Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1838-06-01

stops its progress till the sufferer SINKS uhu
then the knife is too late applied" Next
came Mr. Hamilton, OF South Carolina, the
chairman of that retrenchmen committee TO
which have already alluded. That gen.
teman said: -,
"These eghtywo presses would be put
on the diet OF a wholesome regimen, and IN
the course of salutaIy discipline. The
sturdy and independent would be turned out
10 be fed on such offas as they might be a.
bic. to pick up, until the whole pack should
open in full and harmonious cry, IN one
common note, from the sturdy mastif that
bowls at the door Of the Treasury, to the
most starving turnspit that barks on the
farthest verge OF our frontier"
Mr. Bond said he would not stop to in
ouire whether we did now realize, in the
nresent official organ, the Globe that stur-
DIV mastiff that bowls at the door OF the
Treasury" Mr. Hamilton continued
us it necessary that the Executive should
have Government press, to be paid tor by
the People out of the public Golfers, to sus
tain the measures of the Administration,
whether right or wrong "IG said he, IA
Secretary Of State can so apply the patron
age Of the Government as 10 nourlsh 10 Ve-
nal accord eighly-two presses IN our country
to praise every thing the Administration
should do, and subject their proprletors TO
the punishment of the loss OF this patronage
ifthev dare to censure its measures, TINS
forms distinctly Government press, which
is more alarming to the liberties OF the Peo-
pe than the organization of the whole OF
Gen. Browns army Of six thousand men,
formed into guard Of the palace. 1t eighty
two presses can be made to speak as 1t were
in one voice that all that the Government
does is excellent and all those who ale op-
posed TO them say is false and iactous, this
constant combined and concerned language
will soon have tendency to make those
who hear little else believe all this is true"
Mr. Bond hoped the House would pardon
him for this long extract Mr. Hamilton,
from whose speech it is taken, was at the
time friend Of Gen Jackson, and Jealous
" engaged 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 Jack
son was elevated, and MIR Van Buren, sue.
ceeded him, and is now in power. Instead
of eghtv-two presses thus employed by the
Government, they have now considerably
upwards Of one hundred, and the patronage
is held and exercised without any manner
of check or restraint. In this, surely, the
country was disappointed.
But you also, MIR Speaker, took part in
that debate, and warned the country OF the
danger Of this patronage, and the necessity
ofrestrainng it, hope, sir, it will not be
out OF order to draw on your remarks, N
aid OF my present purpose. The sentiments
which you expressed are perfectly just, ant
must command the appreciation of all i'm
partial minds | have preferred. sir sus
tanning the resolution now under consdera
ton by the arguments and illustrations o
the friends of General Jackson, rather thar
TO attempt any new suggestions.
You will remember, Mr. Speaker, tina
some friend of Mr. Clay, the then Secretary
Estate, intimated that the resolution OF Nj
Saunders savored somewhat OF the Spanish
inquisition. AT this, your indignation wa
aroused and you exclaimed:
"Inquisitorial, sir And has the time al
rived in this country when it is deemed IN
quisitorial respectfully to ask public Off
Ger, who is responsible TO the People who's
representatives we are, for the public rea
sons mot the private molives) Of his pubi
conducts Is it Insulting TO demand of a pub
lie officer to explain and account for his con
duct ? Is the transatlantic doctrine, tina
'the King can do no wrong to be introduces
here2 Though we have no alien and sed
ton laws, are we to have what is tantamour
to them2 Are the public functionaries {
the Government 10 be wrapped up in tn
robes Of office, and to be held irresponsible
to the People or the Peoples represents
tives2 And are all those who have frmnes
and independence enough fearlessly to il
quire ifto the public men, and the name
in which the public money is expended,
herents of the house that now leigns as fa'
tious oppostionists Sir, (you continue
Mr. Speaker,) this power of appointing tt
public printer is improperly lodged where
is, TO say the least OF it. subjected TO abus
and may be improperly used for the purpo'
of muzzIing and influencing the liberty
press"
That being the case, you proposed, sir, q
remove this power disappointment from ii
else, where it would be more safely an
property exercised" The country is awar
Mr. Speaker, that you have continued 10
member ofthis House ever since you mac
the remarks just quoted, now more than eie
en- years. Some expectation was cherisht
that you would, when in a majority her
practise under these opinions, and remo'
this printing patronage "lrom the Depal
ment of State and vest it somewhere els
where il Woud be more safely and proDer