During the early administrations comparatively few removals were made, except where it seemed necessary for the improvement of the public service.  But Andrew Jackson introduced into our politics the proposition, “To the victors belong the spoils;” which means that the party electing the president should have all the offices.  This view of the case presents to every public officer the temptation to secure himself in place, not by meritorious service in the line of his duty, but by activity in the service of his party; the tendency is, to displace love of country and devotion to duty, and to substitute therefor subserviency to strong party leaders.  So crying has the evil become, that many of the wisest and most patriotic men in the country are seeking to so far reform the public service that an officer may feel reasonably secure in his position so long as he performs his duties faithfully, and that vacancies shall be filled by the promotion of worthy subordinates.

[3] This is to secure two objects:  first, to relieve the president of the burden of appointing thousands of such officers; and second, to place the appointment in the hands of the officers responsible for the work of these subordinates.

The principal officers thus appointed are: 

1.  Postmasters having salaries less than $1000 a year, appointed by the postmaster general.

2.  Clerks, messengers, janitors, etc., in the several departments, appointed by the respective secretaries.  The chiefs of bureaus and some of the more important officers in each department are appointed by the president with the consent of the senate.

3.  The subordinates in each custom house, appointed by the collector thereof.

4.  Clerks of United States courts, appointed by the judges.  The United States district attorneys and marshals are appointed by the president, with the consent of the senate.

The term of appointees is four years, unless sooner removed.  They may be and are removed, however, as before said, not only for unfitness, but also for political reasons.

Clause 3.—­Temporary Appointments.

The president shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session.

This provision is necessary because the senate is not always in session, and it would not pay to convene it for the purpose of acting upon nominations every time a vacancy occurs.  The president may wait, however, if the case will permit, until the next session of congress before making an appointment.

SECTION III.—­DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT.

He shall from time to time give to congress information of the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient;[1] he may on extraordinary occasions, convene both houses or either of them,[2] and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper;[3] he shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers;[4] he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed,[5] and shall commission all officers of the United States.[6]