State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-05-31

mud most effective preparation of war is, to
take care that all the important departments
OF the civil administration are in sound
and hcaIthljil condition, especially those
connected with the fiscal resources of the
rountry, md those which are the keys to
nublic confidence. If they be disordered
and deranged when entering upon war,
there can be no hope of successful and
economical management of the public
credit and resources, or, III other words, Of
the sincwS Of war: there can he no reform
in time Of war. Public confidence is as
essential to the support OF war as money
itself; in truth, it is confidence which sup
plies money. If you mean, then, really 10
enter upon n system of defence and ettec-
Two preparation for war, begin at the right
point: correct the abuses in your civil
administration regulate and discipline
vour household troops. When you have
done this, and not before, may you feel
secure of the faithful and skilul applica-
ton Of the public treasure to the public
defence and when war shall actually come,
success and victory cannot fail to crown
your arms.
But there is q stronger justification than
any have yet mentioned of the course of
discussion and scrutiny which propose.
Ii is, that no time is to be lost in calling
the attention of the public to, and exposing,
some late practices of the party in power
practices of the most mischevous and
alarming tendency. We have too long
slept upon this subject Every moment of
silent ucquiesccnce here, tends to give cur
rency and support to these dangerous inno-
vations in The minds of the people. II
there were but one voice to be lifted up in
this House against the late conduct OF the
party, it ought to be instantly and boldly
uttered. Besides the direct interference Of
public officers of the highest grade in the
election of members TO both Houses of
Congress, is not the Executive Chief Mag
istrate engaged in the canvass, the open add
yocate and champion Of the election of the
Vice President 10 the presidency? Have
we not, in fact Government candidate
for the presidency, supported by the whole
power and influence of the Executive p
Are not the whole train Of public officers,
with all their dependents, in the field, in
full cry, barking away, and hunting down
every man who dares to interpose his nilu
euce against the contamination of their
plans? here, in my place, declare there
is such a candidate, who, should he be cleo
ted, may be said to have succeeded to the
presidency as truly and manifestly through
the power and influence Of the Govern
ment as though he had been appointed to
the succession. and actually installed in
office by his predecessor. / do not say that
every individual in office is giving himself
up to this service; know there are many
honorable exceptions; but, as a class, a
corps, what have said of the public Off
GERS reaflirm. Sir, how long is this state
of things to continue, before any solemn
opinion shall be expressed by t. is House in
regard to it? This interference of the
Government in the election of a successor
has been open and notorious for the last
nine or twelve months. A session of Con-
gress in the mean time, has interviewed
more than three months have elapsed since
its commencement, and yet no resolution
has been offered no notice of any kind
taken of so extraordinary state of things.
We have, too, a House Of Representatives,
in which there are said to be one hundred
and forty members who profess to be re-
publcans the disciples and followers of
Jefferson and not one of them has lifted
up his voice here to denounce practice so
dangerous and destructive of the constitl-
iional guarantees of our liberty How are
we TO account for this silence Is it agreed
by the PARTY that there is no method of
perpetuating their power but by regular
line of succession? Is this silence the re-
suit of deliberate judgment in favor of
the practice Of employing the patronage
and influence of the Executive in behalf
of the regularly nominated candidate p
Sir, | hope, for the safety of the country,
that it is not. But have lately Witnessed
the rapid progress of error on this subject,
not only in the minds OF individuals, but
OF whole community; and it is mean-
choly to reflect how sudden and precipitate
may be the overthrow of all those princi-
piles and maXims, which have heretofore
been regarded as fundamental and essential
10 the very existence OF our institutions and
the public liberty. When the first evidence
was given to the public Of Il direct inter
ference Of the Executive in the election of
his successor, scarcely an individual of the
party could be heard to defend it. But, in
ii few short months, every supporter Of the
Vice President in that community was
ready to attest his sanction of the practice
as just and eXpedient, under his hand and
seal, if necessary. 1t is time to oppose
ourselves to this error, if we would save the
constitution.
Mr. Chairman, have spoken with great
freedom of the course Of the party in pow
er, and have not spared my censure when
thought it was deserved. intend to con-
time to exercise this privilege in the course
of the remarks yet propose to submit
But it is due 10 myself standing in the del
icate and difficult relation | now do towards
that party, that | should distinctly declare
the nature Of that relation. / have, up to
late period, given general support to the
present administration of the Government
still consider myself supporter of the
administration upon every leading and inn
portant question which has arisen, to the
emma avtont IN Nvhich | G,rp,arlv ,,n,o "a o..