The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-25
WHOLE NO. l42.


bred and thirty dollars now, win then be worth but
eighty being loss OF nearly two-thirds. For as
you decrease the quantity OF currency, you raise It's
value; or, 10 other words you depress the prices of
property. And what viii be the effect on business
Most destructive. The bank loans and discounts In
the Union in 1887, were 525, 900 900 of dolars-the
specie as before. These loans and discounts have
been made for business. Destroy banks, and how
will the business accounts stand as 925 now TO so
then-whch is as 81 TO /. And this will be the re-
suit il We come 10 the hard money system.
The idea OF doing the immense business Of this
country with 60000O00 OF dollars in specie Is too
absurd 10 excite any emotion other than of ridicule
II Is estimated that the average daily payments in the
city of New York, In the banks only In brisk times
are eight million Of dollars. This is equal TO more
than two thousand millions per annum ANY man
who will seriously talk of carrying on The immense
business OF this country, any considerable portion
OF IT. with specie, Is filter for bedam than Legsla-
tive Assembly.
The length Of this communication admonishes
me TO draw to close Much more might be said
on this interesting and all engrossing subject Other
objections might be forcibly urged. Twill refer to
them briefly.
This system viii greatly increase the Executive
power and patronage already alarmingly great. No
Republican wishes 10 the host Of Federal govern
ment officers (now some hundred thousands) increas
ed without strong necessity Though the Sub-trea-
sury bill proposes in the first instance to start with
few officers, no one who has seen the tendency Of
political establishments to enlargement can doubtth
they will 80 on increasing until like the locuss of
Egypt they will overshadow the land and Seat out
our substance" The more officers who can be APP
pointed the greater will be the partizan corps Of the
Executive. They are usually selected for their po-
litical subservency and services Theyare the mere
tools--ihe creatures Of the Executive
/" A breath can make them as breath hath made; -
and more, breath can unmake them. The tenure
Of their otfice is at the will Of the Executive. In
him they /" live, and move, and have being They
depend on him for their daily bread; consequently
they are ever ready to do his bidding. In closely
contested Presidential election this swarm OF Sub
treasurers, and Collectors, and Receivers would be
most convenient electioneerers. Having possession
OF the public funds, the exercise of the discussing
power toward doubtful voters, could not fail to pro-
duce at the ballot boxes results highly suspicious to
the success OF their employer With such devoted
servants and with such means, with an unqualified
control of the public purse, President once would
be a President for life.
cannot better describe the potency Of the Execu-
tive patronage than by reference TO report made
in the Senate of the United States, February 10,
-, BY Committee consisting Of Mr. Benton, Mr..
Van Buren,, Mr.. Dickinson, Mr.. Macon, and others.
This picture, so wildly drawn, is worthy of gold
case studded with diamonds. Alas for poor, weak
human nature The doctrines therein set forth, OBJ
tain no longer. Now Mr.. Van Buren, and Benton
court the possession of the patronage which was by
the Report declared SO dangerous The report
says:
To be able to show to the Senate full and perfect
view Of the power and workings Of Federal patronage
the committee addressed note Immediately after they
charged with this inquiry to each Of the Depart
ments, and to the Postmaster General requesting to be
informed Of the whole number Of persons employed,
and the whole amount Of money paid out under the d.
recton Of their respective Departments The
received hereunto submitted and made part Of this
report. With the Blue Book they will discover enough
to show that the predictions of those who were not
blind the defects Of the constitution are ready to be
realised that the power and influence Of Federal pa
tronage, contrary to the argument in the "Federast"
is overmatch for the power and influence Of State
patronage that its workings will contaminate the purity
Of all elections and enable the Federal Government,
eventually to govern throughout the States eectnay
as If they were many provinces Of vast empire
The whole OF this great power VIII centre in the
President. The King Of England is the fountain Of
honor; The President Of the United States is the
source Of patronage. He presdes the entire sys
tenn 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 ofhuman
actions viii dismiss them often they dsappoint his
expectations. His spirit will animate their actions in all
hs srcsr, g State and Federal Offices There may
BY the exception. The intended chscL nS oi,rsi ~
the Senate, without new constn,onsI - "
visions, will cease to operate. Patronage will n,
this body subdue its capacity Of resistance chain il 10
easily and much more securely with than without the
nominal check Of the Senate. If the President was
himself the officer Of the people, elected by hem and
responsible to them there would be less danger from
this concentration Of all power in his hands; but
the business Of statesmen to act upon things as they
are, not as they would wish them to be. We must
then look forward to the time when the public revenue
will be doubled when the civil and military officers Of
the Federal Government will be quadruped when its
influence over individuals will be multiplied 10 in
Enifo vha fha of
carry any man through the Senate, and his recon-
mendaton carry any measure through the two |
Houses Of Congress when the principle Of public ac-
ton will be open and ayowed-he President wants my
vote and want bis patronage will vote he wishes
and he will give me the Office wish for What will
this be, but the Government of man and what is |
the government of one man but a monarchyl Names |
nothing. The nature of thing is in its substance,
and the name soon accommodates itself to the sub |
stance. The first Roman Emperor was styled the |
Emperor Of the Republic, and the last FIench Emperor
took the ttle and their respective countries were
just essentially monarchical before after the assump
ton Of these titles II cannot be denied dssembed
but that the Federal Government gravates to the
point and that the election of the Executive by the Le
gisature quickens the impusion.
Those who make the President must support him. |
Their political fate becomes identified, and they must
stand fall together. Right wrong they sup
port him; and if he is made contrary 10 the will Of the
people, he must be supported not only by votes and
speeches, but by arms violent and forced state OF
things will ensue--ndivdual combats will take place
and the combats ofndivduas will be the forerunner
general engagements. The array Of man against man
will be the prelude the array of army against army and
Of State against State Such is the law of nature |
and it is equally in vain for set Of to claim an
exemption from its operation, would be for any
other set to suppose that under the circumstances
they would not act in the manner The natural
remedy for all this evil would be place the election Of
the President in the hands Of the people Of the United
States. He would then have power to support him
which would be able and willing aid him, when
he was himself supporting the interest Of the country,