Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-02-23

h pockets those who live on Tho Government, wi
great addition to the patronage and influence Of II
v Executive but without dininstion oi burden TO II
a people.
/ our committee will next proceed 10 nqulI
what has been tho effects of this great, gown,
and excessive patronage on our political coadiiIo
and prospeeis--a question of the utmost impor,anc
IN deciding ON the cxpcdoncy Of it's reduction. liza
II tended To strengthen our political institutions aa
toglve stronger assurance of perpc,uating them
and with them, the blessings OF be,iy TO our pos
ieuty I llns II purGed the public and politca
morals of our country and slrengtho ned the ties o
patriotism Or on the other hand has 1t tended
to sup tho foundations of our institutions to throw
a cloud Of uncertainty over the future To degrade
and corrupt the public morals and to substitute de
.olion and subservicncy to power, in the place o
that disinteres,cd and noble attachment TO princ
pies aud country, which essential to the prcscr.
vai1on OF Tree institutions These nro tho ques
lions to be decided and 1t is with profound regret
lhal your committee cons,ro med, however pain.
hll, 10 say, that the decision admits Of little doubt,
Hey are compelled TO admit the fact, that there
never has been period from the foundation OF
the Government, when there were such general ap-
prehenslons and doubts. as TO the pcrnaneney and
success OF our political institutions when the pros.
pee' ofperpetuating them, and with them liber-
cal morals were more depressed when attachment
to country aud principles were moro feeble and
devotion TO pary and power stronger FOR the truth
oil oil which they appeal to tho observation and re-
hecuons OF the experienced and enlightened Of NIL
parties. II we turn our eyes TO thcSovcfnment,
we shall find thsi, with this increase Of patronage,
the entire character and structure of the Govern
ment itself II undergoing great and fearful change
which, II not arrested mus, a, no disan, period,
concentrate all It's power in single department.
Your committee are aware, that, IN county Of
such sas, extent and diversity Of interests ours,
strong executive is necessary and, among other
reasons, IN order TO sustain the Government, by its
influence, against tho local feelings and interests
which II must, in the execution of its duties neccs
safily encounter and II was, doubtless, with this
view manly that tho trainers of the Constitution
vested the executive powers IN single individual,
and clothed HIM with tho almost entire patronage
of the Government. As long as the influence of
the executive Is 30 moderate as to compel hin 10
identify las administration with tho public interest
aud 10 hold his patronage subordinate to the primer
plea and measures necessary TO promote the com
mon good, tie executive power mny be said TO act
within the sphere assigned to II Ivy the Consttu-
lion, aud may be considered essential TO the
steady and equal operation Of the Government, but
when i. becomes 30 strong as 10 DO capable OF sus
with any system of measures OF policy, it is the
certain indication Of the approach Of rrespon-
slblc and dospotic power. When II aItains that
point, II will be difficult to find any where in our
system power sufficient 10 restrain its progress 10
despo'isn. The very eauscs which render strong
sxos-tiso necessary, ~ aren't extent of .~..-'
and diversity Of interests will form great aud III
most insupcrablc implements to any .T~s'""i re-
sis.ance. Each section, rs has been shown, Will
have its own purly and It's own f"yoritcs, entertain
ing views of principles and policy so different US
10 render an united effort against executive power
almost impossible, while their separate and disJoh
ted ,nons mus, prove impocnt nga'ns, Power Tar
stronger than either, taken separately Nor can
the aid of tho States DO successfully invoked to ar
rest the progress TO despolism so fai nom weak
cnng they will add strength to executive patron
age. majority of the States instead OF opposing,
will be usually found acting in conccr, with the
Federal Government and, Of coursc, VIII increase
the influence of the executive 30 thai, to ascertain
his patronage, the sum total Of the patronage OF oil
the Sates acting in conjunction with the Fcdern
Executive must DO ndded 10 his. Tho two, Ms
things now stand, constitute JOINT force, difficult
to be resisted
Against u danger 80 formidable, which threatens
if not arrested, and that speedily, 10 subyen The
Constitution there can be but one ehcctunl remedy
"a promp, and decided reduction Of executive pat
ronagc, the pruclicnbiluy ard means OF 'ohectIn Z
which your committee will next proceed TO con.
slder.
The Grs,, mos, simple, and usually The most Ger
tain mode of reducing patronage 10 to reduce the
public lneome-tho prolific source from which II
almos, exclusively flows Experience hos shown
thu, II Is next TO impossible to reduce the public
expenditure with an overlooking Treasury and
not much less difficult to reduce patronage, without
| n reduction of expenditurc IN other words TINT
tho mos, simple and cHrciua mode Of rclrcnching
he superAuous expenditure OF the Government -
to introduce a spirit Of frugolily and economy IN
tho administration of public affairs 10 correct the
corruption and abuses Of the Government; and f.
nally to arrest the progress Of power-'s to leave
the money IN the pockets OF those who made IT.
where oil laws, human and divine, place II, and
| from which il cannot be removed, by Government
itself, except for its necessary md indispensable,
wants, without violation OF its highest trust, and
the most sacred principles OF justice. Yet, as ma
nfcs, as is this truth, such 10 our peculiar ct may
be said extraordinary situation, that this simple
and obvious remedy TO excessive patronage, the re-
duc,lon of the revenue, cnn be applied only to
very limited extent
10, before they proceed to the question of reJu
cling the revenue, your committee propose TO sho"
what will be its probable amount in future as tn
laws now stand to what limits tho public cxpcn
di.ute muy be reduced consistently with the jus
wants OF Government; and, finally what, will
such reduction, would I've the probable annual sur
plls to the ycer 1912, when the highest duties vii
be reduced TO 20 per CT under the act OF I'd March
| 1853; and when, as the act provides the ievehu
is 10 be reduced to sum necessary to an cconom'
cal administration Of the Government.
According 10 the statement from the Trcasur.
Department the receipts OF the year 1884 from al