Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-02-19

tucy stOulu DC KcpJ. lHs hepoTt goes OH
to state some facts showing the extent of
patronage exercised through this assumed
power of controlling the Depositcs of the
public money, &c. &c.
i Having thus shown. by variety of facts
and arguments, of which the above can afford
but very faint idea, the enormous extent OF
| the Executive power the Report takes some
! philosophical views OF the subject. Patron
age, in a Government, says the Report, is at
best but a necessary eua; the tendency of
I which, even when comparatively restricted
in its extent, is to debase and corrupt the
morals of the community. In all well regn-
lated free governments, therefore, no more
| OF it will be retained, than is necessary to
their healthfnl existence. The idea that
| large Executive patronage Is necessary to
give efficiency to the Government, IS COM
batted as fallacy, demonstrated to be such
| by comparison Of the present with the past
extent of that patronage in this Government.
For this comparison the Committee select
the years 1926 and lS33 the former year be-
ing one in which the extent of the Execn
tive patronage already began to be thought
too great, and the latter because it is the Ia
test Of which they can obtain correct returns.
From this comparison it appears that the IN
come of the Government, including the Post
Office, was, in 1895, $28, l47 900 in 1888
S3G, G,GG7,O00 (rejcctng fractions.) That the
expenditure of the Government, exclusive Of
the public debit was, in 1925, $l27l9OCO;
in 1889, $685. 600 ; and that the number of
persons receiving emoluinent or compensa-
tion from the Government, was in 1925, fifty
five thousand seven hundred and seventy
seven and in 1888, one hundred thousand
and seventy-nine persons.
Dx,ta, tb,o N,hl M rnn
age by these elements, combined with that Of
the gross expenditure, without advertng to
other circumstances which have been shown
still further to enlarge it, the result is rs six
ty-fve to eighty mine, showing an increase
Of patronage between those years Of thirty
six per cent The progressive increase hav-
ing been much greater within the last four
years than within the last four years preced-
ing.
Anticipating the answer to this state
mcnt, that the increase Of patronage, &c. has
not been greater than the increase IN the
growth and population Of the country,-the
Report goes on to show, by the operation of
the several causes already enumerated, that
the patronage Of the Government had more
than doubled within space of time wherein
the growth and population of the country
have not probably increased more than "a
per cent. But, whilst showing this, the Re-
port denies that there is any substantial rea-
son why the patronage Of the Government
should increase in proportion TO its increase
of population. This idea, the report goes on
to show, is an assumption dangerous as well
rs erroneous. i
The danger Of patronage, thus increasing
with the growth of country, arises from the
great advantage of an organized over an un-
mass the great advantage which,
in populous country, power thus acquires
over liberty. The Report dilates on the pow
er which such swelling patronage, all
welded by single individual, gives him to
corrupt the virtue Of the people and seize on
their liberties, &c. Under a continued pro-
gressive increase Of patronage, keeping pace
with the increase Of our population, liberty
itself must certainly be lost. Nothing but
reform can save it. The action of the gov
nrnment must, then, be moderated. This, the
Report maintains, is the principle on which
our political existence depends.
lware that it may be urged against their q
great decrease in the public revenue by the
operation Of the last tariff law. But the rev.
,nue is yet as great, now that the public
D.
ic debt amounted to n hundred millions of
lollars. The difference between that time
md the present is. that the surplus revenue
hen went to pay the public creditors; where
IS it now goes into the pockets OF those who c
i've upon the Treasury.
The Report next proceeds to examine in
o the effect Of this enormous extension Of FIX Ii
cutivc patronage. The Committee says it Il
as tended to sap the foundations ofthe Con-
titution; to throw a cloud of unc ertainty over u
he future to substitute degrading snbser- Il
iency to power for the attachment to liberty r
nd our free institutions, for which The Amer
IAN people have been heretofore distinguish "
d. There never was period in our history, n
I short, IN which the prospects were more
loomy for liberty-and devotion to party 81
nd to power stronger With this increase n
[ patronage, the whole structure Of the Go 7,
is undergoing change. Admitting
he necessity of a strong Executive, the Re-
ort enters into an argument to show that an fo
Executive has become too strong. when it
cgins to regard itself as the paramount pow "a
r in the Government. Nor in our case could L
le aid Of the several States be successfully ~
voked to resist the approach Of despotic
over in this form. So far from opposing it, al
icy will be more likely to aid and strength al
4 the Executive, and acting in conjunction 4,
ith it, constitute Joint force difficult to be "
sisted by any other authority. 10
For these evils, present and prospective, yf
C Report says there can be but one effect
Il remedy, and that is, prompt and great u
duction Of Executive patronage, into the
ost expedient mode of effecting which the E.,
omm,tee next proceed to inquire. They -
gin by laying down az general principle, pr
ot it is the duty of Government to leave to
e money, as far os practicable, in the pock- =,
3 Of the people, from which tlcy say it can. IL
, ba ro,,oyaJ bu tho Covnrnn,op, ~ N