Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-07-20
FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1898

brought into conflict with the freedom
of state elect ions has greatly increased
and is still unrestrained, in the sam,
conflict.
The gentleman from Tennessee an
Belly has for years labored to bring thi.
House to the consideration of bill tc
secure the freedom of elections, ant
thus carry into effect the recommended.
ton ofGen. Jackson's inaugural address
Able as that gentleman is, and untirino
as he has been in his efforts, the meas.
ure proposed by him has received the
frown instead of the fevor of this Admin
istration. He and the venerable Sena-
tor from the same state (Nr. White)
were the early and devoted friends Of
General Jackson, and they still desire
to carry into practical effect the princi.
plies which they, with General jackson,
profess to be governed by. They feel
and know the imminent danger which
threatens the country, in the increased
strength of the patronage of Office
They see, and we all see, that the office
holders are abroad in the land. For a
description of this growing phaanx and
its powerful incentive TO action. | will
draw on high authority. A member Of
the Senate, ar Grundy,) a Jealous
friend of General Jackson, the evidence
of which has been already given in his
own words, held this language, when
aiming TO pull down the old Administers
ton: when see (said hey an Office
holder interfering in elections, it has &C.
Cured to me that he was thinking of his
salary, and is, therefore, an unfit advi-
ser of the People,
Mr. Speaker, that which occurred to Mr.
Gtundy no doubt often occurred to you al,
the same period. The proposition is a very
natural one, and | think that recent events
have strengthened rather than impaired its
truth. But beg the further indulgence
of The House while | read what another
distinguished friend OF General Jackson
said, when debating the subject Of retrench.
ment and reform on this floor. | alude to
Mr. Buchanan, now Senator from Penn.
sylvanla, aud, with his continued and grow
ing devotion to the party. what he SAID will
certainly be considered 'or,hodox.' find,
by that debate, that he said it was well
known,
THAT when man is once appointed to
office. all the selfish passions of his nature
are enlisted for the purpose Of retaining it.
The office. holders (saG he) are the enlisted
soldiers of that Administration by which
they are sustained. Their comfortable ex.
lstence often depends on the reelection of
their patron. Nor does disappointment
long ranke in the hearts oflhe dlsappoint,
ed. Hope is still left to them and bearing
disappointment with patience they know
will present new CAIN to office at fu,
ture time
This passage of Mr. Buchanan's speech
proves him to have been an observer of men
and things, and familiar with the leading
principles Of human action. lie dreaded
the consequences of the selfish spirit of the
office holder, and induced the country to
believe that Gen Jackson and his friends
would provide a suitable restraint upon it.
But fear, sir, the People will be left to
conclude that this gentleman is one of those
political parsons described by Mr. Ran.
dolph, whose practices DO not correspond
with his 'precepis' 1t is certain that, un.
der the favorile Administration of the gen.
tleman and his friends, the Office holders
have received new life. instead Of check.
But must yet point out another discreran.
cy between Mr. Buchanans profession and
practice. In he same debate, he reviewed,
with censure, several of the foreign mis-
slons, that to Russia included and partic,
u'arly condemned any practice allowed
minister to return after one years ABSENCE
his language ls-'f such practice should
prevail, our ministers, in violation of the
spirit of The existing law, will receive, by
adu'ng inc oulflt to the salary, Sl3, 900, in
stead of $4,000, for one years service.
u am, SAID he, against the practice.
ms, mr. Speaker, was his precept. But,
sir, IN BRET space Of time, after condem
nlng and saying i am against The practice,
we see him take the bounty, and become
one of the enlisted soldiers whom he had
described, and 60 on foreign mission to
Russia, where, after STAYING "a twelve.
month and day., he pockets the 'Sl8 600,
instead of $4,000, for years service and
comes home!
ms seems to be an appropriate time o
compare the precepls ard practice of Mr.
Randolph, too, who said he, was for look
ing at the practices, ann not the precep,s
OF the parson, political or religious In
that same debate, Mr. Randolph said he
could not permit any motive connected
with the division of the spoil, to minple
with his exertions. He would not, he
said, give up his constituents and the
pleasures of his home, for a cerkshp in
the War Office, or foreign mission or
even for a Department of State lie said
There had been an improvement in the
plan of sending ministers abroad, aud
bringing them back, when they have
finished their business for said he, they
are now seut abroad on sleeveless errands,
that they may come back re,inCecta, to