Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-02-13

general mode ofspeaking both on TINS noo'
and N common conversation, cohce'u'"s
this power of distributing oftces' Isl ~ =, ny
iud gment, not strictly accurate !" '''en,
may be questioned as unjust TO the P'e
den, of the Unitrd States. Its c-aom'
mated executive influence /; by way OF ana'-
ogy, and in conformity perhaps, 70 Tue
practice In Great Britain, where the crow"
being proprietor of Offices, distributes 'ne"
at will among favorites. But the ''ale %
tAines 10 different in this country Ne's
the executive has no proprietary interest,"
in the ofsees which he distributes ne
does net create them he does not except
in a few instances even designate the a.
mount Of emolument. All these IN iac'
proceed from the legislature. We are the
creators he is the channel for commun'-
eating them to their objects so that II the
members of this and the other branch OF
the legislature become venal in this coup-
try, they are, to say the least, halt workers
in their owa corruption. A mode OF ex'
preston ought not therefore TO be used,
tending to throw the guilt exclusively on
another branch Of the government. Ano-
ther phrase is more just and appropriate.
Sir it ought to be called tecuniary 'ntu-
ence. The love Of msney wrapped up IN
very thin covers and disguises, called ofh
S.s for ourselves, and Offices Tor our re!a.
tions.
l shall consider the principle vt this a.
mendment and proposition in relation to the
constitution, Its nature and necessity.
If we look into the constitution We shall
find no part more palpahly defective than
its provisions against the efec.s OF that
executive inHusnce, as it is called, resulting
from the power of distributing Offices, at
pleasure, among the members ct both
branches of the legislature and their reia-
tons. There is, think, but one provision
upon the subject. This is contained in the
fo,lowisg clause Of the last paragraph OF
the sixth section Of the first article -" No
senator or representative shall, during tie
time for which lie zpas elected, be appointed
to any civiI sfce under the authority q the
u States. zvhich shall haze been created, or
the emohments z0hereof shall have been in
creased during such time" This profit
.ion, say, considered as a security against
that corruption, which springs from the
distribution of Offices, is palpa5ly defective.
In relation to its objects, it is limited. and
in its mean wants efficiency. What are its
objects: It aims only to prevent multipli'
cation Of Offices, and increase their emo
lument. So ,ha, provided we do not create
new Offices, nor increase the old emolu-
m.ns, the craving spiri, Of avariee has free
range to solicit and corrupt both branches
of the legislature. All the numerous al
luremcnts Of existing Offices, all the rich ra-
ward of established salaries, are permitted
TO play their bewitching destinations before
our eyes. So long as man does not at.
tempt to take the fruit OF seed Of his own
sowing, he may botanic at his pleasure, in
this great executive garden, and whether
he seek flower or fruit, he may, to the full,
please his fancy or sa,iate his appetite. And
if we consider the means, it will be found
that they are inadequate. There is one Ii.
during the time for ruh,ch he
,vas elected" What is this, considered as
security! I, is scarcely less than totally
inefficient. Notwithstanding this previ
sion, man may, l say may, Mr.. Chair
man, for would not be understood to at
firm that any such creature now exists. or
has ever heretofore appeared in this or the
other branch of the legislature but Ispeak
Of the possibility of that gross and deba-
sing corruption, such as has appeared in
other countries, and may, therefore, here.
after appear in this man may be a mere
spaniel to the executive, he may fetch and
carry, run upon errands, and, at his whistle,
roll himself over on these floors, without
regard to coat or conscience, and On the
last day of the term, for which he was cleo
ted, when perhaps he has been elected from
the peoples favor, as foul and odious, he
may, IN spite of this provision, be ins,ru-
mental in creating an office, or increasing
an emolument. of which the very next day,
he shall take the profits. Is not such
considered as security again:,
from the distribution of Offices,
like tan.alism to this people? l would not,
however, be thought to hold at 4 mean
-. ,h,e Not IF orv ronstitN,on NJ,