The council consists of four members, selected annually from the senate by the house of assembly. (The party predominant in the house will of course elect a correspondent council.)--The body thus formed has the appointment of mayors, sheriffs, registers, clerks, magistrates; in short, every civil and military officer. The offices being lucrative, there are many applicants, who found their claims upon previous services rendered somewhat in this manner: "Prior to the last election (says one), I exerted my influence and my talents in such a county (naming it), and succeeded in reforming it to federal (or republican, as the case may be) principles. -No man paid more into the county fund for the purchase and distribution of pamphlets and hand-bills, than myself; to me you owe the election of the delegation from my county, and the ascendency in the assembly. I therefore claim the mayorality (or sheriffalty, or clerkship, and so on) .of -.-. . If you refuse me, I have a remedy"- hinting something of his going over to the Federalists! A dozen others put in similar claims- the council hesitates -and finally, in appointing one, it is an even chance whether the others remain true or apostatize. If the latter, their example has an influence at the ensuing election, and may vitally affect its general result. The late minority now becomes the majority; but from its inability to reward all those who apply for favors, many of them return again, mortified and disappointed, to their first principles-stand another chance next year--and thus the wheel turns round. It was Gov. Clinton's injudicious appointment of federalists to office (through the council) which has rendered him unpopular with republicans.

He,

"Having both the key
Of officer and office, set all hearts
To what tune pleased his ear."

We feel a high regard for New-York. She is a great, a mighty state. Her wealth is immense —her resources are inexhaustible. Her inhabitants are enlightened, hardy and intrepid. United within herself, she could cope with and subdue every army that invaded her frontiers. But, like Pennsylvania, she is distracted by internal dissentions. The same cause in both states has produced the same effect. In the first, the distribution of offices is committed to four men; in the last, to one. The legitimate republican party in New-York has now the ascendency. Long may it keep it! But in the present state of things, the wish is vain : the political history of the state proves it so. Many active politicians, who contributed to effect the late change, will be clamorous for their reward. Being disappointedy they have their remedy." And unless the convention, which it is proposed to call the ensuing summer, abolishes the council of appointment, and provides a better way of making appointments, depend upon it the republican party will be defeated at the next election, and the Clintonians and federalists will then have it in their power to undo all that has been done, and will rule the state with a high-handed supremacy