Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-02-23
23I Congress-2a Session.
IN SENATE.
FEBRUARY ., 1885.

Mr.. CALHOUN made the following report:
The Select Commee appointed to Inquire into
the extent of the Executive Patronage the circum-
Stances which have contributed 10 lis great IN
crease of late the expectancy aud praccability Of
reducing the same, aud the means of such reduc-
uOo have bestowed en- the subjects into which they
were directed to inquire that deliberate attention.
which their Importance demands, aud submit, as
the result of their investigation, the following Re-
| port, IN part!
To ascertain the extent of Executive Patronage,
the first subject which the resolution directs the
attention. of The Committee, it becomes necessary
10 asccrtoln previously the amount of the revenue
and tho expenditure, and the number of officers,
agents, add persons in the EN- ,oyment of the Go
Wrnmcnt, or who receive money from the public
treasury all of which, taken collectively, consti-
'dsthe elements of which patronage is mainly
composed.
As the returns of the revenue, and expenditure,
for the year 1885, are not yet completed your Com.
mltec have selected the year 1888, as being .he last
Of which complete and certain returns can be OBJ
famed.
The result of their investigation on all these
points, will be found in table herewith anne xcd
which contains statement Of the amount of the re-
venue under the various heads of customs lands
tost Oih.e, and miscellaneous, for the year 1888
Tic expenditures Tor the same PERIOD arranged un-
der lie various heads OF appropriations the num-
brf OF officers, agents, contractors, and persons in
Tie employ OF The Government, or who receive mo-
ney from the public treasury From this table it
appears that the aggregate amount of the rcvenuc
for the year $50 667 2i1 and of the disbursc
nons 81, 1l3, 755 that The nunber of officers,
GEMS, and persons in the employment ofthe Go
wnment IS G0,294, of which there belongs TO the
oviIist, including persons in civil employ, attach
edo the Army and the Navy, II IA to the Mill
hy and Indian Department, 8, CAB to the Navy,
ndudIng Marine Corps, g. 499 to the Post Office,
jI9lI all of whom hold their places, directly or
Indirectly, from the Executive, and, with the excep-
ton OF the judicial offcels liable to be d.sms
SD at his pleasure. If TO the above there be added
15l9 pensioners we shall have grand total OF
WO0,9 persons, who are in he employ of the Go
'ernment, or dependent directly on the publ; tea-
Ny.
But as great as is this number, IL gives very
imperfect conception of the sum total ofthose who.
as urnshing supplies, or otherwise, are connected
| witt and more or less dependent ON the Govern
ment, and of course, liable to be influenced by its
patronage the number OF whom with their DEEPEN
dents, cannot even be conjec,ured. If TO these be
added, the almost countless hosts of cxpectan,s,
who are seeking to dsplace those in office, or to
occupy their places, as they become vacant, all OF
whom must look to the Executive for the gralh'a.
ton of their wishes, some conception may he form
I'd Of the immense number subject 10 tie influence
o Executive patronage.
But 10 ascertain the full extent of this influence,
aod the prodigous control which 1t exsr's over
pOOlc opinion, and the movements of the Govern
ment we must, in addition 10 the amount OF the re-
Venue and cxpcn li,urc, and the number of PERSONS
n ,ha IN ia
Vke into the estimate variety of circumstances
Which contribute to add to the force and extent OF
patronage. These, in the regular course ofthe in
oeSosanon, would not claim the attention OF your
Committee, but all, or at least far greater part
Sae", are of recent origin, they will probably
~" u"uer the next head to which the resolution d.
''' "e attention Of your Committee, and which
"Iy WIN Low proceed to investigate.
among the circumstances which have contribu
w." "elgreat increase OF Executive patronage,
W. "'e most prominent, doubtless, are the srea
"I,ease OF the expenditure of Government, which
%"''n Inc last eight years, (from '25 to '33) ha
%''" rom sll 400 400 TO $22, 743 1855, not inclu
e payments on account of the public debt :
,'espohons increase of officers, agents, contrac
vas anu DINERS, dependent on the Government In
~ " qua"''y OF land to which the Indian title has
h,. s''''e period, been extingulshed, and whlc'
~; ooe' suddenly thrown into the market accom-
s;sn e. WIN the patronage nciden, to holding In
of,h. "ea''es and emoving the lnlians to the Yves
r,, "L missssppi, and also great increase OF tn
ano influence Of surveyors, receivers, regis
nir;' a"o Diners employed in the branch-of the a.
wb;"S a"oh connected with the public lands all {
,cr,;" nave greatly increased the influence Of e.
,bs, ' patronage over on extensive region, IN
III, ~" e most growing and Hourishing portions
0'' this connexion, the recent practi'