Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-05-17

debate, Mr.. Randol ph said he 'could not per-
NIT any motion connected with the diVis'oh
of the spoil, 10 mingle with" his excrtions.--
lie would not, he said, give up hs constitu-
cnts and the pleasures Of his home, "ior
clerkship in the War Office, or foreign mis-
sion or even for Department Of Slate
lie said, "there had been an Improvement ~
the plan of sending ministers abroad, and
bringing them back, when they have finished
their business for, said he, ''thcy are now
sent abroad on sleeveless erraDds, that they
may come back re-in)ecta, 10 pocket their
emoluments." Mr.. Speaker, the Greeks and
Romans both held it TO be highly useful but
exceedingly difficult, matter 70 know ones
self Modern history, and our own times,ndd
new force TO the truth Of that position. DO
not at all question the perfect sincerity OF Mr.
Il Randolph, when he uttered the sentiments
but great as he may have been, and skilful as
he profcssed to be, and, no doubt, was, in the
II motives of human action, after events proved
how little he knew OF himself. Sir, we soon
found Mr.. Randolph giving up his const'tu-
ents, and leaving oil tho boasted endcarmcnts
Of his district, for foreign mission to Russio,
where, so far as any public advantage result
ed from il, he emphaticnlly went on n "sIeave'
less errand," and "came back r'ilfecfa, to
| pocket his emoluments !" Indeed, this mis-
II sion to Russia seems to have been specially
dedicated by 'the party" to short terms OF
six and twelve months, for the advantage ot
some of the "enlisted soldiers" described by
II Mr.. Buchanan. In this way, the cost of that
mission has been inordinately increased; and
II is high time that this drain on the public
Il Treasury for private benefit should be check
i ed
Mr. BoND said il was not TO be disguised
that many Of the politicians who engaged in
the debate und strife of the times to which
he had alluded, had been surprised, If not
disappointed, by events which soon followed.
A singular exchange Of position has taken
place between two Of these gentlemen. -
When the retrenchment resolution was dis.
cussed, friend of the then Administration,
II Mr.. Pearce, Of Rhode island, took ground not
II in terms, but somewhat similar 10 that now
avowcd and practised by the dominant party,
that the spoils belong to the victors." Mr..
Il Wicklffe, Jackson reformer, denied and
/ condemned such right, lie was appointed
II member Of the retrenchment and reform
| committee, and, after Gen. Jackson came ih.
\ to power, Mr.. Wicklifc zealously endeavored
to carry out the promised reform; but not
II finding the cooperation he had expected, he
| abiurcd "the party" About this time, il hap
| pened that the reformers avowed the doctrine
"that the spoils belong to the victors," and
II Mr.. Pearce enlisted under their banner.
II Sir, has not the country been disappointed?
II Have not the People been deceived and al
lured by specious and vain promises? Has
/ not the Federal Executive patronage inordi-
notely increascd,a and is it not still unrestran.
II ed? Is not the power over il abused and
perverted? Do not the expenses Of our &C.
II icral Government far transcend in amount
II all our past history? Why arc these things
so, and why has not this "plague been stay.
cd" Mr.. Speaker, according to your plighted
faith? will tell you why, sir, but prefer
doing so in the language and illustration OF
one Of your own friends, Mr.. Buchanan, oi
the Senate, to whom have before referred.
In his speech here, to which have already
alluded, and when he was nssaultng the them
II Administration, be thus exclaimed: "The ve-
II ry possession Of power has a strong, natu-
raj tendency to corrupt the heart. The lust
Of dominion grows with its possession and
the man who, in humble life, was pure, and
innocent, and just, has often been transform
II ed, by the long possession Of power, into u
monster. In The sacred Book, which contains
lessons Of wisdom for the politician as well
as for the Christian, we find happy illustra-
ton of the cOrrupting influence OF power up
II on the human heart When lIazael came to
consult Elisha whether his master, the King
of Syria, would recover from dangerous i'll.
ness, the prophet, looking through the vista
II Of futurity, say the crimes Of which the mes
seneer, who stood before him, would be
II guilty, and he wept IIazael asked, 'why
weepeth my lord" The prophet then re-
counted to him the murders and the cruelties
,c ho ekn ka fnu ho
II children Of Israel. Hazael, in the spirit OF
virtuous Indignation, replied rs thy servant
dog, that he should do this thing?' And
Elisha answered, fTho Lord hath showp me
that thou shalt be King over Syria Tins
man afterwards became King by the murder
Of his master, and was guilty OF enormi,ies,
Il the bare recital of which would make us
shudder."
II How true, and, alas how applicable is this
sacred illustration to those who invoked its
use in elevating themselves to power!
II Suppose, Mr.. Speaker, that some inspired
II Elisha had been present when you and Mr..
Buchanan, with others, engaged in the debate
Il which has been referred to, aud, moved by
the sympathetic tear of the prophet, you had
asked, "Why weepeth my lord ?" how would
you have been astonished in being then told
what the People Of this country have since
Il realized!
Imagine, sir, the inspired one looking
through the vista of a few brief years and
saying, You will be placed in power, but will
greatly increase the amount OF all public ex-
pendturcs. You will use the Offices and pa.
tronago of the country for private and not for
public good. You will create Offices for ia
voritos. You will enlarge oil Executive
power. You will deny the right to call for
reasons on a removal from Office, and in few
years will remove more than l500persons from
Office for opinions sake You will derange
and corrupt the Post Office Department,
which you now admit to be sound, and you
will not reform any of your designated abuses
in the other Departments. You will appoint
more members Of Congress to Office in four
years than has been done in all the past his
tory Of the Government. Your bill for the
abolition Of the power and patronage over the
Press will sleep the sleep Of death. You
will retain "the press, the post office, the
armed force, and the appointing power in the
hands Of the President, and will not suffer
them TO change position and take post on the
side of the People" You now censure q
small appropriation to purchase some ocd-
tional furniture for the Presidents house, but
II you will furnish that house in luxurious style
70. Gen. Jackson, who will be succeeded by