Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-08-28
;p'WentV-fifth COngreSs---.sd se>s.
SPEECH OF MR. GARLAND, OF NiKG,NiA,
q,aia,t The Su5 Treasury Ru-dtiirercd in the H0us
Of Representatives., June 20, 1888

hill imposes the sghles, restriction upon TIE Executive
power, when proposes to commit 10 the hseG', Awe
bu.semen Of The public revenue-ogen' wEo VIII "o'u
their places entirely the will! of the President AND VINO
must do his bidding or beremovee from ptce AN Tue re-
sricons by this BILL axe placed upon the agents
themselves but not barrier between mem ana Inc
Executive j. n,c:pnsed but the officers theu'se YES and
ct necessity, the public revenues are under his en'ire
control. But told that the Executive can appfo
>pra,e no money except by the authority Of law True
Srand if the authority of law had been Observed the
world would been by the violent and
bloody deeds of despots and ranis Cesar violated The
law when he pundered the Roman Treasury and over
= tuned it's Liberties. 1t is to secure the law from violation
tt restrictions necessary 10 be imposed upon E1eco
I've power Bot gentlemen contend that the State Banks
Are more obnoxious to this objection, than individual
agents This not The banks do not hold their cha
tiers the will Of the Executive, not under the authority
Of Congress do its officers receive their salaries a"
=. the hands of this Government. They hold tnf't cue.
tiers from State authority and the officers receive ,he
salaries from the banks so that in these Paru m
Fare independent of the Executive. The prom VIZ. ,h
banks derive from the temporary employ oi Tue
liz ,,,nsv s moi as much the salaries OF Inc
collectors and receivers and when dIsrou'so among
thousands of stockholders is too inconsaee "
- any perncious influence upon mem auu " ;Ins n
'derations the fact that the State Governments
their rights and vstchul Of Federal power are constant
" watching the operation of these lnsl'tut"hs 50 S
check any improper action on their part. IL Is ''anes
bs,efre that the dangers OF Executive powerFom 'he
employment Of individuals, infinitely greater hah
from State banks But, say gentlemen, why shouo the
Government distrust itself not Government oceis
az honest as bank directors! ! answer, government o
fcers are honest bank officers, but the EHecule
has not the same power and control over them ana te
temptation to abuse nothing like so strong ms u
does not place the custody OF the pubic money III 's
keeping OF the Government, but OF the Executive a"o
most dangerous branch Of it, and that without any OF
those guards which proper wachfuness and jealousy
of power would inerpose.
have, upon a former occasion, commended mat inns
bill enlarged that Executive patronage, and increased
that Executive power, which constitute Inc dangerous
features the Executive Department. and are Inc frut
full Of tyranny and corruption Every othcef IN
the Government, civil military, hoios ms piace al 'e
will of the Executive and every dollar dlsbused un.
der its supernlendence and contrib, with the grra, mum
Der of public officers and the immense amount &" mo-
ney discussed by this Government the most casual 90
perceive the very potent influence WHICH,
through these sources be eIeed upon the comniu
nifty Should not statesmen-should not ireemen pause
and ponder long before they would consent 10 increase
these Of danger already full and so ormda
bic, IL i, true that this bill does not propose large IN
crease of public officers, but lays the foundation OF III
ture ncrease and unless refuse to be adnonshed By
the experience OF the past the nine new officers created
by this hill Will swell into hundreds.
Mr. Chairman will enter into the reasons upon
which nv objections are founded will content ms sell
with citing from report, Executive patronage, made
in the Senats of the United States, The 13,h OF fe
bruary, 1885, the following passage:
To be able 20 show to the Senate full and perfect
view Of the power and workings Of the Federal patron
nJe the committee addressed note Immediately after
they were charged with this inquiry, 10 each Of the De-
p,rmcns and 10 The Postmaster General, requesting 10
be informed Of the whole number of persons employed
and The whole amount of money paid out under the di
rec,on Of their respective Departments The answers
received are hereunto submitted and made part Of this
report With the Blue Book they will discover enough
show, that the predictions Of those who were not
blind the defects Of the Constitution, are ready 10 b.
realized that The power and influence of Federal pa.
t,onsge contrary to the argument in the Federas IS
on overmuch for the power and influence OF Stale pa
,ronsge; that its workings will contamlnate the purity
,,Ia tI,a EaHo
eventually to govern throughout the States ei!pc
tuay us if they were SO many provinces OF one vast
empire.
sden, The King England is the fountain Of honor;
the Presden, Of the United States is The OF
tron,ge He presides the entire system Of Federal
appointments, Jobs and contracts He hna powcr over
the support Of the ndiYduas who administer the sys.
tenn He males and unmakes them. He chouses from
the circle Of his friends and supporters and may dismiss
them and upon all the principles Of human actions will
dismiss them, often they dsapPoint his expecta'
tons His spirit will animate their actions IN all The
elections 10 State and Federal Offices There may be
exceptions; but the truth OF general rule proved by
the excr pon The intended check and control of the
Senate without new constitutional or statutory prori
vons will cease operate Patronage will penetrate
this bndy subdus its capacity of resistance, chain 1t TO
the ca. of power, and enable the President TO rule as
easily and much more securely with. Than without The
mammal check Of the Senate IL the President him
self the officer OF the people, elected by them, and re
.oopsble to them, there would be less danger from this
business Of 10 act upon things they are not
as thew would wish them 10 be- We must then look FOX,
ward to the time when the public revenue will be duu
bled: when the civil and military officers Of the Fede
raj Government will be quadruped; when its influence
over individuals will be multiplied to indefinite extent;
when the nomination of the President can carry any
man through the Senate and his recommendation can
carry any through The two HOUSES of Congress-
when the principle Of public action will be and
avowed-tbe President wants my vote, and want ms
patronage; will vote as he w'she' ana ne viii give
me the Office | wish for what Will ms De, oot ''e
government Of one man. and what is the government
ef ONE man bat q monarchy? Names nothing. The
nature of thing in its substance and the name soon
accommodates Itself 10 the substance The first Roman
Emosror wa. styled the Emperor OF the Republic, and
the Ia, French Emperor took the title and their
respective countries just essentially monnrchi'
cal before as after the assumption Of these titles IL can.
no, be denied or dssembed, but that the Federal Go
v.rnment pravitaes to the same point, and that the
election Of the Executive by the Legislature qulckens
the impulson ,
"Tho.e who make the President must support him -
Their polilical fate becomes identified and they mus,
stand or fall together. Right wrong, they must sup
DOR, him; and if he is made contrary 10 the will OF the
psople he must be supported not only by votes and
speeches, but by arms violent AMI iotced STATE Oh
things will ensue; individual conba's will take place. and
Oh, c,,,b,ts Of individuals will be the forPrnnne 10
neral engagements. The array of man against man will
he the prelude the Of army against army and
Of State against State Such Is the law oil nature and
il s equally in vain for set of men to claim
emo,on from operation il would for any other set
TO suppose that, the same circumstances they would
no, act in the same manner The natural remedy tor
nil this evil would be to place the election OF PRESIDENT
in the hands of the people of the United States ne
would then have power to support him, which would
be as able and as willing to aid him, when he was hun
self supporting the interest OF the country, as they
,yonld be TO nut him down when he should neglect or
oppose those interests. Your committee looking at the
present mode Of eecting the President the principal
source of all this evil have commenced their labos al
the beginning of this session, by recommending an
amendment to the Constitution in that essential and
vital particular; but in this in many other things
they find the greatest difficulty to be in the first step
tka nd anti. hrftb