Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1839-07-09


which have before advoftcd-dtawn up by Mt.
Benton, contains most glowing description Of The
danger Of an abuse Of that patronage. Suffer
TO read paragraph from that report;
The King of England. tssy the commi,iec) is
the fountain Of honor, the pfcsidcn, Of the United
States Is the source Of patronage. lie presides
oTe: the entire system Of Federal appointments,
jobs. and contracts. He has power over the sup
port Of the individuals who administer the system.
lie makes and unmakes them. lie chooses from
the circle Of his friends and supporters. and may
dismiss them. and, upon all The principles of hu-
man action, toiH dismiss them, occn as they
disappoint his expectations His spirit will ant
mate their actions ~ all the elections TO State aud
Federal Offices. There may be exceptions ; but
the truth of general rule is proved by the excep
tion The intended check aud control of the Sem
ale. without constitutional and statutory pro-
visions, will cease TO operate. PdironGge will
penetrate this body suSdue it's capacity of resist
uncc, chain 1t TO the of power, and enable the
President TO rule as easily, aud much secure
ly, with than without the nominal check of the
Senate. We must look forward to the time when
the nomination of the President carry any man
through The Senate, and his recommendation can
carry any measure through the two Houses of
Congress; when the principle of public action will
be open and avowed-the President wants my vote
and wan, his patronage will vote as he wishes
and he will give me the Office | wish for. What
will this be but the government of one man and
what is the government of one man but q nonar-
chy1'
Who, Mr.. Chairman. will deny that Martin Van
Barren, Richard M. Johnson. and Thomas II. Ben
ton, were prophets in 1926 Could prophecy it,
self have described moro accurately than they did
the effects of the abuse Of Executive patronage
which we have all witnessed during the last ten
years Here, sir, in this single paragraph, is
complete epitome of the workings of Executive in
fuence in Its varied action the host of Executive
officers, on both branches of Congress, and on the
State Legislatures, during that period. What was
prophecy in 1926 has become history IN 1880.
would that had time TO trace that history in
its full details. / would prescn, to you evidence
of the extended and diversified workings Of 2ervert.
ed and prosttuted patronage which should exhibit
II as almost possessing the attribute of omnpres-
ence to the iarthest limits of this Union. Sir
there is not department of the executive govern
ment which it has not penetrated through its re-
hottest and minucst ramifcations. There is no, a
State government which 1t has not reached and
influenced. There is not single Wing member in
Congress- and has no! been for the last eight years
who has not, IN obtaining his scat been obliged TO
contend with this influence excred either through
u
And, sir, while it hns thus acted on elections to
both branches Of Congress, seeking, thereby to Sc.
cure subservient Senate and House of Rcprcsen-
taiives, it has actually entered these halls with its
party espionage and its party drill. Not ques.
ton OF great public interest has been decided here
in which it's power has not been felt. Not Il
member OF the party has ever given signs of de-
termination to throw off the yoke and stand up in
the conscious dignity Of legislative independence,
who has not been made to feel The ,errors of its
retributions. Not Congress has existed for the
last ten years which has not witnessed the bcs,ow-
ment of rewards some OF its members for distin-
gushed subsei viency to the Executive and upon
not few of them after they have been elected 10
stay at home on account Of such subserviency.
Mr.. Chairman no description ofthe workings of
this subtle influence has ever come up to the full
reality. Notwithstanding all that has been said
on the subject, the 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 executive enables him TO employ to this
end and then that you have Chief Magistrate,
with mind SO constituted by nature, and go train
ed by political education, that the idea of power TO
remove, or power to appoint, never enter his mind
without an instant suggestion Of The inquiry-how
may this power be used so 10 advance my in
eres,s and build up my party Sir you might as
well expect that the Ethiopian would change his
skin, or the leopard his spots, as that he who has
long been accustomed 10 do this evil should
learn 20 do well.
have spoken of the means Of accomplishing
party purposes by the executive. And have you
ever thought Mr.. Chairman, Of the prodigious ef-
hcacy which unity ofpurpose gives TO executive
power! Here are no permanently divided coun-
ellis. Friends may advise, but single will finally
controls the whole. Tie President puts his hand
to the crank Of the mighty machine, and every
wheel moves perfect is the mechanism, 10 the
furthcst extremities Of the Union. Go, sir, into a
cotton factory, and see its vast and complicated
movements. Story rising on story is filled with
machinery all instinct with lie, and moving in ODE
dience 10 single impulse, far removed from your
observation, but, nevertheless, felt in its steady
effective power, from the basemen; 20 the attic
This, sir. is but miniature model Of the mighty
executive machine which is moved by single mas
ter spirit 10 this city. Is increased political e.
fort needed, for example. in Maine Louisiana
Behold . score Of men are seen riding through
the State, stirring up the faithful, rayng them to
IN approaching political conflict, And whst tnoycs