Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-02-11

II appears the income OF the government, IN |
GLIDING the Post Office, was, in 1925, 1928, 147,-
600; in 1885, $36, 667 900 Projecting ractions.)-
That the expenditure Of the Government, lex
elusive of the public debt was, in 1925, $l2,-
$4,000; in 1888, S25, 635, 000 and that the num-
Der of persons receiving emouments or COM
pensaton from the Government, was, in 1925,
fifty-fve thousand seven hundred and seventy
seven; and in 1888, one hundred thousand and
seventy-nine persons
Measuring the extent of the public patronage
by these elements, combined with that of the
gross expenditure, without adverting to the cir
cumstances which have been shown still further
to enlarge it. the result is siXty-five TO eighty
nine, showing an increase OF patronage between
those years ofthirty-siX per cent. The progress
sive increase having been much greater with
in the last four years than within those preceding.
Anticipating the answer to this state ment, that
the increase of patronage, &c. has! not been
greater than the increase in the growth and
population of the country, the Report goes on
to show, by the operation Of the several causes
already enumerated. that the patronage of the
Government has more than doubled within
space Of time wherein the growth and popu-
lation of the country have not probably in
creased more than "a per cent. But, whilst
shelving this, The Report, denies that there is
any substantial reason why the patronage OF
the Government should increase in proportion
to its increase Of population. This idea, the re-
port goes on to shew, is an assumption danger
Gus as well as erroneous. The danger OF pat
ronage thus increasing with the growth Of
country, arises from the great advantages ofthe
organized over an unorganiZed mass; the great
advantage which, in populous country, power
thus acquires over liberty. The Report dllaies
on the power which such swelling patronage,
all welded by single individual, gives him TO
corrupt the virtue of the people and seize on their
liberties, &c. Under d continued progressive
increase of patronage, keeping pace with the
increase of our population. liberty itself must
certainly be lost Nothing but Reform can
save it. The action Of the Government must,
is the principle on which our political existence
depends.
The Report says that the Committee are
aware that it may be urged against their state
ment, that since 1888 there has been great de-
crease in the public revenue by the operation
of the last tariff law. But the revenue is yet as
great, now that the public debt is extingushed,
as it was when the public debt amounted to
hundred millions Of dollars. The difference be-
tween that time and the present is, that the sur
plus revenue then went to pay the public Gre
ditors; whereas it now goes into the pockets OF
those who live upon the Treasury.
The Report next proceeds to examine into
the effect of this enormous extension Of EXecu-
tive patronage. The Committee says, it has
tended 10 sap the foundations OF the Constitu.
ton, to throw cloud of uncertainty over the
future; TO substitute 4 degrading subserviency
to power for the attachment TO liberty and our
free institutions, for which the American People
have been heretofore distinguished. There ne
yer was period in our history, in short, in
which the prospec' swerc more oomy for liberty
and devotion to party and to power stronger
With this increase OF patronage, the whole
structure of the Government is undergoing a
change. Admitting the necessity Of strong
Executive, the Report enters into an argument
to show that an Executive has become too
strong, when it begins to regard itself as the
paramount power in the Government. Nor in
our case could the aid ofthe several States be
successfully invoked to resist the approach Of
despotic power in this form. SO far from oppos-
sing it, they will be more likely to aid and
strengthen the Executive, and, acting in con-
junction with it, constitute joint force difficult
to be resistedby any other authority.
For these evils present and prospective, the
Report says, there can be but one etiectual re-
medy, AMI that is, aprompt and great reduction
of Executive patronage, into the most eXpedi-
dent mode of etfecting which the Committee
next proceed to inquire. They begin by lay
ing down as general principle that it is the du-
ty Of Government to leave the money, as far
as practicable in the pockets of the people,
from which they say it cannot be removed by
the Government, except for its essential wants,
without violation OF the nlgneSt trust oil tile
Government, and manifest injustice to the peo-
pie.
The Report then enters upon an elaborate and
view of the finances of the coun-
try, to show to what extent the revenue Of the
country may be expected to exceed the amount
accessory to the support of Government. In
this inquiry, the Committee go on TO
shew that during the existence Of the compro.
mise law, so called regulating duties on imports,
and after all the reductions which may be made !
by reducing the duties on articles which do not
interfere with protection, there will still be an
annual surplus in the Treasury Of
about nine millions Of dollars. They do not pro-
pose to reduce the income by reducing the price |
Of the public lands, because TO reduce the price
would not only tempt great specuations therein, |
and affect the value of all other landed proper |
ty in the Union but would have the effect TO in |
crease instead of diminishing the income from
their sale. As, therefore, it is deemed imposs- |
ble during the existence OF the compromise act, |
and without disturbing that act, to prevent the
annual receipt into the Treasury Of surplus of
nine Millions even after reducing the eXpendi-
lures ofthe Government within proper limits, the |
Committee go into an inquiry as to the most ex
pedent mode Of applying this sum. They pro-
test gainst its remaining and accommodating in |
the Banks where it is deposited; and they do not |