Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-05-17


elections TO State and Federal Offices. There may be
exceptions but the truth OF general rule Is proved by
the exception. This intended cheek and control of the
Senate, without new constitutional or statutory proyis-
ions, will 10 operate. Patronage will penetrate
This body siodue Its capacity Of resistance chain II to
lily aud much more securely with Than without the nom
nal check Of the Senate % We must look forward to
the time when The nomination Of the President can cur
~ amy through the Senate, aid his reconnedao on
can carry any measure through the two Houses Of Con-
gress when the principle public action will be open
and nyowed-thc President wants my vote, aud want
his patronage Will vote ns he wishes, a he viii give
ME ne Office wish T. hat viii this be but the Gov
eTnfIent Of one man and what IL the Government Ui
one man but "a monarchy :"
Mr.. BoND said he hoped the House would
pardon him for reading from this report these
passages, which so happily illustrate the
growth and power Of patronage. They were
referred to for the purpose of sustaining the
allegation which he had made, that the pres
ent dominant party prolessed TO entertain Sc
rlous fcsrs for the perDctuity or security OF
our institutions and liberty, if this public pa
tronage was not checked or restrained by
some statutory remedies, which they submit
ted for consideration, and promised 10 adopt,
at some convenient season, if placed in pow
er. Well, sir they succeeded, and got the
administration Of our Government into their
own hands and what has the country realiz-
cd? Why, the number of custom-house of
fcers at New York has grown from la to
Ala! and their compensation IS increased
from SII9062 80 to 100000 32! But be-
sides their stated compensation, it appears
that in the year 1896 the various subordinate
officers of the New York custOm-house were
allowed among them upwards of $50, 700 |!
And the Collector at Philadelphia, during the
same year, received, beyond his salary, up
wards of $1,000; the same officer in Boston
upwards Of $4,000; and many others very
considerable sums, which will not take time
TO specify.
We thus realize the inordinatc and dan
gerous increase in this branch Of patrona ge,
forctod by the report. What has been done
to limit and restrain this patronage ? Where
is the statutory remedy, the bW which was re-
ported for that purpose Sir it has had quiet
repose, and has never been heard of since
the success Of "the party" The moment
power was obtained, the admission made in
the report, that the Senate had control over
appointments is denied in practice and the
right asserted by the committee, 10 call on
the President for his reasons in case Of re-
Inoval from office, is now scof!ed at and con-
temncd by Mr. Benton, Mr.. Van Buren, and
the Whole party who made or approved that
report Mr.. Van BureD, was one ofthe COM
mittee by whom that report was made; and
yet be and his party openly violate and dis
regard every principle it urged! He now
holds the "power" over the support" oi
these train bands Of ofiice-holders at New
York and throughout the country. "llc
makes and unmakes them;' and "his spirit
will animate their actions in all elections"
Almost the first notice we have Of the ap-
pointmcnt Of Jesse IIoyt to the Collectors
- 80 -
official presence and activity in the charter
election of that city. We hear Of him by day
and by night, heading his cohort of 4 IA office
holders, with the 900 expectants and lead
| inC them to the charge! Mr. Van Buren,
told us, in the report, that" the action Of such
body of men, supposing them to be animat-
ed by one spirit. must be tremendous in an
election = and that they would be so animat
ed, he said, was "n proposition too plain to
need demonstrations" But | suppose, he
wishes US to believe that in his hands all this
power and patronage will be harmless The
case of the New York Collector furnishes
my answer to this: and, if another illustra-
ton is needed, refer you, MIR. Speaker, to
the appointment of Mr.. Wolf to the Collec-
tors Office in Philadelphia. That gentleman
you know, sir, after holding the honorable
place Of Governor Of Pennsylvania, proudly
called the keystone State, was seduccd here
for n paltry clcrkship. We heard recently
that he was dissatisfied in the contrast be-
tween the place given him and thnt provided
for his political rival, (Mr. Muhlenburgh.) J.
Governor Wolf it was said, had resolved tc
withdraw, and gave some indication Of hostil
ity to the President. At this jnnc,nre the
power Of patronage is invoked--the Collector
at Philadelphia is made TO take the clerkship
ut Washington, aud Governor VOLTS opposi-
ton il quieied in the Collectors office, thus
vacated. In an instant new allegiance IA
sworn, and Governor Wolf initiates himself
in his new office, by heading n COLL for po-
tical meeting in the city OF his official du-
tics Who does not sec the peculiar fitness
of the suggestion before quoted from the re-
nor; of Mr.. Van Buren, and others Of the Sc
| lect committee
THE President mants my poie, and ,can
his patronage; I,ciU vote as he.,cisdss, and III
,cW gipc me The office ,rish for"
Mr.. Speaker, I will now add n remark o
two, and pass from this report. Tie commit
tee who made it consisted Of Mr.. Bonton.Mr 7
| Macon, mr.. Van Burcn, mr.. White, Mr.. Find
lay, mr.. Dickerson, mr.. Holmes. mr.. llayne
and mr.. Richard M. Johnson, all ut the tlmt
tho jealous friends 0f General Jackson. cx
cept, perhaps, Mr. Holmes. They urged The
impropriety Of appointing members OF Con
gress TO Office, aud the eSpcdiopcy Of provld
Ing against it, From the moment they cam'
into power their report and professions arr
forgotten, and in four years they nppoin
moro members of Congress 10 Office than hat
been done in oil the previous history OF th'
Government. They also told the country IL
that report, that the press, the post Office, th'
armed force, and the appointing power, were
tho most dangerous portions Of the Federa
Executive patronage. And they professe'
TO have found remedy for these dangers II
certain bills which they submitted. The,
there tell us, too, that oil this power is in th
hands OF the President, and that he is mol Il
fhe hands of The People. Indeed, they say
"the President may, nn6, in the current G
human ufiairs, riH be against The People,
and the conclusion of The whole IL. "the safe
ty Of the People il the supreme law,' and
ensure that safety these orhiters of huina
fate tho rro.s, the post Office, the aunc
force, and tho appointing powcr) must chang
position, nnd take post OF the side OF The pee
; pie" Mr.. Speaker, we have found II trn,
. indeed, that the President Is not in the hand
Of the People, and that he will even turn
gainst them Look, sir, at Mr. Van Burcn
December message, rnd sec the opprobiuI
which he casts upon The People OF his CIV
80. H.. an ~