The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-15

the still more nscrutable lisa or expecants who are
waiting for dead mems shoes, and willing In the
mean while 10 do any thing thai The living men wish
Having thus glowingly described the stale oil patron
age, and the subSeTvient league and unPrineipled
devotion of the Office holders, Mr. Benton Then
says:
"The power Of patronage unless checked by The
vigorous nerposition Of Congress, must 60 on In
Crossing, untilFederaiinucncei in many parts ofthis
Confederation will predominant Ia elections as com
pletey as British influence predominaes IN The eltc-
tons of Scotland and Ireland, in rotten borough
towns, and in the great naval stations OF Portsmouth
and Plymouth"
We are also told by Mr. Benton that the whole
Of this great power will centre in the President and
The report then the Country in these impressive
terms:
aThe King OF England is the fountain Of honor;
the President Of the United States is the source OF
patronage. He preSides over the entire system OF
Federal appointments jobs and contracts; he has
power over the support Of the individuals who
administer the system. He makes and unmakes
them. He chooses from the circle OF his friends
and supporters, and may dismiss Them, and upon all
the principles Of human action, will dismiss them,
often as they disappoinl his expectations, his
spirit viii animate their actions in all the elections
10 State and Federal offices. There may be excep-
lions, but the truth Of general rule is proved with
the exception The intended check and control Of
the Senate, riih0nt constitutional or statutory
provisions riH 10 operate. Patronage niH pcRs-
trate his6ody subdue lis capacity 81 resistance, chain
il 10 the car Of power, and enable the President 10
rule as easily and much more securely with Than
without The nominal check of the Senaier I'VE
must look forward 10 the time when the nomination
of the Pre- idenI can carry any man through the
Senate, and his recommendation can carry any mea-
sure through the two Houses Of Congress; when the
principle Of public action win be open and avowed
--lhe President wants vote, and want has pa
tronage aeiA rate he reSaes and Ae lrH ire me
Tie eDSee IrtA for What viii this be but the GO
vernmeni OF enc maR2 and what is the government
OF oHe man but a monarchy T.
Mr. BoSD said he hoped the House would pardon
him for reading from This report these passages,
which happily illustrate the growth and power OF
patronage. They were referred 10 for the purpose
OF sustaining the allegation which he had made, that
the presen, dominant party professed TO entertain
serious fears for the perpetuity or security of our
institutions and liberty If this public patronage was
not checked or restrained by some statutory RENE
dies, which they submitted for consideration, and
promised TO adopt, at some convenient season, If
placed in power. Well, sir, they succeeded and
got the administration OF our government into their
own hands; and what has the country realized a..
Why, the number of Custom House officers at New
DIRK has grown from TIA 10 Ala! and their com
pensaton is increased from Sll9 O62 80 10 ssiO9.-
669 32l But besides their stated compensation, Il
appears that in the year 1886 the various subordinate
officers Of the New York Custom House were al
lowed among them upwards of SIS, 000l And the
Collector at Philapephia, during The same year. re-
~N''Suf pStVuu MS uPNdIuS VI the
same officer in Boston upwards of 81, 800 and many
others very considerable sums, which will not take
time TO specify.
We thus realize the inordinate and dangerous in
crease in This branch Of patronage foreold by the
report What has been done 10 limit and restrain
his PATRONAGE Where is the statutory remedy the
MI which reported for that purpoSe1 Sir, Il has
had quiet repose and has never been heard Of since
the success OF 'the party" The moment power
was obtained the admission made in the report that
he Senate had time ale iS Aapipd in
practice; and the right asserted BY the committee TO
call on the President for his reasons in case Of
noyal from office, is now scoffed and condemned by
Mr. Benton, Mr. Van Buren,, and the whole party
who made or approved hat report! Mr.. Van Buren,
was one OF the committee by whom that report was
made; and yet he and his party openly violate and
disregard every principle it urgedl He now holds
he " power" over the support" of these trained
band OF office holders al New York and throughout
he country. "He makes and unmakes them" and
his spirit will animate their actions in all elections"
Almost the first notice we have Of the appointment
Of Jesse Hoyt 10 the Collectors Office in New York
IS the annuncation Of his Official presence and ac-
tivity in the charter election Of that city We hear
OF him by day and BY night heading his cohort Of
Ala officehoders, with the 1000 expec,ants and
leading them to the charge! Mr.. Van Buren, told u.s.
in the report, that the action Of such body Of
men, supposing them to be animated BY one spirit,
must be tremendous in an election" and that they
would be SO animated, he said was "a proposition
too plain to need demonstration" But suppose, he
wishes us to believe that in his hands all this power
and patronage will be harmless! The case OF the
New York Collector furnishes my answer to this:
and, il another illustration Is needed, refer YOU Mr..
Speaker, TO the appointment Of MIR. Wolf TO the Col
Iec,or's office in Philadelphia That gentleman,
you know, sir, after holding the honorable place of
Governor OF pennsylvania, proudly called the Key
stone State, seduced here for paltfy cerkship
We heard, recently, that he was dissatisfied in the
contrast between the place given him and that pro-
vided for his political rival, (Mr. Muhlenberg)
n LII IA l..r
draw, and gave some indication Of hostility 10 the
President AT this luncture the power of patronage
Is invokedthe Collector at Philadelphia is made 10
take the clerkShip at Washington, and Governor
VOLTS opposition is queted in the Collectors office,
thus vacated. In an instant new allegiance is
sworn, and Governor Wolf initiates himself in his
new office, by heading call for political meeting
in the city of his duties! Who does not the pc
culiar illness OF the suggestion before quoted from
the report of Mr.. Van Buren, and Others of the Sc
lec' Committee" The President rants my roe, ind
rant his patronage; Thrill rate he lrishes and he
piH girem'c the oGee Irih tor."
MIR. Speaker, will now add a remark or two and
pass from this report The committee who made
IT. consisted of Mr.. Benton, Mr.. Macon, Mr.. Van
Buren,, Mr. While, Mr.. Findlay, Mr.. Dckerson,
Mr.. Holmes, Mr., Hayne, and MIR. Richard M John
son, all at that time the jealous friends Of General
Jackson, except perhaps, Mr.. Holmes. They urged
The mPropretY of appointing members Of Congress
to office and the expediency of providing against it,
From The moment they came into power their report
and professions are forgotten and in four years they
appoint more members of Congress to Office than had
been done in all the previous history Of the Govern
ment They also told the country, in that rep TT,
that the press, the post Office the armed folce and
the appointing power, were the most dangerous por
tons Of the Federal Executive patronage. And
they profeSscd 10 have found remedy for these
dangers in certain bills which they submitted They
there tell u.s. too that all this power is in the hands Of
the President, and that he is nat an The hands Of The
People, Indeed, they say, "the President may, and,
in the current of human affairs, wiH be against
Tie People, and the conclusion of the whole is, the
nIpfY The pnnnln il nd To