Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-07-13
VOL. XTT..No. ST.


have 6fmness and independence enough
fearless v to inquire into the conduct of
public men, and the manner in which the
public money is expended, to be denounced
by the partsans and servie adherents of
the house that now re,gns, as fac,ious OPP
positonists Sir, (you continued, Mr.
Speaker,) this power of appointing the pub
lie printer is improperly lodged where il is.
1t is, to say the least of il. subject to abuse,
and may be improperly used for the purpose
Of muzz'lng and influencing the liberty OF
the press
That being the case. you propose, sir,
ito remove this power OF appointment from
the Department of State, and vest it some
| where else, where 1t would be more safely
and properly exercised The country is
aware, Mr. Speaker that you have continued
to be member of this House ever since
you made the remarks just quoted, now
more than eleven years. Some expectation
was cherished that you would, when in
mai ority here, practise unde, these opinions.
and remove this printing patronage from
the Department of State, and vest it some-
where else, where il would be more safely
and properly exercised 1 am sorry, sir,
that this public expectation has been dis
appointed. can only account for it by
supposing that your various political co.
gagements and high public station have
withdrawn your attention from this impol.
tant subject. There is some consolation.
however, in knowing that you have now
an opportunity Of redcempg your pledge,
and the friends Of relrenchment and reform
indulge the hope thCt you will do it.
hope you, sir, will not think tins an sins
quisilorial' measure. 1t is indeed, true
that when The representatives of the People,
during the last session of Congress, attemp.
ted to look into the departments Of the Gov.
eminent, Gen. Jackson openly resisted it,
and said such a measure was worse than
the: Spanish hqusition.' More, sir; he,
in effect, gave orders that it should not be
tolerated. Mr. Speaker, did not your cheek
/ then mantle with honest Indignation land
, if you had held seat here, instead of the
, chair you occupy would you not have again
4 exclaimed. Is the transatlantic doctrine,
t that the King can do no wrong to be IN
K troduced here'' Or were you constrained
D to admit that, under the boosted system Of
+ reform, the public functonaries of the
, Government are now wrapped up in tho
! robes ofoffice, and held Irresponsible to tho
People or the Peoples representatives.
t furnished some evidence to the House, and
to the gentleman from New Hampshire.
> Mr. Cushman,) in particular, that the cXGr-
else of this printing patronage by Mr. ADJ
d ans Admnsl rat ion, was not only question
' ed, but openly condemned. The friends Of
/. Gen Jackson, 30 far from pretending that
!, it was impractIcable to correct the aouse
a of this power, pledged themselves to the
country, that they could and would. when
o in majority provide remedy. He would
r submit It to the People to say, whether this
!. had been done. Was it not notorious that
the extent Of this printing patronage had
is been greatly enlarged under the present
!. dominant party? Is not the number Of
It newspapers IN which the laws are printed
= very considerably increased Is not the
If ordinary printing patronage OF the several
departments far greater now than formerly'
,. And, as to the public printing for Congress,
K it had so swollen. under the promised re.
trenchment that we were almost induced
10 to believe that The term was used in irony
s, by those from whom the People expected
!. economy.
e l now propose, Mr. Speaker, to show
is what seductive influences this patronage
over the press carries with it and for this
q, Jackson reformers, using their own argu-
,e ments, and the very language in which they
3. admonshed the country of the base uses
In which would be made of this power.
re hope the gentlemen will remember the res
Is marks made on this subject, aud which
rs have already given to the House, from the
as speech of Mr. Hamilton, the chairman Of tho
& Committee on Reform. reserved for the
| hroD pft hn ruu n ,or "
ID striking and descriptive passage in tho
lie speech of Mr. Houston, before alluded TO-.
" He undertakes TO describe an honest, inde-
re pendent editor, of good principles, and de-
err served influence. and then adds, that such
le an editor as this
'May not be disposed to bow or bend his
in principles for the sake of supporting par
le ticular Administration or individual. 1t
ty may be necessary to certain plans and in
De terests, that such a man as this should bo
in gagged or Frustrated. In that case, very
It's polite course would be to start new paper
nd some few months before new patronage IL
n. to be conferred to use every exertion 10
obtain for 1t sufficient number of subscri-
IS bers; to take measures that, at oil hazards.
r. the paper be sustained; then to get for the
of editor some true and trusty fellow-a fellow
ut that will go the whole; who is troubled
with no principles on any SUBJECT but who
at will support a certain interest through
~ thick and thin who will pursue no course
oil of his own, but will ever be ready to take
he his cue from certain quarter. After get
n. ting him some one or two hundred subscri-
hers, and using every eXpedlent to make
r.. him some character, he must then have the
n- printing of the laws, as token of the con
n. fdence of the Government. and then all
se will be ready for action, Sir, | will not
N say TINT such pIess Is 10 be est b lshed