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

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'ages from these numbers. Compared with the
actual state of things, they will exhibit tie difTe
renee which few short years have developed.
between the theoretical and the practical Govern
'nent OF this Union; and the thinking mind will he
Carried forward, by natural impulsion, to con-
template the further differences which few wears
more must uncover.
THE PASSAGES
The powers delegated by The proposeI cons,; |
tuition TO the FederG Government, are teio and
dctined: those which remain 10 the State Gov
ermenis, are numerous and Indefinite. .
The number oi individuals employed under
the constitution of the United States will he
much smaller Than the number employ ed under the
particular States: there Will, consequently, be
Tess OF personal influence on the side of the for,
ner than of the latter II tho
Federdl Government is TO have collectors of re.
venue, tue State Governments Will have theirs al
so; and rs those of the former the United S,ates)
Will be principally on the coast, and not very
numerous, whilst those of the latter, tthc StQtesl
VIII be spread over the face oil the country, and
VIII be oe'v numerous; the advantage in this view
also lies on the side, (tie side "fthe States
Within every district to which
edeF1f collector would be allotted, there would
not be less than thirty or forty, or even more Of
hcers OF different descriptions Gin the employment
OF the St'tes,) and many of them persons of cha
racter and weight, whose influence would lie ON
the side Of The State
10 i've able To SHOW to the Senate full and
perfect view OF the power and workings of Fede-
raj patronage, the Committee addressed 4, note.
immediately after they wee charged with this in
curry, 10 each Of the Departments, and TO the Post
Master General requesting TO be informed OF the
whole number OF persons employ ed, and the whole
amount OF money paid out under the direction OF
their respective departments. The answers re-
ceved are herewith submitted. and made part of
this report. With the Blue Book, they will dis
cover enough to show that the predictions Of
those who were not blind to the defects of the
Constitution, are ready 10 be realized; that the
power and influence OF feaer0l patronage, contra
ry 10 the argument liz the g FederaIist,'' Is an o.
vernatch Tor the power and influence ul State ma
tronage; that lis workings will contaminate the
purity OF all elections, and enable the Federal Go
vernment, eventually, to govern throughout the
States, as eiIectually as II they were SO nany pro-
vinces Of one vast empire.
The whole OF this great power will centre in
the President. The King of England is the
- fountain OF honor;' the President ofthe United
States is the source OF patronage. lie presidcs
over the entire system of Federal appolntments
Jobs, and contracts. lie has power over the
=" support" OF the individuals who administer the
system.
He makes and unmakes them lie chuses from
the circle OF his friends and supporters and uggy
dismiss them, and upon al! the principles OF human
action, tU7H dismiss them often as they dissp
point his expectations. His spirit will animate
their actions in all the elections to State and Fede
'aI Offices. There may be exceptions, but the
truth OF general rule Is provdedby the exception
The intended check and control of lie Senate
without new constitutional or statutory royis-
ors, VII ceas 10 operate. Patronage VIII pene-
trate This body subdre its capacity OF resistance,
CHAIN 1t to the car Of power and enable the President
to rule as easily, AMI much more securely with.
than without the nominal check Of the Senate III
the President was himself the officer Of tie People.
elected by them, aad res pOnsibe 10 them. there
would be less danger from this concentration Of
all power III lis hands, but it IS tie business OF
statesmen TO act upon things as they are and not as
they would wish them Ee We must then look for
ward 10 the time when the piblic revenue will be
doubled; when The civil and military officers of t.
Federal Government will be qusdrupied; when its
influence over individuals will I've multiplied 10 an
indefinite extent; when the nomination by the
president can carry any man through the Senate,
ana ms recommendation cary am aRea-
sure through the two House OF Congress; when
! tie principle OF public action will be open and
avowed, the PreSideHt tCGnfS Ely cote, ami
lo0m his patronage; / UW VOTE as he toishcs,
0Rdhe WW GIVE me tic office irish fer. What
viii this be but tie Government OF one man? and
what Is the government OF one man lat lnOnQr-
I t"y! ~Nd'usS are hotllhS- 4 ne nature OF thing
Is In its substance, and the name soon accommodates
itself to the substance. The first Roman E,nperor
was styled Emperor Of the Repu6Ac, and the last
french Emperor took the same TILE: ard their
respective countries were just as essentially Aqoaay
chtcG9 before as alter the assumption OF these lies
1t cannot be denied, OF dissembled, but that This
Federal Government gravitates to The same point.
and that the election of tie Executive by the Lee
si>latuIe quckens the impulsion.
Those who make the President must sun,ort
him. Their political fate become, Identified. and
they mus stand or fall together Right or wrong they
must support him; and if he is made contrary 10 the
VIII OF The People, he must be supported not oniy
by votes and speeches, but by arms. A violent and
forced state of things will ensue. Individual comlat..
VII take place; and the combats of individuals
Wi! be the ioreunner to general engagements Tie
array OF imam against man will be the prelude TO the
array OF army against army, and of State against
State such IS the la;g OF nature end il is equally
IN vain for one sci of men TO claim an exemrtioy
rom It's operation, it wo' Id be for any other
set 10 suppose that, under the same circumstances
hey would not act IN the -ame manner. The natural
remedy Tor all tins evil would be 10 place the election
OF President IN the hands Of the people of the H. s
lie IS ouid then have power 10 support him, which
would be as able as willing to aid him when he was
himself supporting the interests OF the county az
would they be to put him Gown when he should leo
lect OPT ose shose interests Your committee Il e.
ing at the present mode eectng the President as he
principal source OF all this evil, have commenc ri
then abors at the beginning of this session bv re-
commencing an amendment to the constitution il
that essential and vital particulars but in this. as In
many other things, they find the greatest difficulty
TO lie IN the first step. The committee Recommend
the amendment but The People cannot act upon il
until Congress shall 50 propose it,, and peradyen.
ture, Congress will not " propose" il 10 them
at all
The Committee have also reported another pro-