Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-02-21
,Ewenty-third Congrcss---ssd. scss
IN SE.N41E-.honday february 8, 1885.
EXECUTIVE PATRONAGE.

Substance Of Mr. BExroS's reply 10 Mr. Caiho,S Report
SIR Benton rose speak TO parts OF the Report;
To express his concurrence parts his dissent
others
He concurred in the general purport, and in the
general object, of the Report, in showing the great
increase which had taken place, in short time, in
the expenditures of the Governrue, and in the
Der OF persons employed or oSported by it, The
increase was great, but notSo great had been de-
pcted and out of proportion to the increase of the
population and wealth of country for the same pc
Rod, but not Unfortunately the report airncdy IL
was the object of the report to reduce this great
pendture, and to diminish the number of that null
ntude OF persons now paid or supported, out of the
Federal Treasury. In all this he concurred with the
port; but he regretted deeply and sincerely regretted,
that had not ailcn within the scope of the Charmans
view of his subject show the and origin
great increases that the blame, if any, shoudN upon
the true authors and the genius o. reform should know
where TO apply hcrcorrcctng hand The omission the
Chairman show this, had laid him (Mr b. under the
necessity of endeavoring supply the detcct-and hc
should do under all the disadvantages of immedi-
ate reply, to welprepared report, which he had heard
read once and but once committee, before il
read i'm this Chamber. The report said Mr. b. assumes
for the periods of comparison the year 1925 which was
the first of Mr. Adanss Administration and the year
1888, which the commencement of the second term
of President Jacksons Administration 1t in reali-
ty comparison between the two last Administrat
and that of President Monroe which ted in the
year which taken for the starting point of the coupa
rison. Conhning himself to these points OF time, Mr.
b. would look into the origin of the principal of
the great increases ofmoney expended and employ
ed fed by the Federal Government within this period
and would show that the implications of the report
direct assertion made, but the Implications of the
report which would censure the present
Administration for these large augmentaons could have
no foundation IN fact, and must find their application
elsewhere.
The business of internal improvement was the first
head oil increase which Mr. Is. would mentions and that
business commenced rather assumed its expanded
and inygoraed form i'm the year IS2he last year of
MIR. Monroe's adminstraton-and under whose auspi-
ccs and recommendations person could better tell
than the distinguished author of the present report In
terna improvement then, and at that early lime the
inviting ocean, upon which many candidates Tor popular
dis
tended canvass. Commenced upon natonal principles
and with the design of being confined 60 national OBJ
iects the whole system rapidly degencrated into local
or neighborhood conrvances, for the expenditure of
money, and the acquisition of popularity. Before the
end of Mr.. Adams's four years. the downward course
of the system had established the truth of the double
prediction which Mr. Jefferson had made shortly before
his DEATH had opened gulf which the treasures of
Peru and Mexico could not fill IL had produced
bic for money, in which the meanest got Presi-
dent jackson found this system that pass, with
immense augmentation OF money expended, and men
employed, which it necessarily involved and the con-
sequcnt increase of Executive patronage which these
approximations implied Far from enhancing, or even
retaining this branch of patronage he voluntarily strip
ped himself of it. At the risk of danger his
temporary popularity he stood forth oppose the bar
rier of the Executive the fatal current of local
aud neighborhood internal improvement. lie endea-
vored to back the SYSTEM and conne il to its
original design, that of great national objects So far
theh tli5 head % increased expenditure, and in
creased numbers, employed by The Federal Govern
ment has been source of augmented patronage to
the Executive Govcrnme President jackson free
from blame; arus dnlnuton of patronage has result
ed from the arrestaon of the fatal and runous part of
this system he alone is entitled the exclusive honor
Revolutionary pensions, MIR. b. said was the next
which he would point out of those augmenatons
which conspcuousy depctedin the report; and
here the prolific of immense augmentation was
revealed. Forty thousand pensioners, including the in
vaids of the last war; started view near three
millions Of dollars were required pay them and he be-
eved in 1888, it four millions Who opened
this fountain of Executive patronage? this prolific source
of expenditure and Of revolutionary hero resurrecon
which, at the end of half century is exhibiting lar
/ az Otons
at any time, the rolf which furnishes
the author of this Report with upwards of one-tbrJ
OF his hundred thousand men? which is now making
the revolution cost money than it while it was
existing and raging? and which has produced a demo-
ralZatOn of morals and preparation crimes as re-
Voting to the mind as it is huniliaing 10 the country
Who produced all this? Certainly President Jack
son but the action of Congress, under Executive re-
commentators, commencing at period with which
the author of this Report must be familiar and car
rcd to the year 1892 when the system of pensionino
received its climax in the law Of that year and in the
production of consequences which asonish and alic
the country
The removal of thc Indians was the next source of
increased expenditure and increased agents which Mr.
b. adverted to- and this head, far from dsclaiming
he claimed the merit Of il almost exclusively for President
Jackson Ii he who had stood forth tue true
friend of the Indians, the true advocate and
of STATE RIGHTs in relieving the southern States of
their Indian population, at the time that he pro-
vided for these Indians themselves permanent TRANQUIL
unmolestcd, and far desirable bones in the rich
and extended plains of the far West Ina executing this
policy Congress acted under his recommendation: and
TO him the long-neglccted and injured South-thc
States of Georgia, Alabama aud Mississippi and the
new States Of the northwest, Ohio, indiana. H.
llnois, Missouri, all, all indebted, for the adj
vantages and blessings which they enjoy in their
cdom from the incubus of useless and nmca popua
ton within their borders The exodus ofthc Indians from
the East to the West of the Mississppi-froin the land
of the white man TO the land of the red man-undcr
the guiding and protecting hand Of President Jackson
has been to both parties, 10 the white and the
red race, auspicOus and delightful consun ou ON
which Heaven has shed its benignant BLESSING and which
calls for the grateful emotions Of heart white or
red, civilized or savage, which rejoice in tho prospc
ry of the human race and feel gratitude and thankful
ness to its greatest and most eminent bcncfactor-
But above all, and more than all put together should
the Stale of Mississippi feel that gratitude. Hard
her fate until General Jackson assembled the Pre-
sidentlol Char. The oldest Territory in the Union
state Tor almost twenty years, delicious climate
ample boundaries, lands adapted 10 the production Of
the Eichest staple, noble riverswit all these adyan
tages her population remained spcck The corner Of
her own extended map. The Cllckasaws and Choctnws
occupied tie finest portions Of her SOIL and seemed dcs
tined 10 occupy them for under the allotment Of
great political party, then called National Republicans
now wings whose policy cruel TO the Indians
II unjust to the Poodle and sulverave Of tie riohts
Of the State President Jackson appeared at the head of
the national affairs lie The slave OF SELFISH or
ambitious policy The hunter of Fictitious and deusvc
popularity lie the friend of the whites and of the
reds he spoke the language Of truth justice wisdom 10
both; and the long-deprcssed and obscurcd State Of
Mississippi finds herself IL by magic, in the posscs-
sion of all her rights and al her soil advancing with
rapid strides to wealth and population; dspla wing pro-
dgous expansion Of both and ready, az the Of
e4O 10 present six eight members that floor Of The
House Of ReprcscntalivCs where until lately she had but
ton princpieb by treaty is adopted for the sale of the newly
acquired lands descending down through successive era
daOns from 81 p to six and quarter per acre So
that This state has acquired by treaty under tie auspices