Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1838-06-15

Iguage is III SUCH u pihSuSS S"N"'s f'~s.''
our ministers, in violation oil the spirit OF the
existing law, will receive, by adding the
outfit TO the salary, $4,000, instead OF o9',
00O for one years service" I'll am, SAID
he, against the practice" This, Mr.. Speak
err was his precept but sir, in a briei space
OF time, after conGemniug and saying II am
against the practice" we see him take the
bounty and become one of the enlisted sol.
di,rsj whom he had described, and 70 on a
foreign mission 10 Russia, where, after stay
ing "a tweIth-month and day" he pockets
the $4,000, instead oil $4,000, for years
service" and comes homel
This seems 10 be an appropriate time TO
compare the precepts and practice Of Mr.
Randolph, too, who said he "was for look
ing atthe practices,and notthe precepis ofthe
parson, political or religious" In that same
debate, Mr. Randolph said he could not per-
nit any motive connected with the division
of the spoil, to minge with" his exertions,-
He would not, he said, give up his conslitu-
ents and the pleasures Of his home. "for
clerkship in the War Office or foreign mis-
sion; or even for a Department OF State. -
He said there had been an improvement in
the plan ofsending ministers abroad, and
bringing them back when they have finish
ed their business for" said he, "they are
now sent abroad on slcereiess errants, that
they may come back re.infecta, TO pocket
their emolumen,s" Mr. Speaker, the Greeks
and Romans both held it To be highly use
ful, but exceedingly difficult. matter TO know
ones self Modern history, and our own
times, add new force to the truth OF that po-
silion | do not at all question the perfect
sincerity OF Mr. Randolph, when he uttered
the sentiments but great as he may have
been. and skiful as he proIessed to be, and.
no doubt, was, in the motives Of human ac-
ton after events proved how little he knew
of himself Sir, we soon found Mr. Ran.
dolph giving up his constituents, and lenv-
ing all the boosted endearmenls Of his dis
irict. for foreign mission TO Russia, where,
so far as any public advantage resulted from
it. he empha,ically went on a sleeveless err
rant" and came back re.iMfeeta, 10 pocket
his emoumenis ~ Indeed, this mission TO
Russia seems TO have been specially dedica-
ted by 'the party" to short terms Of six and
twelve months for the advantage OF some of
the enlisted soldiers" described BY Mr.
Buchanan In this way. the cost Of that
mission has been inordinately increased and
It is high time that this drain on the public
Treasury for private benefit should be check.
3D.
Sir, has not the country been disappointed
Have not the People been deceived and al.
lured By specious and vain promises Has
not the Federal Executive patronage inordi-
nnteIy increased, & is it not still unrestrain-
ed Is not The power over ii abused and per-
vcr,ed DO not the expenses Of our General
Government far transcend, in amount. all
our past history Why are these things so,
and why has moi this plague been stayed. -
Mr. Speaker. according 10 your plighied
faith | will Tell you why. sir. but prefer
doing so in the language and illustration OF
one OF Your own friends. Nj Buchanan OF
the Senate to whom have before referred.
In his speech here to which have already
alluded, and when he was assaulling the
(then) Administration. he thus exclaimed
The very possession oil power has strong.
a natural tendency 10 corrupt the heart The
lust OF dominion grows with its possession
and the man who. in humble life. was pure,
and innocent, and just has often been trans.
formed, by the long possession OF power, in.
10 monster In the sacred Book, which
contains lessons OF wisdom for the politician
as well as for the Christian, we find a han.
py Illustration OF the corrupung influence of
power upon the human heart. When Haz.
ael came to consult Elisha whether his mas
ter, the King of Syria. would recover from
Il dangerous illness. the prophet. looking
through the vista OF iutuIily, saw the crimes
oil which the messenger, who stood before
him, would be guilty, and he wepL Hazael
asked, why weepeiE my lord ? The prophet
then recouuted TO him the murders and the
crueltics OF which he should be guilty tow
ards the children OF Israel, Hazae in the
spirit of yirtuous indignation, replied, is thy !
servant dog. that he should do this thing +? |
And Elisha answered, The Lord hath |
shown me that thou shalt be King over
Syria This man afterwards became King
by themurder Of his master. and was guilty |
OF enormiies, the bare recital OF which |
would make ms shuder.n
How true, and. alas how applicable is !
this sacred illustration to those who invoked |
IFS use in elevatng themselves TO power
Suppose, Mr. Speaker, that some inspired
Elisha had been present when you and Mr.
Buchanan, with others, engaged IN the de.
bate which has been referred to, and, moved |
by the sympathetic tear of the prophet, YOU
had asked, why wecpc,h my lord ?" how
would you have been as,onished in being
hen told what the People of this country
have since realized
Imagine, sir, the inspired one looking
through the vista OF a few brief years and