Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-07-26
NO. AZ.

wish for. What will this be but The GOV.
eminent of one man and what is the gov.
eminent Of one man but monarchy %
Who, Mr. Chairman. will deny that MAR.
TIN VAN buren,, RICHARD M. Johnson
and THOMAS n. BENTON, were prophets in
1892 Could prophecy itselfhaye descrb.
ed more accurately thantbey did the effects
OF The abuse of Executive patronage which
we have all Witnessed during the laes ten
years Here, sir, in this single paragraph,
IS Complete epuornc OF the Workings OF
Executive Influence 10 its varied action on
the host of Executive officers on both branch
rs of Congress, and on the State Lepisla-
lures. during that period What was proph-
ecy in 1926 has become history in 1889.
would that had time to trace that his.
tory in its full details. would present 10
you evidence Of the extended and diversified
workings Of perverted and prostituted patron.
age, which should exhibit il as almost pos.
sessing the attribute OF omnipresence 10 the
iurthest limits Of this Union. Sir there is
not department Of the Executive Govern.
ment which il has not penetrated, through
its remotest and minuest ramfications.
There is not a State Government which il
has not reached and Influenced There is
not single Wing member in Congress,
and has not been for the last eight years. who
has not, in obtaining his seat been obliged
10 contend with this influence, exerted eth
er through subservient ofliceholders, or a
pensioned press And, sir, while it has
thus acted on elections to both branches of
Congress, seeking, thereby, TO secure sub
servient Senate and House of Representa-
tives il has actually entered these Halls
with its party espionage and its party drill
No, question Of great public interest has
been decided here in which its power has not
been felt. Not member of"lhe party" has
ever given signs of determination to throw
of the yoke and stand up in the conscious
dignity of legislative independence, who has
not been made TO feel terrors of its retrIbu-
lions. Not Congress has existed for the
last ten years which has not witnessed the
bestowment OF rewards on some Of its mem.
bers for distinguished subserviency to the
Executive; and upon no. a few of them, af-
ter they have been elected TO stay at home"
on account OF such subserviency
Mr. Chairman, no description OF the work.
ings of this subtle influence has ever come
upto the full reality Notwithstanding all
that has been said on the subject, he half has
not been told Indeed sir, how could it be
Consider for moment, the extent of the
means which the vast patronage of the Exc
cutive enables him 10 employ to this end
and then remember that you have a Chief
Magistrate, with mind so constituted by
Nature, and SO trained by political educa.
ton, that the idea of power TO remove or
power to appoint paves --7.Ss, y --.'---- ''s'i
an, n n instant Suggestion Of the inquiry
,~.- 10y ;e,,o@or he used so as to advance
my interests and build up my party2 Sir.
you might as well expect that the Ethiopian
would change his skin, or the leopard his
spots as that he who has so long been ac-
customed to do this evil should learn 10 do
we'll
have spoken of the means Of accom-
pishing party purposes by the Executive
And have you ever thought, Mr. Chairman,
of the prodigious efficacy which unity of
purpose gives TO Executive power2 Here
are no permanently divided councils
Friends may advise, but a single scW finally
controls the whole. The President puts
his hand 10 the crank of the mighty ma.
chine, and every wheel moves, so perfect is
the mechanism. 10 the furthest extremities Of
the Union. Co. sir, into cotton factory,
and see its vast and complicated movements.
Story rising on story is filled with machine.
| ~, all instinct with life, and moving in obe-
dience 10 single impulse, far removed from
your observation, but, nevertheless, felt in its
steady effective power, from The basement to
The attic story. This. sir. is but miniature
model Of the mighty Executive machine
which is moved by single astersprit in
this city. Is an increased political effort
needed, for example, in Maine or louisiana
Behold score Of men are seen riding
through the State stirring up the faithful,
and rallying them TO an approaching politi-
ca, conflict. And what moves Them? The
fear of losing Office, or the hope of obtaining
| it. See that political leader moving about
among the subordinates ofthe custom house
in that city, and demanding of Them tax on
their incomes, TO support the expenses of an
election What gives him power TO enforce
his collections Has he legal process b.
No, sir. But there is a process by which
he reaches the pockets Of the taxed and
draws from them the 'needful." Sir, Il is
not legal, but a political process. They
understand it, Their Offices are their bread;
and they do not choose TO go hungry
That is the secret
Cnstom,house officers faxed By Me party"
(Since this speech was delivered. the re-
/ port Of {" the Investigating Committee" has
been made; by which it appears, from the
examination of Witnesses belonging to The
custom house department at New York, that
the officers of that department have been
regularly assessed, from Que 10, six ner cent.
on their salaries, for political purposes, and
/ L.. L.. IL r a.