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

Il lara
!. the best land of the country ;, -, 80 Poi'ion
we "a''on is extinguished TO be dsnosaa :. '''e
'"c sanction OF the Executive on tho VI ""a'
b ''uns OF agents appointed solely hv 49, ~
~"'ch mas prevailed to so prea, q, '' u"
1 Union. es'efh section of III
u"hcu'' TO imagine device better ca,c,,.,.
augment The patronage OF the Eyec,,,,.
WI" u, 10 give rise TO spoculaions cale,,a,oa :,
uePrase and corrupt the community w,,ho,, ~ :"
n''o 'he Indians. But as greatly as ,hcsa
nave auued to the force of patronage of Into ,hsr,
"ie o'hers OF different nature which baxs con,r;
80 W give II Tar greater and more dan,e,,,,
'qe"'e AZ me head of these should be placed
"o p'ae''ce SO greatly extended, if no, for the frs
,.au Te o. removing from Office persons
,ho;, da.''eu' ana VINO had faithfully performed
'"e'' DUTY, IN order to fill their places WIN ,ho.o
WV are recommended on the ground that thew be-
long 10 The party in power.
-FOUR Committee feel that thev mr.. ,oL; :
sfouhp which may be considered of n party cha.
'"c,e', ana which, were it possible consistently
WV" Tue o'scharSe OF their duty, they would Who'll.
u'ou as Their object Is TO inquire into facts only
contributing 10 Increase the patronage of the Eye
.1'''o "''houl looking TO the Intention or desiring
W COSY cehsure on those IN power; but while the y
"ou'o cautiously avoid any remark of party
O"a. "''e'' as inconsistent with the gravity Of the
SUBJECT, AMI incompatible with the intention IF tho
senate IN directing the inquiry, they trus, that they
are incapable OF shrinking from the performance of
'he important and solemn duty conidea to them of
thoroughly investigating to the bottom subject in,
'oi''hg, us they believe, the fate of our political
",s'.'uVohs anu the liberty of the country by de.
c''"'ns 10 investigate fully and freely, astregards
us character and consequence, every measure or
tha ,katI, 81
or has not been subject of party controversy
In speaking of the practice of removing from
once on party ground, of recent date, and of
course, comprchendcd under the causes which hive
OF 'h'c contributed TO the increase of Executive pa
ronagc, your committee aware that cases of
sueh removals may be found IL the carly stages OF
me government, but they are SO fc W and exercised
SO ltllc Influence tina, they may be said 10 consti
tute Instances, rather than forming practice. II
is only within the last fey years. that removals
from Office have been Introduced, as system. ana
tor the hrst time an opportunity has been aGorded
of testing the tendency of the practice, and wit.
Messing the mighty increase which it has given to
the force OF Executive patronage and TIE entire
ana fear'ul change, IN conjunction with other
causes, II is ctfectng In the character of our poti-
Col system. Nor will It require much reflection to
perceive IN what manner IL contributes to increase
SO long as Offices were consid red as public trusts
to be conferred the honest the faithful and capa-
ble tor the common good, and not for the bene6, or
gam OF the incumbent, or his party and SO long as
1t was the practice Of the Government TO continue
IN 9th tfose who faithfully performed their duties
It's patronage, IN point of fact, was limited 10 the
mere power OF nominating to accidental vacancies,
or TO newly created Offices, and could, of course,
exercise but u moderate influence, either over the
body OF the community or of The Office holders
themselves But when this practice was reversed
when Offices, instead Of being sdcred as public
trusts 10 be conferred OH the deserving, were re-
Corded as the Spos' ot victory, to be bestowed as
rewards Tor patizan services, without respect to
merit; when It became 10 be UNDERSTOOD that all
who hold office, hold by the tenure of putizan zeal
ana party service, is easy 10 see that the certain
direct, and newt able tendency is convert the en-
tire body of those in office into corrupt and supple
instruments of power, and 10 raise up host of
hungry, greedy, and subscrylent partlzans, ready
tor every service, however base and corrupt
Were premium offered for the best means of OK
tending to the utmost the power of patronage; to
destroy the love OF country, und to substitute
spnit OF subse.viency and man worship; TO en-
courage vice and discourage virtue and, in word,
10 prepare for the subversion Of liberty and the
establishment Of despotism, no scheme more per-
feet could be devised; and such must be the ten
dency of the practice, with whatever intention
adopted or 10 Whatever extent pursued.
AS connected with this portion of the inquiry,
your committee cannot avoid advertng to the prnc-
ticc, similar in its character and tendency growing
out Of the Act of the 18th May, 1890, which pro.
Vides among other thi ngs, that from and after its
passage, all District Attorneys, Collectors, and
other dsbursing officers therein mentioned, TO be
appointed under the Ia VS. Of the United States shall
be appointed fol the term of four years.
The object of Congress in pussing this act, was,
doubtless, to enforce more faithful performance of
duty on the part of the discussing officers, by
Withholding re-apponmcnts fIom those who had
not faithfully discharged their duty without intend
ing to reec, those no had At first the practice
concerned to the intention of the law, and thereby
the good intended was accomplished without ma
terally increasing the patronage of the Executive
but a very great change has followed, which has
in the opinion of your committee, defeated the OBJ
ect Of the act and at the same Time added greatly
to the influence of patronage Faithful perform
nnce of duty no longsr ensures a renewal OF ap'
pontment. The consequence ID ,nevliabe-a ieel
ing of dependence on the Executive, on the pat
of The incumbent, increasing as his term approach
es its end, with great increase of the number o.
those who desire his place, followed by all those
acts Of compliance and subseryiency by winch
power is conciliated; and of course with cores
! bonding increase of the number of those influenced
| by the Executive will.
| In enumerating the causes which have Of late IN
creased Executive patronage, your committee can
not, without derilection OF duty, pass over one OF
very recent origin, although they arc aware tina
it is almost impossible to allude to it, in tho mos
delicate manner without exciting feeling of party