The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-25

2 now sweeuinr every thing within It's vortex; maxi
ing the most important measures, as well as me os
trfng elections Of the States TO turn upon naoha.
politics. The great and growing Pationage anu
power Of the Executive Department OF Inc NauonaI
Government, now enable the President 10 confer
higher Offices with greater honoTs and pay, WIN
single exception; than are in the gin OF the people
themselves. Governors and ex-GoveTnors, Sena,
tors and Representatives In Congress solicit an aleei
honored by receiving second-rate appointments un-
der Il. This patronage has been, and Is now, nolo-
riously used 10 inhuence Stale elections, ana SECURE
supporters for the late and present administrator
power that Is becoming more and more e1'eps'e
every day. At first, the public oncers were pua
few hundred now they number many lhousands
They were formerly appointed for their qnaiinca-
tons to serve the public-hey are now appo,hiea 70
obey and serve their party leaders. Formerly 'ney
relied upon their good conduct ana nd hs;r s"bser
vience to "the party" Is the most important Iequshe
Formerly, the public officers, acting under regu-
lations of law alone were checks upon one ano'heI
now under the diclation Of the Government, they
act as unit" and II is notorious that many Of the
subordinate collectors who are active supporters OF
the party, have squandered the public money, win
the perfect knowledge of the Executive; and nose
officers designed by law to hold them in cheek, III
place OF doing their duty have concealed the facts
] from the people under circumstances when leaVe
no doubt Of the motive. Formerly the puDiic oncers
were moi permitted 10 become active politicians ior
the purpose of influencing elections in the STATES,
and were let to vote and speak like freemen; now,
4 from the President down, they are all active Poi~
clans, welding the influence OF ofice the power OF
money and the press 10 sustain themselves. Uhaet
the proscrpive and arbitrary policy oil me E1ecu-
| tive Government the public officer loses his nde-
pendence of action and speech, the most essehlia'
attribute Of liberty II is maxim, that ne VINO en-
slaves citizen Is yrant, and II SO, those VINO per-
nit IT, cannot long expect 10 retain The name OF irse
men. If the policy Of this administration were TO
stop here II would not be surprising to hear The deep
murmuring Of the people from every quarter against
! the abuse Of Its power and patronage.
But in addition TO this, which OF itself - almost
too much for the people, the same administration
has continued for about nine or ten years, one uni
| form grasp AFTER additional patronage; "a thing
which belongs only to ambitious tyrans, to reward
the servility of their dependents; word and princi
! Pile which should be scowled BY every freeman In
our couniry,) until II has now become exceedingly
doubtful whether they are not able TO sustain Them
| selves in authority In defiance Of the people How
TO remedy those evils, and quiet their murmurings
and apprehensions should be serious object OF IN
quiry with you and every rejecting citizen in our
country, without distinction to party; for, when me
ocean heaves, there is no certainty whose bark VIII
be able to ride successfully upon its troubled waves
We have seen that Congress- left 10 its own action,
| is not to be relied upon For its members are too
| deeply interested in sustaining and increasing
patronage, which hundreds OF them look 70 LOT me
| contamination of their highest ambition. To such
degree is this the fact, that II has become com
mon occurrence for members Of Congress TO make
their places mere stepping stones to higher once;
which is now done win perIect assuiahcc, - W
seryiiity 10 The Executive by the abandonment OF
principle and duty, they lose their popularity at
home that the Government will take care OF them.
To use the popular phrase, the President never ne
elects those who are crippled in his service.
j With such evidences before me. can see no
hope of reform but for The Legislatures OF Inc dill
ferent States instruct their Senators, and the peo-
pie their representatives in Congress- to vote for all
measures to reduce the Executive patronage the re-
ceipts and expenditures Of Government and TO pro-
hib The removal Of public officers on party grounds
or for any cause without assigning reason TO the
;, Senate for such removal: to prohibit members OF
Congress from receiving appointments from The Ex
ecuive OF the United States for at least two years al
/ Ter the expiration Of the time for which they may
have been elected and to prohibit, under severe
penalties any officer OF the United States Govern
nent from persuadng, bribing or otherwise infuenc-
ing voters a, elections from conducting newspaper
press; from bribing or influencing any editor OF
paper to support any political party or contributing
money for either Of the before named purposes those
powers form the great lever with which the Execu-
live is now controlling the politics and elections OF
the whole country Correct them, and all other
abuses, great as they are, viii be. comparatively
harmless, and the Government, which now, ike q
mighty river, has overlooked the whole land, VIII
sink quietly within its limits, and aspiring men will
once more rely upon patriotism, virtue and talents,
to secure those places of honor, which every cizen
OF our country should, and under such crcumsan-
ces would become ambitions TO receive.