Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-06-27


restrained, in the same conflict.
The gentleman from Tennessee, (Mr.
bell, has for years labored TO bring
this House TO the consideration Of a
bull TO secure the freedom of cleo
tons, and thus carry INTO cflec, the
recommendations of General Jack
sons inaugural address. Able as that
gentleman is, and untiring as he has
beer in his efforts, The measures propo.
sed by him has received the i'rowns in
stead Of the favors of this administra.
ton. He and the venerable Senator
from the same State, (Mr. White) were
the early and devoted friends Of Gen.
Jackson, and they still desire 10 carry
intopractcal effect the principles which
they, with General Jackson, proiessed
TO be governed by. They feel and
know the imminent danger which threa.
tens the country, in the increased
strength of the patronage Of Office
They see, and we all see, that the of.
fee holder is " abroad in the land"
For description of this growing pha-
lanx and its powerful incentive 10 nc
ton, will draw on high authority
A member Of the Senate, (Mr. Grun-
dy,) jealous friend of Gen Jackson,
the evidence ofwhich has already been
given in his own words, held this lam
guage, when aiming to pull down the
old administration "When see (said
he) an office-hoidcr interfering in elec.
tons, it has occurred to me that he was
thinking Of his salary, and is, therefore,
an unfit adviser of the people,"
Mr.. Speaker, that which occurred to
Mr.. Gruudy, no doubt often occurred
to you at the same period. The pro-
position is a very natural one, and |
think that recent events have strength
ened rather than impaired lis truth. -
But beg the further indulgence ofthe
House while read what another dis
tinguished friend of General Jackson
said, when debating the subject Of re-
trenchment and reform on this floor.
| allude TO Mr.. Buchanan, now Sem
ator from Pennsylvania, and, with his
continued and growing devotion 10 the
party, what he said, will certainly be
considered " orthodox" find, by
that debate, that he said it was well
known,
+" That when man is once appoint.
ed to office, all the selfish passions Of
his nature are enlisted for the purpose
of retaining il. The oilice holders,
(said he) are the enlisted soldiers of
that administration by which they are
sustained. Their comfortable exist
ence often depends upon the reelection
Of their patron. Nor does disappoint-
ment long rankle in the hearts Of the
disappointed. Hope still is left to them;
and bearing disappointment with pa
tience they know will present new
claim TO Office"
This passage Of Mr.. Buchanan's
speech proves him TO have been an OBJ
server of men and things, and familiar
with the leading principles Of human
action. He dreaded the consequences
Of the selfish spirit of the office holder,
and induced the country to believe that
General Jackson and his friends would
provide suitable restraint upon it.
But fear, sir, that the people will be
left to conclude that this gentleman is
one Of those political parsons" des-
crlbed by Mr.. Randolph, whose "prac-
tees" do not correspond with their
"precepts." 1t is certain that, under
the favorite administration Of the gen.
ileman and his friends, the office hold
ers have received new life, instead Of
a check. But must yet point out an
other discrepancy between Mr.. Bucha-
mans profession and practice. In the
same debate, he reviewed with censure
several Of the foreign missions, that 10
Russia, included and particularly con
Gemned any practices allowing a min
lister to " return after one years abb
sence." His language is: " If such a
practice should prevail, our ministers,
in violation Of the spirit of the existing
law, will receive, by adding the outfit
to the salary, $4,000, instead of 80,
600, for one years service" II an"
said he, "against the practice" This,
Mr.. Speaker, was his precept; but sir,
in brief space of time after condem-
ming and saying " | am against the
Practice" we see him take the bounty
and become one Of the enlisted soldiers
whom he had described, and 60 on TO-
reign mission to Russia, where, after
staying "a twelyemonth and a day"
he pockets the $4,000, instead Of 50
900, for a years service, and comes
home!
This seems to be an appropriate
time 10 compare the precepts and prac-
tees of MIR. Randolph, too, who said
he "was for looking at practices, and
not the precepts of the parson, political
or religious. In that same debate Mr..