The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-11-06
Ffom The Ns,o York Times.
THE SPOILS SYSTEM.


speech OF Mr.. Legare al the great Conservative
meeting, recently held at National Hall. We hope
10 be able ID crafty them in this respect before long
In the meantime we present TO them al length the
memorable passage in which the distinguished ora
tor spoke OF the execrable spells system OF the party
In power. We commend Il 10 The particular alien
lion OF Ex-Governor Marcy. lie will smart under
the meriled chasisement administered by high
minded and patr lotto statesman: though his seEsi.
biiies may be hardened 10 use western SMILEY
as the heel of The negro who run down a flint hill
and not get stone-bruiSe
Mr.. Legare had said that the two great leading
expedients OF the administration TO bolster up its
power were WAR AND SPOILS; and, after hay.
ing dwelt upon the divisions attempted be created
between the different classes of society, as falling
under the former head he proceeded 10 speak Of the
effect of the latter as follows:
He said he would venture TO make bold asser-
ton he would affirm that there was nowhere TO be
found in the annals political corruption aud down.
iallnot in the Italy, OF the 18th and 10th CEN
fury, proverbiay infamous for the praises which
Machiavel bestowed upon the crimes Borgia per-
petrated-a sentence more replete with cold blood
ed, remorselesS audacouS jacobinism more stepped
in cynical and shameless profigacy-more utterly
Inconsistent with the dignity of governments and all
the great ends Of civil society, than that which had
been ascribed 10 a gentleman who had once playeda
conspicuous part in the politics Of this state, and
would do 50 again, unless the good cause should
triumph at the approaching election, anG that 9 in
spite OF all lamentations here or elsewhere, he
meant The saying that the Offices of the country pere
spoiis Of rictyinierpreted as that saying had been
BY the practice of The government.
He did not mean, he said, TO npute 10 the author
OF that atracouS sentiment the moral depravy that
would be implied in perfect consciousness of the
whole extent OF lis mischievousness He willing
to believe that he uttered il with levi;y-a very
criminal levty, however, and such does more 10
reconcile mems minds TO great offences against mo-
rality and law than the greatest lessons OF wicked
ness. He had nothing TO do with the individuals he
SNTNHa nF fhn rhFIS tah In aAxfll
mouth and which had become the formula, and the
plea OF the most immoral and demoralizing practice
that had ever prevailed in any country pretending
10 have the least respect for its institutions And he
repealed that in no collection OF the maxims OF sys
iemltized ibsrinism, in record of the sayings
and doings of those bold bad men v no had iron the
beginning Of the world up TO the present moment,
been allowed in Gods inscrutable providence, TO
miSlead and sport with, and trampe upon the human
species, II they were the predestinaed dupes and
bond slaves OF uSurpation and mpos,ure, was there
10 be met with sentence more perverse IN princi-
pie, more prohigate in character, more pernicious
in tendency, mere entirely at war with every notion
OF good government, or any sembance Of social or
der than that which treated the Offices The dignities
the powers, the high and holy trusts Of great ma
ton SO much plunder to be fought for and distr
butcd IN the strife OF unprincpled factions like the
booty of camp OF Tartars, or a prize made by
gang OF pirates. When Fouche, (for said he, il
was Funche and not Talieyrand-giye the Devil his
due , in reply 10 some good, simple hearted man
who had spoken Of the murder of The Duke Ding
helm a crime, said g il worse, il was blum.
der" Europe, corrupt and profgate as we think it
Is, stood aghast-or affected (and that was some
thing) 10 stand aghast al the internal wrong-the
diaboical sang-iroid Of the phrase And certainly
he was not disposed TO say anything 10 mitigate the
horror il inspired. lie had no doubt that II one
were painting ideal of Machiavelism il was just
such phrase would be put into the mouth Of The
hero. But looking its teRdeacv-trying it by the
test OF utility in the long run, il was innocence itself
with the maxim in question.
Ii was tar more calculated 10 shock than TO Sc
duce. Murder had no charms; there were terrors
that scared the bodct from doing there iures
that agi,aed the most remorseless that had done it,
Above all il was not apt, exc pl in times of frenzy
10 become epidemic and popular. A nation OF as
saSSins had been reckoned among the curiosties of
history, and nobody could have thoug recurrence
of such thing possible had it not been for what the
French Convention had done. But the sentimenthe
referred 10 had the signal dement, OF being fatally
practical. II addressed itself to all the ruling pas
sons OF men, 10 our vices, TO ambition TO pride 10
vanity, 10 that great master vice the source oil
many others, mere Incidence and love OF ease. II
served naturally TO rally party, rather faction
and throw the lead OF il into the hands OF the most
unscrupulnus and reckless men, And as if TO leave
no doubt of the gao ammo OF this abominable maxim
what had they heard in the very hall Of the Senate
that most exalted and privileged body, composed Of
but hitytwo men out OF sixteen millionS-ihat more
than Roman Senate, in theory al least il is-amoSi
Congress of ambassadors repre- senting the malori
~ of sovereign states. Ihere-even here, they had
seen the doctrine pushed 10 sill, more icentous con-
sequences, and heard ii almost openly avowed, that
the men thus rewarded with the spols" for past
services, were expected 10 retain them by iuture
ones, in violating the freedom OF electlons and sedu
lousy corruplng The morality OF our people!
Now, lSaid MIR. Legare what, in the name Of
common sense, are You 10 expect from funcionaries
on such principles and such conditions
What but the very things that every day bceonl-
ing more and more dissracefully familiar Do YOU
wonder that men chosen for their appetite for plum
der-as you yourselves call it, and their skill In
obtaining Il, should exercise their talents as plum
derers at your expense, when you give them the
means OF doing sol Have you any right 10 CON-
plain that when in Office they act up 10 the princi-
pies Tor which You rewarded them with office p
Accordingly the administration showed by The shape
which they gave 10 their iayoriie measure al the
last session, that they counted lc on The honesty
OF their nominees as The public have reason to do
BY one OF those bold-not 10 say impudeni--ineon-
sisiencies oil which on all subjects they are habual
ly guilty, not only with impunily but almost without
censure as without apology, in that very bill. bot
toned on the assumption, that The public MONEYS
would be safer in the hands Of their public officers
than In the keeping Of the banks, and after world
OF argument and statistics to prove H. they inserted
clause intended to introduce lille Of what The pre-
siden! in his message called "severe and salutaryp
Just TO remind those
OF The only security the government has 10 depend ON
N regard TO. them 10 prove their entire conf.
uence IN The agents they recommend 10 our choice
they enlarge The penal code, and when they build
safe or sub treasury To keep their moneys thew
erect BY the side Of il peaiIenliary TO keep the
keepers.
IhiS passage having occasioned loud applause
and laughter, MIR Legare went ON sayl
Bat, gentlemen, 10 treat subject 50 serious In A
manner more saitabl: TO It's gravity and importance
The idea OF republican government in lis purity
and perfection Is that il IS the best possible scheme
OF diaribHtre juSicc-lha il Is the "eouallest The
luSiest and the noblest OF all forms because eri,
Is sure oil rs reward under H. because talent and in
iegriy, and zeal for The public service, however I'M
aided by patronage caba never fail to make their
way 70 distinction, aud 10 impress upon the oharac-
ter OF the whole community The dignity and The liz
Walton thai belong 10 tssm But what Is The practice
Of oar rulers under lhe exeerable system OF which