Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-02-14
CongrsG Of the United States.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
WEDNESDAY, January 80.
Speech of the Hon. Josiah quincy on tn
hRuen:e Of Place and Pasronase.,.
CONCLUDED.


But I have heard that the bare sugges-
ton of such corruption was a libel upon
this house and upon this people. l have
heard that we we've in this country 80 VIZ
tuous, that we were above the influence OF
these allurements that beyond the At
Iantic in old governments such things might
be suspected but that here we Were too
pure for such guilt, too innocent for surh
suspicious. MIR. Chairman shall not he.
state in spite of such popular defamation
10 believe and follow the evidence of my
senses, and the concurrent testimonies of
of cotemporaneous brholders.-I shall
not in my estimation of character, degrade
this people below, nor exa!t ;hsm far a
hove The ordinary condition of cultivated
humanity. And Of this be assured, that
every syatrrn or course of policy which has
for its basis an excess Of virtue, in this
country, beyond what human nature ex-
hbi,s in its improved state elsewhere, will
be found on trial fallacious. Is there on
this earth any collection of men, in which
exists a more intrinsic, hearty and dzspe.
rate love Of Office or place, partic ularly
fat places Is there any country more
infested than this, with tie vetmin tia,
breed in the corrupsions of power? -!s
there any in which place and official emol.
umen, mere certainly follow distinguished
servlity at elections, or base scurrili.y in
the press? AS to eagerness for the re.
ward, wha, is the fact Let now one OF
your great Office holders, collector of the
Gus oms, marshal, commissioner Of
loass, postmaster in one OF your cities,
or any officer, agent or factor for your ter
ri:oriss, or public lands, or person holding
place of miaor distinction, Blu, of consi.
derabic pr'ft, be called upon to pay ri,c
last great dsDt of nature. The poor nan
snail hardly be dead, ne shall not be cold,
long before the corpse is 10 the coffin, the
mail shall be crowded, to repletion, with
letters, and certificates, and recommends
tons, and representations, and every sps-
cies Of sturdy, sycophautic solicitation. BY
which obtrusive mendicity seeks charity.
Why sir, we hear the clamor of the crav.
ing animals at the treasury though here in
this capitol. Such running. such jostline,
such wriggling, such clamboring over one
=nether's backs, such ,quealing because the
tub is too narrow, and the COMPANY so
crowded. No sir, let u, not talk of stoical
apathy, towards the things of the national
treasury, either in this people, or in thsir
or senator's.
Blu, it will be asked, for it has been ask.
ed, shall the executive be suspected Of cor
ruptine the national legislature Is he
no, virsuous? Without making personal
distinctions or references, for the sake of
aroumen,, i, may be admitted thar all ex.
ecu,ives, for the time being are virtuous.
reasonably virtuous, Mr.. Chairman, ae.h
and blood notwithstanding. Aui without
m aning in this place TO cast any par,icu-
Lar reflections upon this, or upon any other
this | will say, that If no sddi.
.ional guards are provided, and now. after
the spirit of party has brought into so full
activity the spirit Of patronage, there never
" III be q president OF these United States,
elected b. means now in usr, who, if he
deals honestly with himself, will not be ..
be, on quitting TO address hi. presidentiai
chair. as J.hn fais,aa addressed prioSe
Hal. before knew thee tnsw nothing
nd now I ava hot lutl, HITTER than on, ot
ihs Nj ksd.' The possession 81 ,ha, sa.
lion usdsr the reign e parry. w,ll mat. q
msn az srqasia,sd With the eoftup, p',asi.
pls, Il hua,an eoa,lusl, he ell b,held Ius
arufs IN o. hvasy aud shIss'iag. AID
lfs,lns q as,s, ssd be ssnlsllsa 80 esq.
,ssu, ~ ss.sts the sslld ,s~aas daily