The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-10
TEE MADISONIAN.
PUBLIC OPINION.
ram me Hsrtford. tCi } Fai,I@ ana ~

pointed on 50 :, ~ National Executive patronage
- c,,n;,ae after having the matter under cons,a
-. ..h,nn,ed an interesting Report 10 Tue Lfgss
ture : COW Of which We have op'sineo no" ''s
il he seeretarys Office and publish oeiow'
~ No Nc as,a,srs.ed patriot fad 10 have observed
;hi, he sst few years the power and influence
~ he Federal Head has increased TO an alarming ae'
oree Al no period in the history Of this country mas
,be pOrcsr OF the Government been so extensively sn
a. novs and n no period have the great mass OF inc
community been so much subjected TO government in-
e,enee and control Party discipline has brought the
Government into the hands Of fep men, whlie the
mass Of the community have no voice ~ IT'S concerns
hut are mere machines IN the hands Of their ieaa'
e. and those leaders moved upon by the great co.
ersl Head Of Washington. The tendency OF sach
state Of thirgs inevitably TO Cypress the people, I'M
dcryaue their rights and destroy our free Institutions
by tramplng under foot the balances Of the Cohsuu-
ton, and demands Of every Jeersonan Republican the
most persevering efforts TO correct the es ana restrain
those ready instruments Of oppression, the govern
inenl office holders and agents, within The bounds OF
their duty
Tins repor, has not we believe before been publish:
ed and we would respectfully solicit the attention oil
our fellow. citizens 10 Il.
The Joint Select Committee to whom referred that
part OF his Exceency the Governors Message,
which relates TO the increase Of the National Execu-
tive pstrorage, have had the same under consldera-
ton, aud Report
That although from the pressure Of other duties,
ect which its importance densnds--yetrom bref and
general view OF H. which, alone they have been permit
led TO take they satisfied that danger exists from
tins source to our Republican Institutions. calculated
TO excite the deepest apprehension The increase OF
that patronage. and the effects Of il eynced IN va
rous modes: In The increase OF revenue and end
tlre; the number Of officers through whose bands, and
into whose pockets 1t passes the character and crcun
u their APP oB'ments; aid The result, IN pro-
ilcing general subservIeucy the appointing power
I,thI. lEtIl. ~ an
the General Government have sNelcd from ahont
thirteen millions. to about thirty. three millions Of dol
lars The hr>, sum, alarmed the political economist
who opposed the administration Of Mr. Adams, for the
sfrty Of the Republic. Their language was then Of
retrenchRen: their cry that Of the horse-leech
fr more For the purpose OF collecting and tsbursing
the present enormous sums is believed that there has
been at least corresponding Increase OF officers and
agents, The list has been prodgIonsy enlarged and
when the catalogue OF those who hold appointments
directly from the Government, III the departments and
bureaus at Washington in the cus,om-honses; the
,nd Offices the ramihcaions Of the post office the
Army aud Navy. and the Embassies abroad we add
the contractors, agents aud employees Of all kinds
many Of whom connected with the presses who de-
perd Indirectly upon the Government for their daily
bread presents, indeed formidable host. But the
danger existing from the multitude OF these pacemen,
and the immense funds which they permitted 20
handle is perhaps less, than that arising from the
principle Of their selection, and the tenure OF their Of
nee. Inc avenues 10 wealth. ana ulstluCtOU w tlhs
country widely open, that the honest, INDUSTRIOUS
and capable are, for the part too prosperous and
too independent to apply for Office 1t Is usually those
Of another class who the most eager for place, and
who come up with their clamors, into the very kneadng
tronghs OF the appointing power The test question
respecting applicant, once was, Is he honest; Is
he capable is he faithful TO the Constitution VI
late years, and fearful rule has been adopted
rule war with the fundamental principles Of a free
government. The ffccs which have hitherto been
IL. Ca a.
declared to be spoil for the use OF victorious
party. And the question OF course now ls--does The
applicant follow The camp of the Conqucrer Other
new and strange principles, have lately been advanced
that the public officers instead OF being the agents OF
the law, the subordnaes the creatures Of the
President; that this chain of office holders from that
high unconary down, form especially, the Government;
and that il is The first duty Of the Government to take
care Of themselves
The avowsl Of such doctrines seems like giving
pledge to corruption; and from the nfrny OF human
nature it would be very extraordinary, the invitation
were not readily understood, and eagerly accepted -
The avowal Of these doctrines has drawn line and
made ISSUE between the ruled and rulers between
the many and the few. Aud the rights Of the few
declared be paramount II is believed that never
before in free country, has claim monstrous been
asserted. Not abhonent 10 the feelings Of free
men, as the doctrine Of the divine right Of kings,
In the celebrated retrenchment report, made by Mr.
Benton TO the Senate OF the United States in 1926,
maxim is quoted from one Of the numbers Of the Fed
eralsts: that power over mans support has always
been held and admitted to be power over his will"
This is doubtless true but under former adninstra-
tons seldom and gently had this power been used
that it scarcely known and the will left
paratvey free. ltremained for administration com.
posed OF the leading who made that report to es
ablsh principle, whose uncrring tendency Is to bind
the will OF all subordinate officers, with chain, TO
the footsool of the Executive
In the same report, it is said. that the time will
when the nom nation by the President. can carry any
man through the Senate and his recommend ton can
carry any measure through the two Houses Of Con-
gross when the principle Of public action will be open
an svowed, :. the President wants nv vote, and
want his patronage I will vote he wishes. and he
will give me the office | wish for What will this be
nent Of one man but Monarchy" - Those who
make the President must support him Their political
fate becomes identified, and they stand or fall to-
gether. Right or wrong, they mus, support him"
Such is the language Of This well known report Is
not that which then prophecy, become history,
and made SO bv the seers themselves There none
well qualified prophecy correctly those uho are
abon, the fulfnent Of their predictions,
The Committee have time nor disposition to de-
tail Of political subscrviency which the doctrines
and the practices Of the administration have in reality
produced. They refer to the knowledge Of the mem
bcrs. and the notorety Of the facts. Are the
INSCRIPTIONS Of the Executive partzaus every where
those who bear the Executive mark.
One. OF the most alarming evidences OF danger from
Government patronage. is foubd in the facility with
which Of the highest aeis dignity in their respec
tive States, are scdnced by enormous salaries into in
feror, national appointments. Governors Of States,
members Of Congress, ard other public functionarcs,
may thus be led to scramble for Clerkship in De-
partment-a place ID The Custom House--or the office
OF Postmaster Political divisions in the States can
thus be quetcd-rivalrles can thus be reconcled-op-
pouents thus he hought--and par,izans rewarded
II sycophant Of the Federal Government, is defeated,
as candidate for Office in his State, from want
Of confidence in his ability or honesty, on the part Of
those who know him best, this rejccon may be made
his passport to far profitable place under that
Government. From unsuccessful denagoguo, he
may be converted into martyr, and receive martyrs
reward