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Show . HAD TO HAVE IT. The beauties and worth of the spoils system as applied to the Territories is something grand. As time goes on its way things change and the yesterday -of politics is entirely unlike the to-day of politics. In Judge Cooley's "Michigan" there is a very good illustration of the spoils system. Let all who live in Utah be grateful that the political condition con-dition of , Michigan under Jackson has never been seen in Utah, and per-"haps per-"haps it would be well, as the new year has now started on its course, in remembering remem-bering tlie beauties of Utah's climate, the grandeur of her mountains, the wealth of her mines and the peace and good feeling which everywhere reign in the Territory, to return thanks to Him who watches over all that Utah is not as other Territories are, and that we have never known of a case in which an appointment appoint-ment to office has been made in Utah because the appointee had to have it : . But a period had now arrived constituting a new era in American politics, when for a long time no general maxim of government was to be so powerful at Washington as the maxim, that to the victors belong the spoils of office. This maxim of war, when war meant robbery and plunder, was now being adopted in the civil administration of the Government, and was to vitalize all political life and, be the ohief epring of all political action and energy. As the people of the Territories had no vote, they constituted no part of the victors who had captured andtaken possession of the General Government, and were, therefore, entitled to no consideration in the distribution of rewards. These must go to Virginia, Pennsylvania, and other States,.where many citizens who had shown their patriotism by their labors in electing the President were now waiting in expectation expecta-tion of receiving their share in the division of what had been won at that election. Personal Per-sonal fitness for office was found in the fact that claims had been established by labors in securing the election of the Presidential incumbent, and this, if not sufficient for all cases, would seem to have been thought ample in the case of a merely Territorial . position. But circumstances of a more personal nature might also have some influence, and it therefore caused no surprise when Mr. John T. Mason of Virginia, brother-in-law to the late Postmaster-General Barry, but wholly ignorant of the Territory and its people, was appointed Territorial Secretary. What fitness he might have developed for the office no one can tell, as he soon elected not to discharge its duties, and went abroad on an enterprise for private parties. The President Presi-dent thereupon transferred the appointment to Stevens T. Mason, his son. The only reason rea-son ever advanoed for this selection, and the only one that could have existed, was that the father requested it. The appointment of a successor to Governor Gov-ernor Cass had not as yet been made, and by law the new Secretary would be. Acting Governor Gov-ernor and also Superintendent of Indian Affairs. A rumor soon spread that young Mason was under the age of legal majority; that in. fact he was but 19 years of age, and his personal appearance appear-ance indicated . the truth of the rumor. A committee of citizens was thereupon appointed ap-pointed to inquire into the. facts; and on calling upon him was frankly told by the young gentleman that he was indeed under age, but he added that the President very, well knew the fact when he made the appointment. ap-pointment. Young as the Secretary was, he had not failed to imbibe the spirit which was dictating the distribution of political favors: and he justified the appointment to . the committee on the ground that the emolument", emol-ument", cf Vu office tvere needed for the support sup-port of his faUier's family while the father was absent from the country. |