The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-08-06


the whole length and breadth Of the land
iiut the whole extent OF tho mischief is not yet
disclosed The moral influence OF high station ~
immense and unreasonable. And what tremen.
dous Influence the general standard OF moral
ieeling must be produced by tho known and admit
ted fact that the President or the United States n
Perpetualiy overlooking IL no furnishing honest
merit, tor tho purpose Of purchasing support 20
himself bv the "iewa5ding Of political subservi-
eney md prohsacy " the Chit Magistrate OF this
great nation may With impunity thus disregard
sound mor1 principle IN the daily exercise of his
high functions, in what department oC society will
not the influence uf his example Toe feii Sir "a will
be to country what the original trausgression
10 the world, whom
Garth felt the sound. aud Nature from her seat
Signing through all her works, gave signs OF wo
That oil was lost "
If political dishonesty IL seen ia the high places
oi this nation what sort Of dishonesty will Il not
rneoUtpg1 and countenance' Well did General
Jackson say, when addressing tho Tennessee Leg
slture In 500 that corruption would become the
order OF the day when but branch of this
system shoulJ bo carried into execution Bot "
corruption 20 hat extent TO oe the effect of tho
practice OF appointing members Of Congress TO of
flee, what shaft say OF the effects, direct aud
indirect, of the application of the mercenary prin-
ciple to the entire administration Of the removing
and appointing power. Sir, is like the pestilenee
that walks in darkness IL contafninates the very
Dir breathe, and send, disease through every
/ nr'c-T nd vein Of the body polite
But, sir, t'r s.''r'ing process ~ earned on not
only through O'aeo hptsri~ p1s office expectants,
and the iniuSce OF Pres Ac'tiaI ssa'Hp ssSi thro'
purcha@ss and prostituted prcss f's3 TS!ssn IL
thus mingled with the daily TODD OF thousands I'D
hundreds Of thousands Of minds which arc fed by
tho newspaper press of the country, and 60 which
il is thus administered under DISCUSSES which
der them alike unconscious OF its nature, and una.
ware Of its origin.
And finally, there is given 20 the whole of these
combined influences the greatest possible energy,
through party organization Tho most perfect, aud
and by a party discipline the most rigid, exact,
unsparing, and inexorabe
Such is tho great principle which lies n, the
foundation of the lending policy ofthe Admnstra-
ton; such the means Of giving 1t cfficacy and such
its whitening, blighting influence on public and
private virtue.
Comparative Importance Of the question Of Er,eu-
tioo patronage
| am aware, Mr. Chairman, that, by many, the
! leading topic which have dweit may be re-
| garded as of comparatively uncomfortable impor
lance. The abuse of Executive patronage is an
| old and trite subject. The currency, the markets,
and the safety Of the public moneys, matters Of
present an6 engrossng interest If the currency il
| sound, the markets good, and the public moneys
safe, all is, by many considered to be well. Ques.
tons of power are regarded as distractions and
Executive encroachment is deemed matter of no
! great moment unless il comes to bear directly
! the present interests OF the People. Thus, the
Sub Treasury scheme Give times rejected by Con-
gress, but still the pet measure of the Admnistra-
tom is, by many, thought OF only in its mere Pc
cnnary relations, without rejecting on the object
OF the Executive in urging 1T without perceivng
that lis danger consists, not much in the insecu
ry e f leg treasurers'-manfest that s--as in
system would give to the Preside nt,-und which ,ir
fact, has formed his leading tive for portinaci
ousy pressing il upon Congress and the country.
am, sir far from underwriting tho importance
of these questions OF the currency the markets and
the safe keeping OF the public moneys, in their pc
cuniaTy bearings. But there matters of mightier
moment connected with them. While tho last of
these questions susains relation to that Of Exc
cutive patronage and power, which gives to il its
chief importance, the two former involve interests
which lie quite beyond the comfort and graft
n ~ ma ia nnn md ind nnHN
The true value of nothing on earth can be estim't.
ed, independently Of us bearings the higher a.
!ure of man. II is in this light only that
Justly estimate the value of indidivdual and ma
;ional prosperity which confer the full measure
of their blessings only when they minister to the
high and noble purposes of moral and intellectual
i'm pIovement-the truest soeaiM and QloTy of a
tf0n But there is danger OF overlooking these IN.
terests, and making the acquisition Of wealth, the
advance of population, the Improvement Of Tho
face Of the country, the development Of its phys
cal resourcos and the augmentation OF its ~ ysi-
,a power The great and all absorbing obj cots OF
gard and effort, There is danger offorgetting that
n all these respects, we may make very rapid add
,ances, while, IN the process of doing IL, we may
,lant and noursh to rank vegetation, the seeds of
rational corruption and decay. Sir, IL Is not great
wealth, natural artificial deiences, that con-
ttue truly prosperous and secure common
wealth
"But men, high-mnded men
Men w no their duties kn0le, yet know their rights,
And knowing, dare maintain
Let the currency be deranged let banks be driv
~ to Suspension let property fall in value lot
Millions be sacrificed, and yot the energies Of
People may remain substantially uDimpaired and
hey may rise from the pressure, profted by its OK
,erience, and wiser for its severe and painful in.
iictions. '.
The nation, 100, may he assniled from without
I may be pressed with the demands of injustice
/ may feel the shock OF invasion il may be com
,eled pour its treasures and its blood in lie
efence il may be doomed TO suffer reverses, and
e brought the brink of ruin, and yet il may re-
ain, unimpaired, and inVigoraied, the eIe-
nents of its triumph and prosperity. Invasion may
mite it's People injustice may deepen Their sense
oppressed dangers may develop their resources OF
kill and courage privauou and hardship may
i've pateuce to endurance and diversity may
mpart siren 9Th to virtue Oui own glorious Rev
SUTTON presents an iustr;ous example OF all tins
The noble minds HIT founded our institutions, and
he virtues thai sustained them anna tne PEI
Il and wonkros, of their infancy, exhibit some
,f the fruits OF that and trying Conflict.
But Mr. Chairman, where are the redeeUssug