Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-02
wednesday, EUent,sg. FED. %.

by Government patronage, is not to be estimated
by any bpt those whose professional duty calls
them to keep steady eye upon the signals and de.
monstrations of the times. We believe ourselves
to be greatly within the limits of probability hon
we assert that not less than one hundred Presses
of the Union, wholly under the influence of
Government, and prepared at moments warnin q,
to follow the lead which the Globe publicly, or the
busy spirits enumerated by the Telegraph (amonp
whom we beg leave to except the Troasurcr-at
least VIC will not include him in any dishonorablo
| partzanship, for we believe him incapable of it
while however, he has more claims or prcten-
sions TO be Treasurer, than we have to be Bsh
| oPs) privately indicate. Has any man reflected
upon the immense patronage which the Govern
ment in the shape of advertisements Jobs &C. dis
penscs to newspapers Has any taken the
pains TO calculate in his imagination, the effect OF
having an organized and Treasury Fed Press, one
hundred strong, upon public opinionl Will the
reader be pleased to let his mind dwell upon the
proposition for moment? There is another thing.
This Treasury Fed Press, never relaxes, never
sackens fire. Paid according to service rendered,
its zeal is unrcmitting, its euloges its employ
ers unceasing and unmeasurcd and its ISLANDERS
and traductions of all opposed to the power it
serves, fierce reckless, and unreen:ing.
We repeat that those situated like us-who are
called TO observe with attention, things pertaining
to the Public Press, and enabled TO mark its
| course the face of the entire Union-can
alone, form any just conception of the uhbounded
influence which the Government can and does ex-
ercise, the Public Press Tho publication of
the laws "By Authority" of which we used to hear
so much, is but an inconsderable item, compared
to its advertisements and jobs For example, the
Louisville Advertiser-an extensively circulating
and influential journal-receivcs two thousand
dollars year for printing Post Office Blanks.
What chance is there TO expect indcpe ndent
curse from that paper? Is it reasonable TO expect
it TO quarrel with good slice of bread and but
ter! There is not sha6o of opinion uttered by
the Globe which 10 not forthwith echoed by this
Press, and by scores of others, having the same
excellent reasons for agreeing with the Govern
ment Journal in all things.
We do not wish to dccry the fraternity of which
we are members. They better and no worse,
than other people; though from the circumstance
of being more before the Public, and having party
violence always dire cted against them, they are
generally thought We do not wish to dis
parage them; to injuro the Professions: But these
things ought to be corrected. Congress ought to
lake steps for divorcng that dangerous and profit
gate connection, which has grown up between the
Government and the Press. Ho,o tins is to be
done, may be difficult question; but it be
done, and ought to be done.
We invite attention to the observations of the
Telegraph. We 500, and feel, this New York n,s.
chinery, successfully in operation, and by the SUI.
peror organization effected through it's instrument
atty, bearing down every thing like independence
and converting the Government into u money ma
king concern, for the benefit of those who possess
the machinery. Destroy the connexion between
the Government and the Press-and the monster
is strangltd.
From tile u. s. Telegraph.
"Tho corrupt, the artful, and the prohigate, have
seized upon this state of things and have been gra
dually organizing mercenary corps, based upon
this immense revenue, collected from portion
of the country and disbursed in another, not only
to control, but even to create public sentiment.
With this view the system of policy already form
ed in the largest State belonging to the confcdora-
| cy, and which, for many years. has been corro-
ding the political merals of that State, has been
| transferred from Albany to Washington, whore an
| organization, formed on the model of the Albany
| Regency, has been established With this intcn-
ton, the secondary offices of the government have
| been filled with trained end unPrincpled polit-
| clans, versed in all the low and corrupt arts of
eleetioneerng. We need but Amos Ken
dali, the Fourth Auditor, William b. Lewis, the
! Second Auditor, John Thornton, the Second
Comptroller, Thomas l.. Smith, the Register of
the Treasury John Campbell. the Treasurer,
and Elisha Hayward the Commissioner
of the General Land Office, who, with
host of subordinate clerks, introduced into
the several departments, and paid out of The public
treasury aided by the post Office department, con-
stitute the regency of which Mr.. Van Buren, is the
head. This machinery is, in the first instance,
brought to bear upon the press, mainly through
the publication of the laws and tic advertisements,
i and contracts of the post Office department. and,
by the means ofthis corrupt machine, sustained by
| the appointing power, and the jobs and contracts
ofthe government, the audacious scheme of crea-
ting and directing public sentiment is formed.
Amog the most effective instruments for this pur-
| pose, is the regular arrangement which has been
made to tabrcate political articles, this place,
by the members of this mercenaryand corrupt corps
to be to the affiliated presses in the vcral
States TO be published there, and thrown back to
| be reprinted in the official organ here, the evil
dcnce of public sentiment there.
| 1t is thus that system of deception is formed
| by which the most obnoxious and corrupt mca-
snres would seem to receive the sanction of the
public voice, thus illuminating, al its very origin,
the of political power.
| 1t is impossible to regard n state of things so
new, corrupt, and alarming, without the
deepest apprehension. With revenue Of thirty
millions of dollars-with the honest part Of the
country separated and distracted by the tariff and
the que stons growing out of other assumptions
of power the part of the General Government
1t is difficult to say in what the present state
OF things may not end. Whilst the honest and
patriotic divided measures and principles
this corrupt corps, looking to the single point of
ONCE, contracts Jobs and SpeCulations; distracted
! by no question; tariff bank, internal improvement
| or bic lands, any other; keep one steady
| gaze upon the thirty millions of revenue, ms
| the ample source of both power and gain
| Nor is the stake unworthy of their wicked efforts
| Ioff i,er cfr,ln fl,r Il