The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRE-
sENTATIvEs.
SPEECH OF Mr.. BOND, or Ono,
Upon Mr. Hopkins Resolution 10 diroyce the Goreru-
nea from The Press.

Upon Mr.. Hopkins Resolution 10 diroyce the Goreru
Dsea from the Press
(coScIrDED)
Mr. Speaker, that which occurred to Mr. Grundy
no doubt often occurred TO You at the period.
The proposition Is a very natural one, and think
that recent events have strengthened rather than inn
paired its truth. But beg the further indulgence
OF The House while read what another Distinguish
ed friend Of General Jackson said, when debating
the subject of retrenchment and reform on this floor.
allude 10 Mr.. Buchanan now Senator from Penn
sylvania, and with his continued and growing devo-
lion to the party, what he said will certainly be con-
sidered orthodox" | fnd by that debate, that he
said il was well known
"That when man is once appointed to Office, all
the selfish passions Of his nature enlisted for the
purpose Of retaining it, The ofhee-holders (said
he) are the enlisted soldiers OF thai administration
by which they are sustained, Their comfortable
existence ollen depends upon the reelection OF their
patron Nor does disappointment long ranke in
the hearts of the disappointed. Hope is still left to
them; and bearing disappointment with patience
they know will present new claim to office at fu-
ture time"
This passage of Mr. Buchanan's speech proves
him 10 have been an observer Of men ndthngs, ana
familiar with the leading principles OF human ac-
ton. He 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 suitable restraint upon il. Bm fear, sir
the people will be Left 10 conclude that this gentle.
man is one Of those apoliiicaf parsons described
by Mr.. Randolph, whose practices" do not cores
pond with his "precepis." II is certain that, under
The favorile administration of the gentleman and his
friends, The othce-hoders have received new hfe
instead OF check. But must yet point out another
discrepancy between Mr. Buchanan's profession and
practice. In the same debate he reviewed, with
censure, several Of the foreign MISSIONS that to Rus
STA included; and particularly condemned any prac-
tice allowing a minister 10 "reiurn after years
absence" His language is "H such practice
shn ,;ntS Ia x,otn IF ha
spirit ofihe existing law will receive by adding the
outfit to the salary, $4,000, instead Of $1,000 for
one years serviceb 9 1 am said he, against the
practice" This, Mr.. Speaker, was his precept.-
But, sir in brief space of time, after condemnng
and saying am against the practice" we see him
take the bounty, and become one Of the enlisted
soldiers" whom he haddescrbed, and go on foreign
mission 10 Russia, where, AFTER staying " a Twelve
month and day." he pockets the $4,000 instead
of 50 900, for years service" and comes homel
This seems to be an appropriate time to compare
the precepts and practice Of Mr. Randolph too, who
said he twas for looking at the practices, and not
the preceps Of the parson, political or religious
In that same debate, Mr. Randolph said, he " could
not permit any motion connected with the division
of the spoil TO mingle with his exerions He would
not he said give up his constituents and the plea
sures Of his home " for clerkship in the War Of
fee foreign mission; or even for Department
Of State" He said, there had been an improve
ment in the plan OF sending ministers abroad, and
bringing them back, when they have finished their
business; for" said he, they are now sent abroad
sleeress errands, that they may come back REIN
tccta, TO pocket their emoluments." Mr.. Speaker,
the Greeks and Romans both held it TO be highly
useful, but exceedingly difficult matter to know
ones self Modern history, and our own times, add
new force 10 the truth of that position. do not at
all question the perfect sincerity OF Mr. Randolph,
when he uttered the sentiments; but great as he may
have been, and skilu as he professed to be- and, no
doubt, was, in the motives Of human action, after
events proved how little he knew OF himse! Sir,
soon found Mr. Randolph giving up his consti-
tuents, and leaving all the boasted endearmens Of
his district, for foreign mission TO Russia, where
SO far as any public advantage resulted from it, he
emphacally went on sleeveless errand and
"came back re-iatecta, to pocket his emoluments|
Indeed this mission to Russia seems 10 have been
specially dedicated by the party 10 short terms OF
six and twelve months, for the advantage Of some
of the enlisted soldiers" described by Mr. Bucha-
nan In this way, the cost OF that mission has been
Unfortunately increased and is high time that this
drain the public Treasury for private benefit
should be checked. +...
Mr.. BOND said it was not to be disguised that many
Of the politicians who engaged in the debate and
strife OF the times which he had alluded had been
surprised if not disappointed by events which soon
followed. A singular exchange of position has ia
ken place between two of these gentlemen. When
the Tetrenchment resolution was discussed, friend
of the then Administration, Mr.. Pearce, OF Rhode
Island took ground not terms but somewhat
similar 10 that now avowed and practised by the
dominant party that the spoils belong to the vic
tors" Mr.. Wicklife, Jackson reformer, denied
member of the retrenchment and reform committee,
and after Gen Jackson came into power, Mr.. Wick
life zealously endeavored to carry out the promised
reforms but not finding cooperation he had expect
ed he abjured "the party" About ,histime happen
cd that the reformers avowed the doctrine that the
spoils belong to the vctors, and Mr. Pearce enlist
ed under their banner
Sir, has not the country been disappointed Have
no, the People been deceived and alured by specous
and vain promises Has not the Federal Executive
patronage Unfortunately increased, and is il not still
unrestrained2 Is not the power over 1t abused and
perverted Do not the expenses OF our General Go
vernmcnt far transcend in amount all our past his
tory1 Why are these things so, and why has nothis
plague been staycd" Mr. Speaker, according 10
your plighted faith Twill tell you why, sir, but
prefer doing in the language and illustration OF
nate to whom have before referred. In his speech
here to which have already alluded, and when he
was assaulting the Uhen) Administration, ne thus
exclaimed: "The very possession OF power has
strong a natural tendency TO corrupt the heart me
lust Of dominion grows with its possession and the
man who in humble life, was pure, and innocent,
and just, has often been transformed, by the long
possession Of power, into monster In The sacred
Book which contains lessons OF wisdom Tor the poll
cian as well the Christian, we linda happy illus
traon of the corruptDg influence OF power upon the
human heart. When Hazael came 10 consult Elisha
whether his master, the King OF Syria, would reco-
yer from dangerous illness, the prophet, looking
through the vista of futury, saw the crimes OF which
the messenger who stood before him, would be gull
", and he wept. Hazael asked, why weePeth my
lordP The prophetihen recounted to MN me muir
ders and the cruelties Of which he should be guilty
towards the children of Israel Hazae in the spirit
of virtuous Indignation replied: Is thy servant
dog, that he should do this thingP And Elisha an
swered, The Lord hath shown me that thou shalt ne
King over SYRIA. This man afterwards became
King by the murder of his master and was guiliyo
enormities the bare recital of which would make US
shudder."
How true, and, alas how applicable Is this sacred