Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-11-03
POLITICAL.
From Tie Missouri Republicans.
TORCH LIGHT,-NO. v.

UiClT iVOus aud principles, aud the IaWDInS
of attaching themselves to their declared enerpics-
who, after having lostled, reyiej, and cihated
EACH other, their struggles for preicrment' united
their skill aud cunning TO create and ioment CONFUSION
in the administration of the government Yet theOp
poston (vho are sufficiently designated by this des
cription,) after subdung with wonderful forbearance,
The snarIngs of the deep and still fresh wounds, which
they had received from each other very poll
tical conflicts aud endeavoring conceal the dcfofm
ies exposed their battles by decorating each other
With the trappings of panegyric, set up exclusive
claim public confidence; and mUdestly prOClalmiDg
themselves to he the very 'quntessence of integrity,
wisdom, moderation and irnness," undertake radical
Is to reform the government. According TO the new
and sublime system oil politics which they have adop-
ted for the occasion, the National Government has been
laundering in ertor since IFS organization under
the Constitution, and total change in the existing
order of things is held essential to the of
the Republic Considering, however, tue very suspi-
cious circumstances under which these unreformed
gentlemen present themselves reformers the people
(whom they have nsulted by assuming 10 act in their
name,) had right 10 expect evidence of their
danger i'll continuing state ofthngs under which they
have prospered forty years, or, least poposi-
ton for Improvement commensurate with the lofty pre-
tensions of their volunteer guardians But they
expected the people 10 resign the of their and
s without knowing why resolve believe every
thing which might favor their ambition, they anuoun>
ced list of imaginary grievances, without attempting
10 support them otherwise than by parade of deClama-
ton. With apparent earnestness, they undertook the
task OF reform, but their labors, might have been
expected, proved to be the parturience ola mountain
During the last session of Congress, tue same com
nlittee WHO reported the proposed amendments TO the
Constitution which were considered in my last number
instructed to inquire into the expedencv OF re-
ducing the patronage of tue Executive Government
the United States. This committee, with Col Benton
at their head, beoo themselves exploring the Sta
tuIes, the 6lue book and the records of the different
Departments search of 'food for pre- conceived opi-
MON, and, after weeks of unremtting exertions
they discovered of great alarm. First in the
duty required OF the Secretary of State, TO the
orders, resolutions and laws passed by Congress- to be
published IN one and If necessary, in three of the
papers printed in each state Second in the Limitation
of the duration Of Office of the faithful collectors and
disbursers of public revenue. Third in the mode of
appointing deputy postmasters. Fourth, in the mar
ncr OF appointing cadets. Fifth, in the present mode
of appointing mjshipmcn Aud, Sixth, 10 the terms
of the commissions of the officers of the army and ma
Vy.-Fhese, IN the opinion OF the committee, "tend 10
sally the purity our institutions and are so
with imnenent changer 10 the liberties of the
as TO require the immediate interposon of the Ma
tiOnal Legislature Accordingly when they travelled
they brought forth litter of six little bills which were
read, laid the table, and suffered to exnre for want
OF nourIshment. The report which accompanies them
or any reasons ii contains in their support might have
oeen manufactured in Dousterswive els newly invented
steam loom tor weaving novels 1t is conposeJ almost
entirely OF new and NOT very happy combinatio of the
various eP"uets which iaye been employed by the On.
"'t'"'' W all 'ler C-p"Ils and speeches against tia
Chief Magistrate. Nevertheless the Whole taken
together may he considered fair specimen Of the
.si9n moderation AMI tjsinteresedncss of the spec,
pies men,
1t has been the fashion OF tie Coalition liuclutinv
their pruters) TO cry down the presses authorized TO
publish the laws, as the hreiings OF corruption. The
editors who were the most troublesome and noisy i'm
their application for selection TO print by authority ~
the most camOrous and vehement IN icnuncia
tons Of their successful competitors. Indeed if the
Opposition are to be believed, the editors and pubs
of newspapers all Swiss. ready TO support any
party, any cause, for very small reward and the
presses, 1.-the moving power of human aconn are con
yered INTO SO many engines OF corruption the moment
they are authorized to print by authority Yet the
"peopIc's men" in the Senate, xous 10 increase
the number OF these corrupt machines provided they
have the selection of the editors to be cOrjup They
propose that the number Of papers to be selected ia
publish the laws &c. shall not be less than III, in each
state, and may be equal TO half the representation OF
each stat IN Congress- each territory one and i'm the
District of Columbia, three the selection 10 he made
by the Senators and Representatives. from each state
and the delegates from territories: the papers in the
District of Columbia by the Secretary State he nivn
preference TO those having the greatest number Of ct
al subscrheTs"t In other words they have ex haus
ted their private resources in establishing caIrIunaior
general Washington, they wish TO create branches in
each of the states at tie public erpesc for the innocent
purpose, doubtless. of eniighening the people in the
choice OF President Ii will be remarked hovever
that they do not restrict themselves to the selection of
papers having the greatest number of actual subscr
bCrs" this wholesome regulation is confined TO the Sc
cretary ofState. The wisdom and disnerestedness of
the contrvers OF this scheme will be manifest when il
IL observed, that the members of Congress- in each
state, must necessarily be nyened whenever nrin
ter OF the laws is to be selected and canuut be ey
Peced that they will render such important service as
they give their advice TO tlge people fruits.
Inc committee, after tie fashion of certain specch
compiling Senator have made ponpous display of Ionc
extracts from books ~ the possession Of every member
of the Senate, communicating information ignorance
OF Which, IN any member Of Congress, would be cul
Pabe One of these is long list of revenue officers
and their emOUments taken from register annually
published by authority" for tIe information Of the peo
pie which the committee call the blue book - nick
suggested 10 The learned chairman by the nIo f
the cover but certainly unfit TO be employed i'm state
paper, and unworthy The dignity and gravity Of "tbc
most enlightened delibeT5tive body IN the world -Ap-
pa'cnty astonished at their discovery the committee
excaim, "a formidable list indeed! formidable in mum
bers, and still from the vast Of money in
Tier hands.Ihe action OF such body Of men, suppo
sng Item TO DC animated 10y spiIi, must be tie
According 10 the description of this machine, given by
s Hc't Cukuowu,' words aud phrases intended 10 br
"lic" repeated, aud r "placcd Of frame work
'" 'hc operator changes their combination by mechaui-
CO.. i"ccss s'inir 10 chat by which Of D9nssk
of Icrfar