Assassination and the Spoils System [pp. 145-170]

THE PRIzVCE TON RE VIE W.
make his Cabinet-a body, however, which neither the laws nor
the Constitution of this country or Great Britain anywhere recognize-the President causes the laws to be executed and the
policy and principles last approved by the people to be made
effective in practice. This is done through the aid of about one
hundred thousand executive subordinates, subject to his legal instructions, which they are bound to obey. And analogous
reasons apply to Governors and their subordinates, including
city officials. It is in connection with the appointment, promotion, removal, and political assessments of these subordinates —perhaps a quarter of a million in number-and their
interference with elections, and their compliant work and intrigue for the benefit of chieftains, great officials, and corrupt
factions, that the principal abuses of our administration exist.
In the theory of the Constitution, by the express language of the
laws, and according to the precedents of all enlightened nations,
it is the duty of these subordinates to obey the legal instructions
of their superiors, to whom, and not to members of Congress
or of the legislatures, they are directly responsible. It is no
part of the functions of these subordinates to interpret principles, or to guide as to the limits, times or methods of executing
the policy of an administration. They are in no sense representative, and as executive officers their duties are administrative and ministerial-to be performed in the same way and in
the same spirit, in all parts of the Union and under all administrations, irrespective of consequences to parties or individuals.
Only on this theory can the popular will be executed, or the
government be efficient, or justice be done. On no other theory
and under no other practice can the President cause the laws to
be faithfully executed and be justly accountable for a failure to
do so. The political opinions and theories of legislators are;
material, for they are to represent the views and interests of the
people, upholding them in debate and embodying them in laws.
Their terms of office should be short, for such views and interests are continually shifting, and these offices should be continually representative. So also the opinions of Presidents and
Governors are material; for they are to defend and enforce the
policy and principles of the majority, and their term also should'
be short, since that majority frequently changes. In a still
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