The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-07-23
ORANGE COUNTY.
WILLIAM HEBARD,
SIMEON SHORT,
TIMOTHY MORSE.
A CONTRAST.

In 1928 the last year of John q. Adams AID.
mnstration the receipts for duties on imports were
1928 205 )23 "a, the collection of which cost $932
093 90. In 1887, the duties collected were ST.,
1863 300 81, at OF 81 ,4S2 947 "a; the amount
collected under Mr. Adams being nearly double that
under Mr. Van Buren,, while the collection under
Mr. Van Buren, costs almost double that under Mr.
Adams.
The above fac Is furnish striking illustration of
the extrav ngance of the Administration of Martin
Van Buren,, The inquiry arises, how it should cost
so much moro to collect $ll 900 900 90 by Mr. Van
Buren,, than il did The 1924 900 900 90 by Mr. AID.
ans? Can there be any doubt in The matter? Bat
ing due proportion for the thefts of Sub Treasurers
it is mainly owing to the INCREASE OF OFFICE
HOLDERS, by and under the President, and con-
nected with the revenue department We need
not go far from home to lean this truth The facts
are plain and papable TO the people of this part of
Vermont-open to ooculai demonstration. While
the necessity for the employment of more officers
connected with the custom house upon the frontier
of the States has decreased fifty per cent within the
last ten years, think safe in saying, the
increase OF Officers has been equal TO fifty per cent
The change in the revenue laws has almost
| of tho i"d"oon,Cnt sn,aeslo, and bonee, 90
there exists little disposition to trespass upon
the laws 1t would follow that the officers should
be reduced in number and salary. But the contrary
has boon the fact
The interest of the country docs not requo one
fourth the number of officers there IL now located
i'm Vermont connected with the custom house. b ut
is il asked what or whose interest docs require
them? 1t is the ntcrcs. OF AIR Van Buren, and that
of Office seekers OF his partynot that Of ITO people
who pay them. There at least four custom
house officers in Caledonia County-costing the
people FOURTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS per
annum, to whom no service is rendered. worthy of
mention, by them. In Orleans, there is one 10
| nearly every town, to pay whom tax is levied
| upon the people not far from THREE THOUS-
AND DOLLARS per annnm. Three efficient
officers would be amply sufficient to protect the in
teiest of the Government there. But ii is again
! asked why there are so many? We repeat, it is
! that they may serve Mr. Van Buren, a parzan,
and not as President, to whom their utmost
deavors are devoted. During the present year an
addition has been made to the corps.
An anecdote will illustrate the why and whore
fore they appointed. One of the lately saaried
gentlemen, having become quite hungry in parzan
services told the leaders and Office procurers after
much solicitation, that "unless he was appoin ted
a custom house officer he would Join the Wings"
The decision of the appIcant'pro and he now
renders 1880 service to the party. He is retained
by Van Buren, by this fee, to labor In his cause
| Now, admit that there should be suitable
number of officers attached TO the custom house
and the laws should be enforced. We would not
speak against the Government; but only the abuse
of the appointing power by the Administration for
party purposes, when the people-the tax payers
receive no benefit. The is not in the Gov
eminent, it is in the abuse oft, by those who ap-
point officers There is an implied contract when
these supernumerares are appointed, between them
and tho President, that they shall serve him. Do
not the people it, and do they approve of such
q waste of their money? If Mr. Van Burens AID.
mnistraton cannot sustain itself by its own merits,
it should be suffered to sink. But he now conducts
like a man guilty of henious crime, and who robs
! his neghbors to retain counsel for his defence
His course is anti-repubican-it partakes of the
very essence of those principles of federalism which
were charged upon the old federal party, viz the
desire 20 concentrate unwarrantable powers IN the
hands of the President and the use thereof to
strengthen the Executive. Jefferson and Madison
condemned such conduct, and must every repub-
lican.
We in Vermont judge from what we see
about us, of the manner things are conducted in
other States. 1t is the all over the United
States as here 1t is by this means the people are
obliged pay $40, 900 per year to support Gov
ernment when, ten years ago, under Mr. Adams
they paid but 81 900 900 to carry on its affairs
Here is the great outlet the Treasury-al to Sc
F cure political power. Mr. Van Burens 5000 of.
fee holders in the U. S. eating out the sub
stance of the people-and in ten years MORE unless
the people change the Administration and put hon
est me-, into Office our annual tax will be increased