The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-07-23

bear. 1t Iabored to magnify the amount of patron
age then crerc.Sed by the President declared tina
"the power of patronage, unless checked by I'M
rigorous interp0sition Of Cong7 ess must go on in
croasing, until Federal influence in many parts Of
this Confederation will predominant in elections as
completely British influence predomlnates in
the cleo lions Of Scotland and Ireland in rotten bor
ough towns :" urged :ha necessity Of "laboring to
against the possible abuse Of power" and spoke OF
the disposition manifested Gin all ages to- fock to the
standard q p019er, wheresoever and by wh0mSo-
ly prophetic description of the effect Of the exer-
else of Executive power, which shall have oc-
casion moro particularly to notice hereafter.
1t is useful to look back on this report from the
point where we now stand. There was thrown a.
round it an air of sincerity and regard for the pub
lie good which rendered it very imposing, and
seemed to claim for its authors the merit ofno COM
mon patriotism and dscernment. But sir, we
can now see it in its true light II was hypocriti.
cal can't used to effect the purposes of unworthy
ambition. Sound doctrines it indeed contained !;
but their PRONUNCIATION was made under crcumstan
ces and in manner clearly showing that it was
intended, not to lay a foundation for ling them
out in practice, but TO give countenance to the
false clamor against the then Administration -
Nothing had occurred to justify alarm No arbi-
trary removals from Office had been made, suggest
ting the necessity of imposing on the President the
duty of giving reasons for removals, furnishing
occasion for the sudden and high wrought solicit
ude manifested for the exemption of tho country
u
But, sir, the conspira tors understood it and now
we understand it, and the whole country under-
stands it. The connexion which that report-pro.
fusely scattered through The countrv-profusely
scattered through the country-was made to have
with the misrepresentation which where to put
down, and which did put down, pure Admins
tration, and the subsequent preparation by its
,hors and their political friends, as soon as they
came into power of all the abuses they pretended to
deprccdtc, reveal 10 the broad light of day the
great purpose of the report. That purpose was the
acquisition of power. 1t was effected only to
bic those who accomplished it to fulfil their own
worst predictions of tho abuse of power
have sad MIR Chairman, that none dare
to charge MIR Adams with an abuse of Executive
power recall the assertion, and admit that there
is ono exception. The Gentleman from Maryland
(hir Howard) has said IN tho debate, that "Gener-
al Jackson found the instrument Executive patron
age) bright, from recent use, in the magazine
sol med and taken on his coming into power -
BY this he intended to say that the Executive pat
ronagc had been used by the preceding Admins
tration for party P"'Po""s "nd that lbs notorious
use Tor such purposes by General Jackson and his
successor has been but following out of the policy
of the Administration that preceded them. Now,
sir, demand the proof of the gentleman's nsser-
ton. deny that there is shadow of foundation
for 1t. Sir, am amazed at the temerity which
can n0ao make such an assertion. Who, ask, did
MIR Adams remove from Office for opinions sake
Not one no. sir, not one. On the contrary, have
not the advocates of the ''spoils system long main
tanned that his neglect TO use his official power 10
put down his enemies and put up his friends very
much contributed to his defeat ? Where is the nc
tive supporter of General Jackson and Mr. Van Blu.
rem, who has not attempted to defend their use of
Executive power for party purposes, by referring to
what has been dcnominIted the fatal neglect of
MIR Adams to adopt that policy And yet the
chairman of the Committee Foreign Relations
rises here and gravoiy tells US that the of Exc
ouiivo power for patty purposes was an instrument
that General Jackson "found bright from recent
use, IN the captured magazine of his vGnquished
enemy Mr. Chairman, must to be aston
ishod at any thing, and give il up that call is fair
IN politics., when such assertions can be made In
1ne lace OF tn? 'Gnnty BY ROprssenayes of the
proves that call is fair in politics., il proves anotl-
or thing. 1t shows that gentlemen Of the Admin |
lstration party feel pressed with the Argument a.
gainst the prostitution Of Executive PATRONAGE and
see the necessity of meeting it by an excise, at
least, 1t they cannot find Justification. The no
torIous groundIessness of the excuse now offered
leaVcsthose who urge it in position of no cnviable
weak ness before the country If they are content
TO remain in that position, 1 am willing to leave
them there "alone in their glory"
But will proceed TO consider as among the |
m cans used to ,'put down" the "pure' Administra-
ton, some of tho pretonsious set up and urged in
favor OF tho Candidate for the succession, an d |
which protested to shadow forth the grand reform |
to be given the country ander his administration.
ii liberal administration promised.
And, first, General Jackson to be great pa |
cltlcator Party spirit to expire under his ad |
or, at least, it was to be Invested of
all its aspery Men were 10 be selected to Office
y
of hgh personal qualifications and eminent fitness |
for official station. There large class Of
minds on which such assurances were fitted TO Cd
perate and on which they did operate with much |
effect. General Jackson letter to Mr. Monroe, in
1916, was published in which the most earnest ad |
vice was given touching the formation of his cabi
net, and the principles which should govern him |
in his selections to office. cannot resist the i'm
pulse to read paragraph from that letter. to re-
mind this committee and the country ofthe profe
sions which were pressed into the service of the
conspirators against the pure Administration they
were pledged to "put down"
"Pardon me, my dear sir, (said General Jackson) !
Tor the following remarks concerning the next
Presidential term. They made with the sim
certify and freedom of friend cannot doubt
they will be received with feelings sminr to those
which have impelled me to make them Every thing
depends on the selection of your ministry. In ev-
cry selection, party and party feelings should be
avoided. Now is the time to exterminate that
monster called party spirit, By selecting charac
tiers most conspicuous for their probty, virtue ca
pacity, and frmness, without any regard to party,
will go far to, if not entirely, eradicate those