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

men seem TO have such imperfect recollection
of the events of that day, some little reference
may perhaps be uscfully made to what was
said in that debate. II will be observed that
the resolution Of Mr.. Saunders, and those
who supported it, required reasons to be
given for removal from: office. Since they
came into power, however, that doctrine has
been denied and repudated.
Mr.. BOND said he proposed to prove by
this debate that tho present Administration
came into power declaring that the printing
patronage of the Government was inordinate
and dangerous; that it ought to be restrained
and regulated by law; and, in fine, promising,
if elevated, to withdraw its exercise from the
Executive hands. The mover Of that resolu-
tion Mr.. Saunders) said:
~ shall be accused Of getting up this call
i purposes OF effect nor be told this Is small b'ri'
ness" "lic not To be told that the pecnhinry
amount involved in this matier was too small la inn-
the editors of this country" "Ihe total thus
distributed could rot amount To less Than between
twenty and thirty thousand dollars" "TlIere were
eighty 1.-TWO papers employed in publishing the lnws y
'it of the expense that he complained, bat Of
lhe purpose by which IL controlled" "t wns thus
alcatcd TO operate, aud did actually operate liar
went, control the freedom of the press and to
list throughout the country, that powerful instrument
behalf of the views the State Department Ia this
respect, IL was much more ciirctua and much more
dan gcrous than the fI famed alien aud scdtion laws.
Mr. Saunders concluded by saying that it
was his "intenlion 10 take this power from
the State Department, and place it else
where" a member from Tennessee. (Mr.
IIouston,) afterwards Governor Of that State,
and now the President of Texas, sustained
Mr.. Saunders's resolution, and denied the
right of the Secretary Of State TO change the
publication of the laws for opinions sake.--
lie alleged that the practice of that Depart
ment "had been TO allow an individual, who
might be personally opposed to the views and
opinions Of the Head Of the Department, If
he was honest and capable as pnblic officer,
to retain his place." He asked "lf changes
had been made in order that the patronage Of
the Government may flow in a particular
channel? Such n course would gag the free
expression of opinion" lie said:
Patronage is not thing local and crcumscribed II
seeks every tle ramiication into which IL can by ANY
possibility nsnuae itself II is like the progress of u
artery, acr another, nor stops it, progress I'LL the
sufferer sinks, and then the knife is too late applied"
Next came Mr.. Hamilton, of South Carroll
na, the chairman Of that rctrenchment com
mlt,cc to which have already alluded. That
gentleman said:
"These eghty-two presses world he pat On Ia" diet
ofs wholesome regimen, and in the course of sluiary
discipline. The sturdy aud independent would be turned
be fed such olals as they might be ae To rick
up until the whole pack should open in full and liar-
monious cry in common uote from the sturdy mas
tin that howls the door Of the Treasury 10 the most
sarvelng tnspit that burks oh the iurest verge of
our frontier"
MIR. BoSp said he would not stop to in
quirc whether we did now realize, in the pre-
sent official organ, the Globe, shat sturdy
mastitf that howls at the door Of the Treas
ury." Mr. Hamilton contrued:
SIT Is necessary that the Executive should have
Government press he paid tor by the People cut o
the public Golfers, To sustain the measures Of the Al
mnisiration, whether light or wrong 2" "H, snid he
"a Secretary If State can apply the patronage oi the
Government norrish To yenal accord eighty >-tw
presses in onr cotntr, to praise every thing tue Aul
straiion should do, and subject their rropricIors 10 tho
punishment o the loss oi this PATRONAGE u ihey dare u
its this forms distinctly Government
press which il alarming 10 the liberties "l The
People than the organization oi the whole oi Gen:
Browns army ofsiy thousand men, formed Into guard
OF the palace. Ii eghty-two presses can be mndc to
speak IL in one voice that all That The Govern
DOES is excellent, and all those who are opposed io
them is false and uctious this constant combined
aud concerted language will soon have IA tendency to
make those who hear little else believe all ts is true"
Mr.. BOND hoped the House would pardon
him for this long extract. Mr.. HamiltoD,iron
whose speech 1t is taken, was at the time
friend of Gen. Jackson, and zealously en-
gagged in elevating him to power In thus
describing the Government patronage over
the press, that gentleman said he was merely
warning the country Of dangers which might
be realized, if no restraint was imposed on
that patronage. General Jackson was elc-
waited, and Mr.. Van Buren, succeeded him
and is now in power. Instead Of cighty-two
presses thus employed by the Government
they have now considerably upwards Of one
hundred, and the patronage is held aud ex'
ercised without any manner of check or re-
s,raint. In this, surely, the country was dis
appointed.
But you, also, Mr.. Speaker, took part in
that debate and warned the country OF the
danger Of this patronage, and the necessity
Of restraining il. hope, sir, it will not be
out of order 10 draw on your remarks. IN oid
of my present purpose. The sentiments
which you expressed are perfectly just. and
must command the appreciation Of oil i'm
partial minds.
! have preferred, sir, sustaining the resou-
ton now under consideration by the orgu-
mepls and illustrations OF the friends o
General Jackson, rather than To attempt an!
new suggestions.
You will remember, Mr.. Speaker, thai
some friend Of Mr.. Clay, the then Secretary
Of State, minated that the resolution OF MIR
Saunders savorcd somewhat of the Spanish
inqulsilion. At this your indignation was
aroused, and you exclaimed:
"muu.iioriai, sir And has thc time arrived w this
country when 1t is deemed iquis0rn! respectfully tt
ash public olirer, who IL responsible to the irrh
whose representatives are, for the public rchsus
(nut the private motives Of his public c"nduc - u
Insulting To demand oi public ohtcr To explain ehu
account Tor his conduct J. ic TRANSATLANTIC 90, tr'
that "hc King do no wrong '" lee introh'" hert'
Though we have aleu- aud scdi,ion laws, urc we to
have what is tantninot to ihrm Are ihr pnol'r iun'
tiousrrs nf the Government to be wrapped up IN the
robes ufoce and to he held irresponsible to the People
or the Peoples representatives And are AL those wh'
have rnness ad Independence enough caTicssly To IN
utro to the conduct uf publ" hsn, nid TIC mhlct ~
which the public money y cNIendedo We dc nouhc' 10y
the pnetsans and scr, lie ndhcrcnis Of the house that
now reigns, fictitious oppo,onists! sir, you cnn-
tins Mr. speaker, this power oiappontmg thc publir
printer Is improperly lodged whore is u H. ios say
the least ul IL, subject Ia abuse, aud NAV b' Improperly
used for the purpose of muning and influencing the ho
crty uf the press"
! 2'hat being the case, You propose, SIR, "to
remove this power OF appointment from 'he
. Department Of State, and vcst II somewhere
else, where it would be- more safely and
properly exercised" The country Is aware,
Mr. Speaker. that you have continued to be
member or this House ever since you made
the remarks Just quoted, now more than
eleven years. Some expectation was cher
ishcd that YOU would, when in majority
here, practise under these opinions, and re-
move this printing patronage 'irom the i'e
partment oi State, and vest " somewhere
else, where IL would he more safely nn'
properly exercised" ! am sorry, s'r, TIA