Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-11-03

patronage will increase ''not in arhneca ratio but
in geomcrical progression; increase almost beyond
hc power of the mind Iof a Senator1 10 calculate or
After this, itInigh; have been supposed
hat they would recommend reduction OF the ''!or'da
Die list" or, least, curailmeUt OF the emoiuments
as the ssnatura remedy" No such thing. They ouly
PROPOSE 'tha the President shall lay before Congress,
every four years. the accounts OF tue collectors
nd dsburscrs of the revenue and TO the Offices
SUCH have failed 10 account according TO lawhat
upon nominations to ill vacancies occasioned by reno
va the President shall state the OF such reno
valsand 10 repeal the act of 9Th May, 1890, limiting
the term OF oico OF certain oiccrs that is, they
commend change in the existing law, except con-
nue in Office, during good behavior, district attorneys
collectors OF the customs, naval officers of
customs, navy agents. registers and receivers OF the
land Offices, and certain officers of the general staff of
the army. whose teius of service limited to
four years.
Another bill Provides sthat no person shall receive
the appointment of postmaster where the emoluments
exceed certain amount per annum, except upon the
nomination Of the President, by and with tie advice
aud consent Cf tue Senate" The Executive patronage
is thus 10 be reduced by taking the appointment OF dep
uty posmasters Except the small fry em the Post
master General, and vesng the power the President
and Senate-the same President ttwhose spirit,n they
say wiil animate the actions of officers appointed by
him, sin the elections of State aud Federal officers
and the very Scuac which they report unfit be tIus
ted, because, they say, that until 'the laid
the root of the tree" THE constitutional and the Pres
this body, subdue its capacity OF resistance chain
the of power, and enable the President rule as
easily, and much more securely, with, than without
the nominal check of the Senate.'
The "remendous power" lin eectionsl the cadets
and midshipnen youths between fourteen and twenty
years of age) another of tho evils which 'sullv
the purity OF our Institutions, and endanger the lber-
ties of the country" and has, therefore, not escaped
the vigilance Of the ''peoplesn committee. On this
subject, they propose brace of bills diminish
but 10 distribute the contamnating influence OF Execu
tive patronage among the several states, by apportion
ing the appointment of cadets and mdshipneu among
them, according to the whole number of senator's and
representatives in Congress from each state'.the APP
pointments 10 be so made that cadet and one
mdshipman shall be taken from each electoral district
from each congressional district and from the
state at large, if not divided into electoral Districts and
one from each territory" After this, who will doubt
the wisdom of the "peoples mem" There are, to be
sure, some slight nconveniences such the possib
lily that some states will be unwilling, unable 10 fur
nsh their quota:-this may be remedied by draft
Again: the number can never be increased, however
urgent the necessity without census and amor
oumeut Of representatives and then, perhaps it might
he required TO make new allotment SO as to have
each district represented Peradveuture, the represen
taton of some of tho states in Congress may be reiu
ced which would require a corresponding reduction OF
boys representing them in the Navy and Military ac-
ademy But these Inconvenience counterbaianced
by the advantages which are that there will be pre-
cIseiy many boys the army the navy and as
many little dasgers in each there tongues in
COngfessthns equalizns admirably the military ma
val and legislative departments. To complete the PLAN
II will only be necessary Esto commit the eectionn of
the boys ''to the direct vote of the people,
The last OF the committees bills provides 'that the
officers of the army and navy shall hold their offices
during good bahaVior, and that officer shall hereaf
ter be dismissed the service bn BY the sentence of
court martial, or uPon address the President by
both Houses of Congress.n To Justify this measure
ought to nave been shewn that the power of the Pre-
sden OF striking officers fFen the rolls has been or
is likely to be abused Il certainly has been ex-
ercIsed by The present Executive, aud never BY his
predecessors, except IN fragrant cases. that of General
Hull, for example. Indeed, the very power oil arbi-
rarIiy dlsinssing an officer has been Justly denied bv
The Senate even in the of a reduction othe army
Ii their proposed plan prevails supernunerary officers
could certainly not be dsbanded, Otherwise than BY
sentence Ola court martial address of both Hoas-
es of Congress
The committee inform the Senate that the ssnatural
remedy" for the evils of which they complain would
be o place the election OF President in the hands of
The Peopie"-tha, considering the present mode OF
eectIng the President as the principal of all
tins evil namely Executive patronage they had
menCed their labors by recommending an amendment
to the Constitution in that essential and vital particu
lar. DesParng OF success, however, they say, 'sno
being able TO lay the the root of the tree Tthe
constitution they must go TO pruning among the limbs
and branches: not beng able to reform the Constu-
ton m the election OF President they go to work
| npon his powers and trim down these by statutory
enacments." The meaning af all which is smply
that these six bills but temporary expedents TO
prune tie patronage of the present Chief Magistrate
and DIVIDE The trimmings among themselves, by way
OF staying their sionacs, until the happy period when
me least shall be ready at which they expect to gra
lily their appetite for Office and reve in the rich honors
which are TO reward their disinteresed labors; that
happy PERIOD when "the shall be laid TO the rootu
OF the constitutional the compromises on Which it re
poses nusettIed-thc principles or the government sub
VerIed-and, as The natural consequence of anarchy
or consolidation, the military cheflsn (miscalled the
peoples cauildae) elevated 10 the Presidency. Then
ey promise Us tUTeetorc I'll the Limbs and branchesn
ct Executive patronage which, in the meantime shall
nave been Topped Oft Then the 'tpeupe', men" will
aPPrehcnd no bangor from Executive patronage"
aIlhoushit may be operating son fifty millions of re-
venue" aud the civil and military officers Of tie Fe-
deTai GOV eminent shall be quadrupIed," increasing
mot in arilhnetical ratio but in gcometrcaJ nro@re
slon'"-The great evil, they say, Of ian election by
The states, IS, that 1t corUp's the successful candi
uae mat I've PefyeIIs the Executive patronage exclu-
sycly TO the prcferncu Of such as are either nayes al
the time OF their selection become such as soon as
hey arc appointed and devote Themselves and their
Offices, TO tie service Of their patron On the other
hand, an election by TIC peOplcD so DuJifes ihe object
OF their favor that LIS patronage confined TO men of
integrity or'T by Glance he should appoint any who
are Otherwise they are Immediately made worthy and
well qualified, BY his PURIFYING Influence and ,,n1r