Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-04-13
VOLUME XNxy.---Rn. III.

Ia!scu tiectiOn5 tneT be iuunr ae
he polls.
Bnt suppose tha immediate object Of the bill accom-.
pushed, and lhe oi"Phodcrs rPndrreG perfectly silent
an" passive, 1t might then be Gnublrd whether it
"ou'u cause any GmInuon in the influence of patron.
og" over elections II would indeed prra,ly r-duce the
Iniurnce Of the "ice holders They would become Ihs
most insignificant portion Of the cgnmauy as far as
elections were concerned
But jus, in the same proportion they nigh, sink
me no less formidable corps OF Office seekers would Use
IN Importance The struggle for power between the ing
and the "nts would abae in the least IN whence or
intensity, by the silence inactivity of the Office hold
ers as the AIN ant of patronage The stake cor,ended
Tor. w0n!d remain undlunishrd. Both sides those in
ana those out OF powell would turn from passive md
silent body OF ncumben,s and cour, The avot nj rh
active corps that painted to srp2an them: and the re-
Snil wonb DE-, annual epp Of the former after eve.
y "c'''", 10 make room 10 reward the latter and that
on whichever side the scale o! victory might turn The
Consequence would be rotation with a veEseancr The
"lire! would turn round with such 9Pucly ,hsl auv
ming IKE stable system OF pncy would be impossible
Each Temporary occupant that might b. thrown INTO
nfice by he whr would seize the moment, 10 make the
most o ms good !"'Inne, before he might be displaced
| by his successor AMI system, a such il might be-
ca!led2 would follow, not less conptng than unstable.
VIVID these decisive rh lions cannot give uIv sup.
port 10 The bill but u 10 be distinctly upde r.ruod
That IN withholding It, neither retrgct mndy any
sentiment have expressed IN relation 10 the PATRONAGE
{" this Government have looked over. since the com
m"nc'Den ni this dSCuSSOn the report made char
man oi select committee the subject in 1895 and
which has en frequently referred 10 in debate by
those an the opposite side of the chamber and find no.
thing which would omit, If had nov draw it, bat
much whrh time and reflection would induce me To add
to strengthen the grounds the assumed THERE not
sentence IN II Incompatible with the views have pre-
scented on the present occasion
might here, Mr. President. terminate my remarks as
Ia! as tins bill IS cOncerned bet The question
OF patronage is al all times Of importance under our
sistrm of Government. aud especially in my opinion
at this present juncturr, trust that shall be INDUCED
IN "ii"nG my opinion somewhat 1T large in refer
nee 10 IL
II 1t BIZ desirable 10 reduce the PATRONAGE OF the Co.
vernment. (and held /, to be eminent!y so1 must
strike ri the The root and not The branches IL
Is the only way that VIII Iot III the end prove faiacoud
The man sources OF patronage aay BE found IN the
powers the revenue. and the expenditures of Co
vcrnment; gnd The Er 0ad necessary step fonq,ds its
rcd'ction, IS to rcstr the pomerS u is Government
'r'fhin The reid ttms PrrScrbcd by the Constitution
Every Of powers beyond would bring within
rs contI"! subjects never int GsG 10 placed there,
followed by increae patronage, and Augmented eXper.
drturr and revenue.
We must, The next nlace take care not 10 call The
acknowledged powers "f The GOvernnc.. into action
DIR necessary To rtrvsTt them INTO OF dong
what 1t never Inr:ded by lhs Constitution we
should have tie right 70 do or al! the Of
power and influence. prevention Of The powers of tho
Government has proved IN practice the most fruitful and
dangerous, OF which ouI political! history furnishes many
examples, espccIa!ly in reference 10 The money power
Will appear IN the course OF Iny remarks
After restricting the powers uf the Cover nment within
proper ias the ne zt important step would BE- Ia bring
down the Income aud expenditures IL the smallest prac
cab|" amount rsa primary maSIm under our sys-
ten, To collect no more money than IS accessory 10 The
economical and Constitutional nnns 81 the Government
We have, IN i~;t no right 10 collect cent mUre. No.
