Alexandria Gazette

Fair Claims to Office.

Is there any such thing as title to office by reason of valuable public service? We think there is, and we can give a reason for this our opinion. We judge a man in this world by his acts and recorded thoughts-if, during a career of 40 or 50 years, we can find nothing on record that he has done or thought, we are apt to conclude that he is not a great man, and to consider him unfit for exalted station. But if, on the contrary, we find upon the pages of his country's history, during such a period, his name frequently connected with deeds of illustrious note and inestimable value, it would be only justice to say that such a man is great, and deserves well of his countrymen. This we call a title to office, because office is the only return that we can make for such high public service. As to the policy of rewarding the splendid deeds of our fellow-citizens, we do not see how there can be two opinions concerning it. What inducement will be held out to the ingenuous youth of America "to do the State some service," if after all they are only to be made conspicuous examples of the "ingratitude of republics?" But the precedent has been established for our guidance by a higher than earthly authority. From this source we learn that it is right and proper, that he who has been faithful over a few things, should be made ruler over many things.-Rich. Whig.