Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1838-06-01

alarming addition in all the public expendi,
lures OF the country, greatly exceeding in a.
mount the expenses of that Administration
which was charged as wustefu And il
this state of things is not checked in time. we
may yet realize that this Blue Book moi on.
~ corresponds with" BIZ, has actually be-
come the /" Red Book OF Monarchy in
this our boosted republic
Mr.. Benton in his report, exhibits list
taken from the Blue Book of 1885, of all the
officers, with their salaries, at the Custom
house in the city OF New York The mum.
Der thus given is one hundred and seventy
Jour- and the aggregate amount oftheir com
pensation is stated S 1860 49,
And to all this, the report still adds the
Naval and Military establishments, the Ju-
dietary, the Post Office, and presses, with
what it calls the unknown and unknowa-
BILE list Of Jobbers and contractors; and the
still more inscrutable list Of expectants who
are waiting for dead mems shoes, and vii.
ling in the mean while to do any thing tina,
the living men wish Having thus glow
ingly described the state of patronage, and
the suhservent league and uhprncipled de-
voion OF he office holders, Mir Benton then
says
The power Of patronage, unless check
ed by the vigorous inlerpositiono of Congress,
must so on increasing, until Federal inhu-
ence in many paris ofthis Confederation will
predominant in elections as completely as
British influence predomnates in elections
in Scotland and Ireland. in rotton borough
towns, and in the great naval stations OF
Portsmouth and Plymouth
We are also told by Mr.. Benton that 1.-THE
King Of England is the fountain of honor :
the President of the United States is the
source of patronage. He presides over the
entire system OF Federal appointments, Jobs
and contracts he has power over the sup
port OF the individuals who administer the
system. He makes and unmakes them
lie chooses from the circle of his friends
aud supporters, and may dismiss them, and
upon all the principles of human action, will
dismiss them, as often MS they dsappoint his
expectations. His split will animate their
actions in all the elections TO State and Fed
eral officers There may be many excep.
tons, but the truth of general rule is prov
ed by the exception. The Intended check
and control Of the Senate, without new con.
stiIulonal or statutory provisions, will cease
TO operate. Patronage will penetrate this
body, subdue its capacity OF resistance, chain
II 10 the ear of power. and enable the Presi-
dent to role as easily and much more secure
| ly with than without the nominal check OF
the Senate !"
I'VE must look forward TO the time when
the nomination OF the President can carry
any man through the Senate and his re-
communication can carry any measure thro'
the two Houses of Congress; when the prin-
| cipe OF public action will be open and avow-
ed-the President wants my vote, and wan,
his patronage will vote as he wishes, and
he will give me the Office | wish for
/ What will this be but the Government, oil
one man and what is the Government oil
one man but monarchy 2"
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 sustain
ing the allegation which he had made, that
the present dominant party professed TO en-.
tertain serious fears for the perpetuty or
security of our institutions and liberty, il
this public patronage was not checked OF
| lSoll SOut StututOIy hillSL
they submitted for consideration. and pro
missed TO adopt, at some convenient season, il
placed in power. Well, sir, they succeeded
and got the administration Of our Govern
merit into their own hands: and what has
the country realized2 Why, the number o.
custom house officers at New York has
grown from ia to Ala! and their compen
sation is increased from $4,000 80 to
100000 80 But, besides their stated
compensation, it appears that in the ycal
1896 the various subordinate officers of the
New York custom house were allowed a
mong them upwards of $4,000 And the
Collector at Philadelphia, during the same
year, received, beyond his salary upwards
Of $4,000; the same officer in Boston up
wards of $4,000 and many others very
considerable sums, which | will not take
time TO specify
We thus realize the incrdinate and dan
gerous increase in this branch Of patronage
foretod by the report. What has been done
TO limit and restrain the patronage Where
is the statutory remedy, the bill which wa;
reported for that purpose Sir, it has had
quiet repose, and has never been heard o
since the success of "the party" The mo-
ment power was obtained, the admission
made in the report, that the Senate had con
troll over appointments is denied in practice
and the right asserted by the committee, tc
call on the President for his reasons in cas-,
of removal from Office, is now scolIed a
and condemned by Mr.. Benton, Mr. Van Blu
rem, and the whole party who made or APP
proved that report Mr. Van Buren, was
RI one of the committee nv whom that repor