,lng can tend mere powerfully corrupt public aud
private morals, or to increase the patronage % the Co.
"ernm"n than an excessive or surplus revenue, as ..
cent aud sad experience has ahundanty proved Nor -
IL less important To- restrict the expenditures within
income. Il ~, III fact. Indispensable to restricted
venus as the ncrras" OF the irncr must IN the end,
lead 10 an increase Of The latte, Nor mast exact
administration. and rIgId accountability, IN every de.
pa.lEen Of tie Government be neg eCed. Ii is among
The most efficient means OF keeping do@n patronage aud
CDrrU pti0H well IS the revenue aud expenditures,
just the opposite is among The most pIOhc oc
both
Il is thus, and TINS only TINT reduce eect ual.
L. the patronage "r The GOVERNMENT the least
CONSISTENT with the discharge OF the few, but import.
du:ies with which charged. and render what
the Constitution intended it should be, a cheap and
smpir Government instituted by the States for their
mutual security and more perfect protection Of their IL
h-rty and tramp. ity. 1t Is the way pointed out by
Jefferson and his associates 81 the Virginia school which
has teen distinguished Tor lis Jealous opposition
patronage, as the bane "t political system,
powerfully illustrated IN the immortal LIcunenls SO
fEr9nrnrly referred TO in tins dscuss"nthc report Of
the Virginia Legislature the Alien and SedilIon Law
IN The year 30
But there H. and has bern from IN frs another
and opposing school, that regarded patronage with avery
dierenl eye, not as baur, but essential ngredI
eni, without which the Government would be impractI-
cable; and whose leading policy j. To enlist in lis favor
the powerful classes Of society, through their ine
rest, Indispensable TO lis support II cau;ot lake
lessons from this school the Question OF reduction of
patronage at least learn, What s ~ ,mpOr-
lance be known, how aud b. what this school
has reared up system, which has added vastly TO the
power and patronage Of the Government, beyond what
contemplated By It's iramers as to alarm It's wisest
and best friends for It's fate. With the oS furnish
ng this information. intimately connected with the
object ol lkrae remarks propose 10 give very brief
and rapid narrative OF the rse and progress of that sys
AZ the head Of Ibis school stands the Of Ham-
ton, hen which there none more distinguished IN
political history He is the perfect type and mpersona-
ton OF the National Federal school, q use party
with reluclance and only for the sake of bevyD
Jrfrrson is of The State Rights Republican school,
They were both men OF eminent talent, ardent patriot
ISM grea, holiness, and comprehensive and systematic
understanding They WIRE both men who fixed
single object far ahead and converged all their powers
tnw ards ITS accomplishments. The difference between
them that Jefferson had more genius, rfamon more
abilities; the former leaned 10 the side Of liberty,
and his great rival more 10 that OF power They both
have impressed themselves dePply the movements of
the Government; but, yet Hamilton far gIO!e so than
jefferson, though the impression o The latter de@ned
in the end tris 10 prove, The more durable oil The
two.
It has been the good fortune Of the school Of which
Mr. Jefferson the head, 10 embHdy their principles and
doctrines in written documents, one report referred 10,
and the Virginia and Kentucky eso!uuons) which
the acknowledged creed OF Tie party, ana my at all
times be referred to- order 10 ascertain hat they
in fact The opposite school has le such written and
ecknow creed hut the declaration and acts OF lie
,,s,, leave little doubt either lis PRINCIPLES
mr. docrinps In tracing them narrative o! his life ana
acts need 30; be gwen 1t will suffice 10 say, that he
entered early in life INTO the army Of tie Revolution,
and became member of the military family Of Wash.
confidence he gained rsinined the
last He next appeared ia the Convention which fran.
ed the Constitution, where, with his usual holiness,
hc advocated President and Senate for life, and
the appointment, by this Government, OF the Governors
Of the States, With 7elo Stale laws These bold
falling he retired from the convention, IS
said, in disgust; hut afterwards mature reHec
tion became the jealous and able advocate Of the adop
ton of the Constitution he sew, as he thought, in