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


try The total sum thus distributed,
could not amount to less than between
twenty and thirty thousand dolars.'-
There were eighty two papers employed
in publishing the Iaws;' it was not of the
expense that he complained, but of the
purpose by which it was controlled 1T
was thus calculated to operate, and did
actully operate, SO far as it went, to control
the freedom of the press, and to enlist,
Throughout the country, that powerful
instrument in behalf of the views of the
State Department. In this respect, it was
much moro effec,ual and much more dan
gerous than the far famed allen and sedilion
laws
Mr. Saunders concluded by saying that it
was his intention to take this power from
the State Department, and place it else.
where A member from Tennessee, (Mr
Houston,) afterwards Governor of that
State. and now the President OF Texas,
sustained Mr. Saunders resolution, and de.
change the publication of the laws for opin.
ions sake. He alleged that the practice
Of that Department had been to allow an
individual. who mig hit be personally opposed
to the views and opinions of the Head ofthe
Department, if he was honest and capable
as public officer, TO retain his place. He
asked IF changes had been made in order
that the patronage of the Government may
flow in particular channel! Such course
would gag the free expression of opinion.
lie said:
Patronage is not thing local ard cir.
, cumscribed. 1t seeks everv little ram,fica.
, ton into which it can by any possibility in
snuate itself. 1t is like the progress of
: cancer in the human body; it SEXES on
3 every vein and artery, one after another,
nor stops its progress iii. the sufferer sinks,
t and then The knife is too late applied
Q Next came Mr. Hamilton. of South Car
= lima, the chairman of that retrenchment
D committee TO which have already alluded.
, That gentleman said-
t These eighty>two presses would be put
0 on the diet Of a wholesome regimen, and in
j the course of a salutary discipline. The
o sturdy and independent would be turned
out to be fed on such offals as they might
: be able to pick up, until the whole pack
d should open in full and harmonious cry. in
one common note, from the sturdy mastift
n that bowls at the door of the Treasury, to
s the most starveIing turnspit that barks on
b the farthest verge Of our frontier
If Mr. Bond said he would not stop 10 inquire
v whether we did now realize, in the present
If official organ, the Globe, that sturdy mas
y tiff that bowls at the coor of the Treasury
ii Mr. Hamilton continued
n 1T is necessary that the Executive should
/. have Government press, to be paid for by
1t the People out of the public Golfers, to sus.
" tain the measures of the Administration,
d whether right or wrong?' IT. said he, "a
Il Secretary of State can SO apply the patron
g age Of the Government Us TO noursh 10
= venal accord eighty.two presses in our
country to praise every thing the Admins.
, tration should do, and subject their proprie-
1t tors to the punishment of the loss of this
4 patronage, if they dare to censure its mea
~ sures, this forms distinctly a Government
IN press which is more alarming to the lIber-
y ties of the People than the organization OF
i the whole of Gen Browns army of six thou
N sand men, formed into guard of the palace
IS If elghty-two presses can be made to speak
J. as it were in one voice that all the Govern
- ment does is excellent, and all those who
is are opposed to them say is false and factious
G. this constant combined and concerted Ian.
at guage will soon have tendency to make
IN those who hear little else believe all this il
,e true.
Mt Mr. Bond hoped the House would pardon
is him for this long extract. Mr. Hamilton
On from whose speech it is taken, was at The
,g time friend of Gen Jackson, and jealous
&C ly engaged in elevating him to power. II
e, thus describing the Government patronage
a. over the press. that gentleman said he was
/, merely warning the country of dangers
a. which might be realized, if no restraint wa
d. imposed on that patronage. Gneral Jack
or son was elevated, and Mr. Van Buren, sue
i'd ceeded him, and is now in power Insteat
'al Of eighty two presses thus employed by TIT
n. Government, they have now considerable,
VS. upwards Of one hundred, and the patronag
a is held and exercised without any name
ut of check or restraint. In this, surely, th
lily country was disappointed.
H. But you, also, Mr. Speaker, took part il
lot that debate, and warned the country of The
a danger OF this patronage, and the necessit
he Of restraining it. | hope, sir, it will not b.
on out Of order TO draw on your remarks, i
tn aid of my present purpose. The sentiment
ng which you expressed are perfectly just, an
'at must command the appreciation of all impair
RS tial minds.
ms have preferred, sir, sustaining the res
cd olution now under consideration by the ar
I'm guments and illustrations Of the friends c
OF General Jackson, rather than to attemE
ce and new suggestions.
as You will remember, Mr. Speaker, tina
ed some friend of Mr. Clay, the then Secretur
nd of State, minated that the resolution {
to Mr. Saunders savored somewhat of til
ce Spanish nqulslton. At this your indignu
&C. ton was aroused, and you exclaimed
Inquisitorlsl sir And has The time al
by rived 10 this country when it is deemed in
IA qusltorial respectfully to ask public off
he Ger, who is responsible to the People who's