Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-05-19


operations OF the great laws of The material world
But this IS not the case, The scene shifts from
thls imaginary region, where laws execute them
selves, TO The theatre Of real life wherein they are
executed by civil and military officers, by armies
and navles, by courts OF Justice. by the collection
ana disbursement OF revenue, with all It's train OF
salaries, jobs, and contracts; and in this aspect of
The reality, we behold the working ofPArRoNAGE,
and discover the reason why many stand ready
IN any country, ard in all ages, to fack to the
standard OF POWER whatsoever, and by ~ homso-
ever, 1t may be raised.
The patronage of the Federal Government at the
beginning, founded upon revenue OF two
millions of dolars.' 1t is now operating upon
twenty two millions and, within the lie time of
! many now living, must operate upon fifty The
whole revenue must in few years, be wholly sp-
piiraole to subjects OF patronage. A, present,
about one half, say ten millions of it, are appro-
pfiated TO the principal and interest of the public
oeot winch, from the nature of the object, involves
OUT little patronage. In the course of few wears
without great msmanagement this must be paid off
y short period OF PEACE, and faithful applca-
tlon OF the sinking fund, must speedily accomplish
tat most desirable object Unless the be then
reduced, work as difficult in republics as in mo-
narchies the patronage of the Federal Government
great as II already is, must in the lapse of few
years, receive vast accession of strength The
revenue Itself will be doubled. and instead of one
haii benz applicable 10 objects of patronage, the
whole VIII take that direction. Thus the reducli-
on oil the public debt and the increase of revenue
wli multiply in a four fold degree the number of
persons In The service oi the Federal Government
Tie quantity OF public money In their hands and
The number al objects which il is apulicabI,: I'm,
as each person employed will have circle of great
er or les diameter, OF which he is The centre and The
soni--a circle composed OF friends and relations and
OF individuals employ ed by himself on pubic or ON
. private accountable actual increase of federal
power and patronage by the duplication OF The re-
venue, will be not in the ar:tnelical ratio but in
Seometrcal progression, an Increase almost beyond
the power OF the mind to calculate or TO compfe-
bend.
/ The committee think it right TO attempt to give
an idea OF the greatness of this power OF patronage
oy referring TO an example in single city. They
will take the city OF New York. and single branch
OF the fedora patronage in that city; and to avoid
niStakeo or error, will limit their reference 10 a
work OF unIuestionable authority upon this subject
Inc - 6fnc BOoa' of the Republic, which CORES
ponds VITA the " Red BooL'' of n,onarclies, and
Viii read rom pages IL, II, -, II, IS, is, of
! that growing lite volume.
! (liere follows list of III olficers-who re-
ceived from the government ofthe u S. more than
$l7O,OOO.)
A formidable list indeed formidable in num-
bers, aud still more so from the vast amount OF
money III IleiT hdils. Inc action OF such n body
OF men, surprising them 10 be animated bv one
spirit, must be tremendous in an election and
That they VIII be 20 animated, is a proposition too
plain to need demonstration. Pd,rer over A man >,
support, has always been held and admitted TO be
Poirer over bis 1rH,F The President has DOW.
er" over the '' support" of all tilese officers
and they again have GO power over the sun
port OF debtor merchants TO the amount of ton
millions Of dollars per uJiHuHI and over the ds
support OF an immense number of indiyidua
professional, mechanical, and day laboring. 70
whom they can and ,rW extend, or deny. a val.
liable private as well as public patronage accord
li6 10 tie part which they shall act in Sfuke 80
well as in FedcrqI, elections. Still this is ONLY q
branch, a mere prong, of Federal patronage in
the city OF New ork The same Government
has, in the same city, branch of the United
States Bank, WELDING a capital Of many millions
large military, naval, and post Office establish
meat ; judiciary, wit is APPROXIMATE officers
presses, which print the laws and public advertise
men's and long list of contractors and iotbers
Bat It may lie said that this is an extreme case
that New York is Tie frs; city in the Union. an,
Federal patronage necessarily The creates, there
Granted. Then 80 to tie other extreme take
borough town ni comparatively small population
AM an insignificant amount OF revenue TO collec,
take Norfolk, with her white population of fv,
thousand souls, and her nett revenue OF sixtyfo
thousand seven hundred and twelve dollars an,
tWenty-scven cents, and see tie power of Dairon
age there
BLUE BooK-PAGEs ST.
Names amt compensation of the Officers of n,
Customs a. .NorfJLi.
imcs Johnson Collector. &c Sc. Sc. SIAN n
= / Alexander Fun. lli.