Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-05-19
CON AZ,
IN SENATE OF THE UNITED sTA,Tl;s

IN BIN AXE VI TIE UNITED STATES
MAY 1, 1926
Mr. Denton, from the Select Committee IN ,rbicb
uas referred the proposition to inquire into the
expe!iency OF reducing The Patronage of the
Executive Government OF the United States.
made the following
REPORT:
That, after mature delibpra,ion, Tire Committee
HSe OF opinion that 1t Is eXpeIent to diminish. or
10 regulate, by law, the Executive Patronags of
Ihe Federal Government, whenever the came en-
BE done consistently with the provisions Of The
Constitution, and without impairing the proner
efficiency of the Government. Acting under this
conviction, they have reviewed. as carefully. az
Ilne and OTHER engagements would permit them TO
10, the degree aud amount o! patronage now exer-
cisei by the President, and have arrived at the
conclusion that the same may, and ought 10, be li
H''nished by law. For this purpose they herewith
present to Me Senate six bills, entitled:
} y Fill 10 regulate the publication Of he laws
u tie United States, and Of public advertisements
:. bill TO secure in office the faithful Coliec
'e's and Disbursers fhc Revenue, and TO dis
place. defsultess
3 y bill to regulate the appointment of Post
masters.
]. \ bill 10 regulate tie appoiarrnen, o! Cadets.
D. a Di!i TO regulate the appointment Of Mid
shpmen.
o. y Bill 70 prevent Military and Naval OH.
GERS from being dismissed the service at The nls,.
sure Of tie President.
.~--Ibe Committee 90 not doubt but that there are
many other ranches OF Executive PATRONAGE j.,
addition TO those which comprshended IN The
provisions o! these bills, which might be asvan-
'aseously regulated by law. Var from thiukipg
mat they have exhausted The subject they Lel,eyc
mat 'hey nave only opened it, and that NOTHING
more can be done, at this time, than to Law tho
foundation Ola system 10 be follow ell rr a., .r
yIced hereafter
IN coming to Tie conclusion that Execute
Patronage ought to he diminished and rcs,,I.t.I o.,
me plan proposed, the Committee rest tbe,r oni,
ION on The ground that the exercise of great ma.
!ronage in, the hands of one man has Constant ,
ceAcy 10 su.y the purity of our institutions and 10
e"u"nScE the Liberties 81 The country This doctrine
: not new. y jealousy of power, ard of the in
Huence Of patronage, which must ALWAYS acro,,
bany It's exercise, has ever been dis,jrp,isle1
ie'.'re 10 tie American character IL d1snl,v,I
.'seii strongly at the period of the formation All
o! lHe adoption, OF the Federal CONSTITUTION. At
That tine the iceJleness Of Tie old Confcdera,ia,
mad excited much greater dread of anarcl,y n.,
~ power 90 OF anarchy among the member tLn
~ power IN the head and although the iu,,,r..
sinn was nearly universal that goyernrnort 81
anore energetic character had become indiene,so
Oy necessary, yet even under the Influence of 80,
conviciion--such was the dread of mover .,i
paironsge-ihat the States with extrtua ,or,'a
lance, yielded their assent TO the c.tabli.t,,o, y,
ne edeTal Government Nor was this The efr,,
n' Idle and visionary fears on the part Of ~, 80,
rant multitude, without knowledge of tba -.
"Nu .ehuehcy oil power. On the contrary II RI.
suited from the most extensive and profound Mil;
c"' KnoYle igc,--irom the heads OF statesmen ,,r
SJ'pis'e7i, 10 any age, in sasaciiy and uatriot;
Noihing could reconcile the Great rne, ~ ~
u'y 70 constitution Of so iauCh bower. IN, ,L
rE''"s "Wcb were put upon 10 against the sI,
81 power. Dread and jealousy Of tbi. sh,,.' ~.
p'ay GU "SVH throughout the Instrument To iii;