Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-07-13

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member Of that committee, n mirror, IN
which the practical reform may DO seen.
If the gentleman, or the party, shall find
the object h,deous one can only say the
picture reflected is the work Of their own
hands.
For the six years ending on the 30ih
September, 1887, the several Executive
Departments, inclusive of the General
Post Office. paid out 34O,ll7 81 for their
printing. In order to get three years, so
as to compare it with the term and amount
before stated by the committee. let us take
half of the S34O, 81,
say S,7o,o58 Is
Deduct The amount stated
years by the committee, 1880 81
Amt of increase every three
by the reformers, S98,2a7 81
also find, that in six years. ending on
the 3Oth day Of September, 1887, the print.
ing for Congress. (Senate and House, and
inclusive of certain land documents, books,
and engraving amounting to $751; ,584 g..
Let us deduct the amount reported by the
committee as paid for the same object in
eight years by the Administration which
was condemned for its extravagance that
was S27l 1888 37-'rhat operation will
show that the Reformers have paid in The
legislative patronage Of the press S479.7Ol
25 more in six years that the Wing party
paid in eight years.!
Having thus shown the amount Of, and
how this patronage is now used by the Ex-
ecutve, it will be appropriate to see what
the friends Of Gen Jackson said would be
the consequence of such use. the com.
mittee, in their report, speak Of the moral
mechanism upon which this patronage acts
'as power that seems irresistible. and say
they will not stop to argue what they pre-
dIcate as an undenable fact, that, by the
employment of the expenditures of the con.
,ingent funds of the departments. Govern
ment press is to all intents and purposes
effec,ually established. as much so as if
there were an annual item in the appropri.
alton bill for The purpose purchasing the
Joint and harmonious action Of one hundred
papers in the uncompromisng vindlcaton
of those in power, and in the unsparlng
abuse Of those who are not And IN the
debate already referred to, Mr. Hamilton,
one of the refoimers, in speaking of pay.
ments for the services of the press, observed
when the Government becomes the pay
masters for these services, the evil is inf
nitely augmented. For, what are the ser.
vices which the press under such circum
stances is expected TO render as n return
for the partial kindness Of the Government.
Why. to cover all their approaches to arbi.
trary power; to defend each measure of
misrule and corruption, to find excuses apol
ogies for every act Of imbecllly, although
the interest and honor of the country may
be jeoparded by ignorance, apathy or neg
lect; but above all, to subject those who
do not think the existing powers entitled
to the confidence Of the People to the most
unsparing calumny and abuse Mr. Bond
said he would appeal to the House and to
the country if we are not now experiencing
daily the practical application of what Mr.
Hamilton mentioned as possible state of
things. Is not his description of a subsi-
diced press in the hands of the Government
so graphically true of the present Admins
tration and its press that 1t might justly be
conjectured that they sat for the pclure'
Every days experience shows that all who
ected to the most unsparing calumny and
abuse Another of the Jackson reformers
in this House, Mr. Floyd, of Virginia, OBJ.
served in debate here, that the Executive
influence in this Government was very
great, and had been exerted to calumniate
members in this House as well as great and
wise men out Of the House. He said 1T
had been attempted TO cut them off by dark
inuendoes, and that 'hlreling scribblers had
been paid directly or indirectly for perform.
ing the task
Mr. Speaker, have we not felt and seen
the sad reality Of all this for the last nine
years, but more particularly since Mr. Van
Buren, undertook the Improvement of the
PRESS and display of its licent,ous power
IN the hired columns of the Globe' Who
has not been disguised with the coarse and
'unsparing calumny' from day to day pour
ed out upon members of Congress, and of
the Senate, in particular, who happened to
think that the existing powers were not
entitled to the confidence of the People p
Who has not seen the attempt in the
Government press TO break down the infu
ence and power of'members of Congress.
and to cut them off by hirellng sclbblers,
paid directly or indirectly for performing
the task'' Does not the Globe constantly
charge Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, Mr. South
ard, and other Senators as being paid by
and under The influence of the Bank of the
United States When engaged in the dis
charge of their high constitutional duties !?
Aud when these foul ISLANDERS are howlet
from the throat Of the sturdy mastiff. a
the door Of the Treasury, do not the whole
kennel, Tray, Blanche and Sweetheart
little dogs and ALL even to the most starve
ling turnspit that barks on the far,hes
verge Of our frontier re.echo the sound
The Jackson relormer, Mr.. Floyd. spoke
of the ISLANDERS on members Of Congress
and on other men elsewhere. Why, sir
we daily experience that and more. Thu
| President and his press have gone on from