Daily Quiz for January 11, 2009

William L. Marcy. New York Senator William L. Marcy made the statement, “To the victor belong the spoils of the enemy,” on the floor of the U.S. Senate in 1831. Marcy was responding to attacks on Secretary of State Martin van Buren made by Senator Henry Clay with regard to the use of patronage for party purposes, known as the “spoils system.” Marcy, who retired from the senate in 1833, became known as the “champion of the spoils system.” He went on to serve as secretary of war and secretary of state.