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

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1000 expectants. and leading them to the
charge! Mr. Van Buren, told us in the
report that the action of such a body of
men, supposng them to be animated by
one spirit, must be tremendous in on cleo.
tion;' and that they would be so animated,
he said, was "a proposition too plain TO
need demonstration But l suppose he
wishes US TO believe that in his hands oil
this power and patronage will be harmless
The case of the New York Collector fur
nshes my answer TO this; and If anothe,|
illustration is needed, refer you, Mrl
Speaker. 20 the appointment of Mr. Wolf
to the Collectors office in Philadelphia.
That gentleman, you know, sir, after hold
ing the honorable place of Governor of
Pennsylvania, proudly called the Keystone
State, was seduced here for paltry clerk
ship. We heard recently that he was
dissatisfied in the contrast between the
| place given him and that provided for his
political rival, (Mr Muhlenburg.) Gov
Wolf, it was said, had resolved to with
draw, and gave some indication of hostility
to the President. At this juncture the
power of patronage is invoked-the Col.
lector at Philadelphia is made to take the
clerkship at Washington, and Governor
VOLTS opposition is quoted in the COL
lector's office, thus vacated. In an instant
new allegiance is sworn, and Governor
Wolf initiates himself in his new Office, by
heading call for a political meeting in the
city of his official duties WHO does not
see the peculiar fitness Of the suggestion
before quoted from the report Of Mr. Van
Buren, and others of the select committee
Il No ami
,odnt his patronage; I,oiH uote as he acisheS,
and he ,oiH gire me the office ,oish for"
Mr. Speaker, will now add a remark or
two, and pass from this report. The
committee who made it consisted of Mr.
E Benton, Mr. Macon, Mr. Van Buren,, Mr.
} White, Mr. 'Findlay, Mr. Dickerson, Mr.
; Holmes, MrlHayne, and Mr. Richard M.
Johnson, all at the time the jealous friends
Of General Jackson, except, perhaps, Mr.
, Holmes. They urged the improperly Of
appointing members Of Congress to Office,
> and the expedIency of providing against it..
= From the moment they came into power
f their report and professions are forgotten,
and in four years they appoint more mem
> bers Of Congress to Office than had been
, done in all the previous history of the
Government. They also told the country
{ in that report, that the press, the post
office, the armed force, and the appointing
. power, were the most dangerous port ions
= ofthe Federal Executive atronage. And
they professed to have found a remedy for
these dangers in certain bills which they
r submitted. They there tell us. too, that
e all this power is in the hands Of the Pres-
4 dent, and he is not in The hands of the Peo-
e pie. Indeed, they say, 'the President may.
e and, in the current of human affairs yiil
t be against The People, and the conclusion
d of the whole is, The safety of the People
c is the supreme law, and to ensure that
4; safety these arbters of human fate 1.-THE
e press, the post office, the armed force, and
y the appointing power) must change posi-.
e ton, and take post on the side of the peo-
c ple.' Mr. Speaker. we have found it true
e indeed, that the President is not in the
e hands of the People, and that he will even
y turn against them Look, sir, at Mr. Van
d Burens December message, and. see the
t opproblum which he casts upon the People
e Of his own State for daring to exercise
y their elective franchise contrary TO his will
i Notwithstanding his professions, and the
II pledged faith of his report. he violently
o retains the contsol of these 'arbiters o
y human fate and will not suffer them 'tt
:, change position and take post on the side
d of the People =
>. Mr. Bond said he would next point thu
d attention of gentlemen to what had passet
II in this House on the subject of retrench.
y ment and reform; and he regretted to flint
IF such marvellous discrepancy between tn,
d sayings and doings' of the party on tina
e subject. The journals OF the House show
" that in February, 1928, select COMMITTEES
d was appointed TO consider and report OF
:. this whole matter: the gentlemen appoint
ir ed were Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Ingham, nj
e Rives. Mr. Wickliffe, Mr. Cambreleng, NJ
rs Sergeant and Mr. Everett, all friends O
e General Jackson, save the two last. The
I! were charged 10 inquire into the who'll
g machinery of the Government, with view
y to reduce its expenses and patronage. an
3 to correct all abuses.--They engaged il
rs and devoted themselves to this task thei
ot report, | mean the report of the fou
avowed reformers, professed to the countr
l. that the public expenditures at home an
e, abroad were unnecessarily great; tina
m every thing was done on too grand scale
that each department had too many clerks
III and spent too much money; that this wa
= also the case in Congress, whose session
er were needessly prolonged and, by wa
le of correcting this latter evil, they recon
d mended that The compensation of members
,e during the first sesson OF each Congress
is be reduced to So per day, from and afe
I'd the frs, Monday in April, if Congress
Mt should sit beyond that day
m Mr. Bond said he would not read tn
" report to the House, but no hoped thi
lie notice of it might aid in recalling it I
public recollection, whereby it would b
go seen how much had been proposed and ho'
ct little had been done. Here, too, it will b
O. found, that IN concert with Their co-la0ol
q L IL e..