1880.J &vL [Snowden. 



coptable service, until 1851, when failing health induced 

 him to retire from public life. 



It were well, Mr. President, for the honor and profit of 

 our country, if high public station were always as well filled, 

 and sacred public trusts as faithfully administered as in the 

 instances to which, by your courtesy, I have been permitted 

 to refer. 



This brief allusion to the services rendered by these dis- 

 tinguished public officers brings me very naturally to the 

 consideration of the theme you have been pleased to assign 

 me this evening, to wit : 



THE NEED OF AN ELEVATED AND PERMANENT CIVIL SERVICE. 



This is a practical and important question, touching very 

 closely the highest and best interests of our Country, and 

 entitled to the thoughtful attention of every American 

 citizen. 



Neither the proprieties of this occasion nor your patience 

 would justify an elaborate or exhaustive discussion at my 

 hands. What I shall, therefore, with your leave, submit, 

 will be but a brief reference to the most obvious points 

 that present themselves in a rapid glance at the subject. 



In the minds of all thoughtful and patriotic men, there 

 can be no doubt as to the great advantage resulting from the 

 elevation of our civil service above the control and influence 

 of mere partisan interference. The battle to be fought be- 

 fore the triumph of this important principle is assured, will 

 be sharp and well contested at every point, although no one 

 should despair of the result, in view of the general and in- 

 creasing intelligence of the people, now being brought to 

 bear upon the question. 



Of late years, public attention has been much directed to 

 the subject, but, as was to be expected, it has met the most 



