Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-07-26

] '~'~ N''iS VII " tuiStlto, luitRIlty, anu zeal
The test OF qualification for Office been IA
GRAVITY yiolated2 Have any qualifications
been able TO stand the competition Bipartisan
diligence partisan talents" and partisan
zeal ~
II has, however, been said, and recently
said on this floor by member from Ohio.
(Mr DUNCAN. that there are great many
Wings left in Office and he has undertaken
to prove it, by protesting to give the number
of Wings and Administration men now in
Office in the various Departments in this CT
ty- Sir, do not deny thatthere are Wings
left in Office here. know some OF them !;
and know them 10 be among the most ca.
pable and efficient officers OF the Govern
ment But, sir, | know. too, the reason
why they have escaped the bosom of the
reform" They would. probably, all have
been removed when il swept through the
public Offices here in lS29-'30, bu; for a
conviction that the public business could not
be carried on without them. The names OF
many, and, believe, Of most Of them, were
on what was called the "black lisi'--a list
of candidates for prescription, made out un-
der the direction Of the celebrated Central
COMMITTEE" it was well understood
that Gen. Jackson was urged TO remove
them, and that it would have been done but
for the remonstrances of some OF the heads
Of the Departments, who, driven by necessi
ty to appreciate the value of old and expert
enced clerks, insisted that the public bust
ness must suffer unless the work of"reform"
was arrested. The project of full and en-
tire sweep was thereupon abandoned 1t is
thus that these Wings have been spared
Necessity, not literally, has dictated it
But, sir, there was the less inducement TO
ill every Office here with devoted partisan
because the clerks in this city are in con-
dilion TO exert very little political influence,
and can mingle in no elections affecting the
general politics OF the country. 1t is not
so, however, elsewhere; and hence we find
a general sweep of collectors. surveyors of
ports, naval officers, all the subordinate Off
GERS, OF the customs, marshals, district attor-
neys, land registers and receivers, and post
masters Wherever political influence has
been wanted, there has the Administration
been ready to cut down political opponents
and supply their places with the men who
had done the most party service, and who
would pay the most money, ride the great
est number Of miles, and proclaim with the
loudest voice the purity and consistency and
pre-eminent democracy Of the reforming
Administration There is not State, nor
a Congressional district, nor county in
this whole Union where evidence of the
truth ofths assertion may not be found
Everywhere has the patronage Of the Ere
cntioe been drought into conflict with the
freedom Of elections Indeed, il has been
the Grand enninlsl ~ ,.ahiah this dynasty has
sought TO sustain and prepetuale It's power.
And what an uncomfortable amount Of
power may be welded by single hand,
when that hand holds the millions OF patron
age at the Executive disposal, and is guided
by will unregulated uncontrolled by any
principle save that of self and party aggran-
dizement Establish the principle that eve
ry Office in the gil of the Executive is held
for disposal 10 the highest bidder-to the
man who can pay the most in partisan ser.
vices-and there is carried, with electric ra-
pidty. throughout the land an influence
which polutes and corrupls every thing that
breaches. The standard OF political moral
ity becomes lowered and every man who
has single aspiration for Office is at once
tempted 10 inquire what will promote my
interest rather than-what is right in prin-
cip, and best for the interest Of the coun.
tryl
Ful6iment Of prophecy
And, Mr. Chairman, no men in this ma
ton have ever better understood the weak
ness of human nature in this respect. and the
power which patronage can exert upon it.
than those who have administered the Gov.
eminent for the last ten yeats. Sir, it is re-
markable that the present President and
Vice President OF the United States and the
"expunging" Senator from Missouri fMr
BENToN) were leading members Of the SEN
ate Committee on Executive patronage in
1926. whose report--to which have before
adverted--drawn up by Mr. BENTON. con-
tains most glowing description of the dan
ger of an abuse of that patronage. Suffer
me to read paragraph from that report:
THE King Of England (say the commit
tce) is the fountain OF honor the President
ofthe United States is the source OF patron
age He pssides override entire system Of
Federal appointments. jobs and contracts, -
He has power over the. support of the ndi.
viduals who administer the system He
makes and unmakes them. He, chooses
from the circle OF his friends and supporters
and mag dismiss them, and, upon all the
principles Of human action, ioiH dismiss
them. as often as they disappoint his expec'
tations. His spirit will animate their ac,
tions in all the elections to Stale and Federal
ofiees. There may be exceptions; but the
truth OF general rule is proved by the ex-
ception. The intended check and control Of
the Senate without new constitutional and
statutory provisions, will cease 10 operate, -