Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-08-09

tits not our business to make Presidents. Sir,
we know our appropriate business Long
enough have we seen Executive influence
moving around & through these Halls and
long enough have we legisla,ed under its
CONTROL 1t is our first and most solemn du-
ty to endeavor TO repel TITO restore the in
dependence Of these Legislative bodies; to
drive the Cloths and Vandals from this Cap
tol. We have nothing 70 do with making
this or that man President but we have
something 10 do with Executive corruption
and usurpation, (both Of which have much
TO do with us,) something to do with that
Executive influence which has disturbed the
constitutional balance Of this Government
which has made its way to the ballot-boxes
elected President, brought into these Halls
members OF its own creation. and assailed
the independence of these bodies by Execu-
tive brides on the one hand, and Executive
denunciaton on the other that influence, in
short, so prophetically described in the re-
port ofthe committee ofthe Senate on Exc.
cutive patronage, in 1926. (made by Martin
Van Buren,, Richard NJ Johnson, Thomas
III. Benton. and others, to swell the false
camor against the "pure' Administration
in which it was said
"1He poaoer Of patronage, unless checked
by the rigorous inteypoyition Of Congress,
must so on increasing. Patron
age aoiH penetrate this body. sn6due rs ca
Pacity of resistance, chain IL TO TIE car of
poicer. and enable Tire President 10 rule as
easily, and much more securely, sctM than
aeithout Me nominal check Of The Senate"
Sir, ii it is not our appropriate business to
discuss and investigate when this prediction
is literally fulfilled before our eyes, then we
may as well determine, at once. 10 submit !
and when we have submitted, we shall have
no more 10 do but 10 dissolve these bodies,
and leave the Executive TO govern the coun-
try without the forms OF the Constitution.
Shall political trcachcry be rewarded.
Having, Mr. Chairman, dwelt, at some
length, upon the connexion between the
mal-administration Of those in power and
professions and pledges. anticipate the in
quiries-Why talk so much OF professions
Why dwell so long on pledges2 If the
Administration is bad, show il but the meas
ures of bad administration will be made
no worse by proving that the men in power
have made hypocritical professions, or lha,
they have violated their pledges.
Sir, there are two questions before the
country for decision, namely: Shall cor.
rupl and pernicious system OF policy be per-
petuoted ? and, Shall hypocrisy and treache-
ry be rewarded with a iriumph2 II need
hardly be said sir, that the proof OF The cor
rupt character of the policy, drawn from
consideration of its nature and tendency
finds confirmation strong in the profess
ions and promises offs authors. They are
judged out Of their own mouths. They pro-
nounced, in advance, their own condemna-
ton, and furnished the arguments to sustain
it,
But, sir there is something in the treach-
cry OF a deliberate violation OF pledges sol
EMMY made to obtain power, which is de-
serving OF distinct and deep consideration.
While the pledges were made upon an as
sumption OF abuses which were known not to
exist, their violation has been the result of
deep, settled, systematic purpose. The Ad-
ministration have sinned with their eyes
open--in the very face oftheir own profess
ions and pledges. They have been con-
stantly reminded of their inconsistency,
They have had spread out before them
Gen. Jackson's letter 10 President Monroe
in 1916; his Address to the Tennessee Leg
islature in 1895 the Report Of the Senate
committee on Executive Patronage in 1926;
the Retrenchment Report of 1928; and the
Inaugural Address of 1929. But il has all
been 10 no purpose, bur to show the world
with what perfect GOODNESS and deiberaticn
professions may be falsi6ed, pledges violal-
ed, and power abused.
And now, sir, do you not perceive, in this
view of the subject distinct and very strono
reason for deprecating the triumph Of those
in power? Did you ever see an individual
who had risen. by a successful course OF
chicanery, TO wealth and importance, tri-
umphing in q purchased responsibility, and
revealing in the enjoyment ofill-gotten gain2
and did you not mark the pernicious moral
influence OF mis- success especially upon the
young men OF the community Can any
influence be more dangerous in private life
than such examples of successful villainy a.
And shall such examples teach US nothing
Can we failto perceive their application r.
Can we shut our eyes TO the moral infu.
ence which must follow a triumphant con.
summation ofthe system OF political chican-
cry which have describeda Can we meas.
ure the height and depth. and length and
breadth Of its bearings on the broad and
boundess future in our country's history 2
If, sir, the political charlatanry of this Ad-
minislration is to meet with no rebuke from
the People but is to be sanctioned and re-
warded by them. then. indeed, shall corrup
ton become 'the order OF the day." and its
current acquire a strength which il will be
very difficult if not impossible. successfully
to resist