Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-02-19
[From the National Intelligencer.
Report
UPON EXECUTIVE PATRONAGE.

!
| The Report was read at the Clerks table
chiefly by Mr.. Preston and Mr.. Southard.-
The reading of it occupied more than tw,
hours. Its great length leaves it doubtful
when we may be able to publish it at large
and at the same time makes it an impossible
task to give, in the brief space of time al
lotted TO us after hearing it read, any thing
like satisfactory condensed view oft. We
shall endeavor only, therefore, to trace its
general outline, promising that i: is Repor,
IN that only, and not defnitive.
The Report sets out, very properly, with
an effort to ascertain the present erfent of the
Executive patronage. For this purpose, the
returns of the year 1894, not being complete,
they take the year 1888 as the year affording
the necessary data-which data are, first, the
revenue of the General Government from all
sources; secondly, the expenditures of the
! Government, exclusive of payment of the
publc debt; and thirdly, the number of per-
sons who, as officers, agents, contractors, or
IN other forms, are in the receipt of the pub
lie money. The revenue Of 1893, the Re-
port states to have been over thirty-fvc mil
lions of dollars; the expenditures, exclusive
of public debt, to have been nearly twenty
three millions; and the number of persons
who are recipients of the public money, to
have been sixty thousand two hundred and
odd, of whom belong las nearly as VIC could
catch the numbers) to the Civil List IL, l44 !;
to the Military and Indian Department 9,643;
to the Navy Including Marine Corps) 6,499 !;
and to the Post Office 3l,9l7-all of whom
derive their places directly or indirectly from
the Executive, and with the exception Of the
Judicial officers, are subject to removal from
Office at the will and pleasure of the Presi-
dent. ITO these be added thirty-nine thou
sand five hundred and forty-nine pensioners,
an aggregate appears of one hundred thou
sand and scventy-nine persons in the employ
of the Government, or in the receipt of mon
ey from the public treasury. If, to these be
added the countless host Of those who are
seeking to displace the present recipients
and benefciaries, some idea may be formed
of the extent of the influence in the country
of the patronage resulting from such large
of money, in which so many
individuals are interested.
The Report then proceeds to shew the
great increase QfHe public expenditure in the
eight years, from 1925 to 1888, inclusive,
carrying with it a corresponding increase Of
the number and compensation of agents, Of
ticers, contractors, and others, depending for
subsistence upon the Government, and Of
course upon the patronage of the Executive.
Before instituting this comparison, however,
the Report adverts to the rapid increase, by =
Indian Treaties, Of reservations ofian6S to IN
fans, to be disposed Of by them only with
he consent of the Executive, than which it is Il
iifficut to imagine device better calculated
o enlarge the Executive patronage. The
practice Of remoring from office persons icho
IRE 'oeN qualified for and have faithfully per-
ormed their duties, in order to introduce
,thers in their stead, who are of the party in
,ower--a practice Of recent duets also the
ubect Of grave censure in this view of the
report Cascs, it is true, may be found in
he early stages of this Government in which
emovals from office have been made, but I
hey are so few in number as to constitute
instances rather than practice: and it is
My within few years, that an opportunity II
as been afforded Of testing the practice as a
ystem by its effects. /,
Formerly, the patronage of the Executive
'as confined, in point OF fact, to the power Of
ominaing persons to fill occasional vacan-
les in the public Offices. Under the con-
-ary practice, the Offices Of the Government,
lstead of public trusts, whose faithful execu-
on is mainly to be held in view, come to be
onsidered MS the spoils of victory after po-
tca coutcst-the rewards for faithful SER
ice in the ranks Of party, the recipients of
'hich become the corrupt and supple instru-
rents Of power, S-c.-and by the hope of
Ike reward, is created host of hungry,
reedy, and subscrvient partizans, ready for !
ny service, however corrupt, &c. This ,
ractce, therefore, the Report goes on TO
W, is system 20 encourage vice and dis 7.
ourugc virtue, and must end, if not reform
D, by ovorturning the Government and rais-
" despolsm on its ruins. Faithful per- !
'rmance OF duty being no longer recon- J
eEdation 20 continuance, the public officers !
feel their dependence on the .
ere pleasure of the Executive. and resort to
] those acts Of compliance and subsarvien- q
, which they learn to consider as recon- q
cndations to his favor, &c. @
The Report then adverts to the crcum- C
ance of the increased power which the Ex- {
.rtive has acquired by Me control which late {
,ents have given 10 MN over the public q
nds. Without mooting here the question n
the legality or ii,egalty Of the action of r,
G Executive in removing the public mon &
IS from Deposite in tn. Bank of the United v
ates. the Committee say that there can be a
doubt upon the mind Of any man, that the n
moval of the public Deposites has increas-
the power of the Executive, by plocing b
Q public funds under his sole and unlimited c.
ntrol, as they must continue 10 be until I,
herwise provided by some action on the u
rt Of fCongress-if indeed any act Of Com I
ess can be passed Of greater effect in this II