The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1834-10-11
NEW SERIES VOL. 1.--NO. 10.

supposed that of1ces have been from time.
to time and will continue TO be unreasona-
bly, multiplied. Should the project, which
has been partially adopted OF applying tho
surplus revenues to the purposes OF inter-
nal improvents, be carried TO the extent
which it may be, there will no longer be
any bounds TO the patronage Of Govern
ment.
"We have nothing to say here upon
the subject Of the constitutionality of that
project. We speak only of it's effects in
connexion with the subject before US
, II the surplus revenue can be so disposed
of, there can be no bar to the cxactisn Of
additional revenue to any amount, by di-
rect taxation or otherwise, to be applied
to the same purposes. And who can cal
culate the power Of political engine by
which entire States may be moved with
ease-at least so long as they enjoy the
exclusive benefit Of the revenues from
other States
The numbers Of those interested in
State officers are, Of course, much great
er. And however we may regret it, We
must be aware that state and national
politics, parties and influences have got
to be but too closely connected. The
immense patronage possessed by the
general government, has been found, i'm
every State, greatly to influence, and in
most of them, finally to control the state
elections and politics.
"Ihus is created and organized, an ar
my Of civil officers an hundred times
moro numerous, and thousand times
moro efficient and formidable than any
military army that could be embodied in
this country, with views hostile to its
freedom. And the discipline Of the mill
tary is not more strictly enforced than is
that of the civil host Whoever steps out
of the ranks Of the latter Immediately is
deprived Of his Office. Their whole ef-
forts are concentrated and directed to
the same point and object-the further
nnce Of their own, exclusively political in
terests. The course laid down for them
may be right or may be wrong but they
have no power Of choosing for them
selves. II, in the opinions Of any of them
that course be ever so wrong, or ever SO
injurious to the public welware, still they
are compelled TO preserve il. For they
will not sacrifice ther own, immediate,
individual Interests to any considerations
Of the public good
"Nor is the primary object in the Sc
lections OF these hosts of officers. On
the contrary, one half, or nearly one half
OF the people are excluded by party, and
upon the same principle Of action, the
selections from the other half are made
with view to the strength Of the party.
And thus we find that men who obtain
Offices are generally those busy, forward,
intriguing politicians whose claims, boldly
asserted, cannot be safely overlooked,
however unqualified they may be to per-
form the duties Of the Offices they de-
mand. While better men, in all respects
better qualified for the public service, are
passed by without notice.
This powerful political body is not
more strong in its numbers and descrip-
tion than it is in it's means of sustaining
ITSELF All its members, in addition to
their personal exertions and influence,
will very readily contribute O portion Of
their pay to secure to themselves the con-
tnued enjoyment Of the residue. Or,
should any Of them be backward in doing
so, their compcers will be seen to coerce
them to pay their quotas.
"The political uses to which the thou
sand Of post Offices, with which the Uni
ted States are thickly studded over, may
be put, should that immense establish
ment ever be prostituted to such uses, as
it certainl y may be, must be apparent to
every man. And should the numberless
local paper money banks be gained and
VIC know that great party uses are al
ready made Of them, and may be certain
that there will be great struggle Of par
ties to obtain the control Of such an en-
CINE and should the equally numberless
political printing presses, all which arc
in the service, and many OF them in tho
pay Of ore party or another, and too many
of which are employed in mIsinforming
and misleading the public mind-should
these also be brought into combination
and cooperation with .the post Office es-
tablishment, then will the free people Of
this country become sensible Of press
ure, under which it will 10 happy, shall
they be ablc to bear up.
"The maxims of policy which the lead
ing political men of oil parties have open
ly adopted and practscd upon, are in d.
rect hostility to the interests of the people
and tend inevitably to the subversion of
their rights. Some Of these masims are
that every man who claims to act sc-
cording to his own convictions Of right
and wrong and will not agree to 20
thoroughly with party, ought TO be dis
countenanced by all parties. That every
man is bound to support the measures Of
his party and approve their nominations
to office, however fully convinced he may
be that those measures arc unwise and
injurious to The pubic interests or that
tho men proposed Cor offices ars wholly
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