Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-07-19

by contracted such habits Of extravaganza.
and had become SO corrupted in his princi.
pies, as 10 render him unfit to bethe Presi-
dent Of plain, republican People And
then the Presidential mansion was represen-
ted 70 have been fitted up by him in style
Of almost Oriental splendoI To give an
air Of reality 10 this, the East Room Letter.
was written and published ia the Richmond
Enquirer, and other papers, in which tho
writer IA Senator Of the United States, one
OF the conPirators, wiring anonymously
declared that, on visiting the Presidents
mansion, he had found the east room so gor-'
geously furnished that it could hardly be
looked into without dazzling the eyes Of
the beholdG. when be knew that there was
not ten dollars worth OF furniture in the ell.
tire room All these insinuations Of person
al extravaganza originated with men who
knew then as all the world knows now that
the object tf their SANDER was one of the
plainest ard most economical transformations
Chief Magistrates the country ever had
] And thsn, too. he was the son oil his faith
err! Hisblood was tainted with the sin Of
federalism; and though he really possessed
more genuine republicanism than the whole
combinedhost of his calumniators, he was
held mp To- the country as a hig h-toned aristo.
crat, without single feeling in common
with themass of his countrymen
Ii was by these and kindred means that
the pubic mind had been prepared for the
grand charge Of eziraUagance, and The splen.
did professions OF economy and rctrenchmeaf
which closed the political campaign of
lS25-'2a and consummated the purpose OF
M dn,,,,, al A 4
regret, Mr. Chairman, that | have not
time TO give full history OF the means en-
ployedto spread through the country the
false camor of extravaganza, and the equal
" false, as well as bypocritical. professions
OF retrenchment and reform But | mus,
be briei. and shall contine myself to a single
range Of inquiry.
You remember, sir. the labors Of the cele.
brated "relrenchment committee" appointed
by the House of Representatives in the win
ter OF 1928. Their report was made in Nav
OF that year. just in time TO operate on the
Presidential election in November follow
ing and was circulated through the coun-
try in unsparing profusion, aud with
promptness and zeal worthy OF an honest
cause. The committee protested 10 have
discovered great abuses in useless multi
plicaiion ofExecn,ive officers, especially in
the Departments OF State, Treasury, War,
Navy and ost Office. in this city and de-
- .L.:--.---:-.: a,-,.I.u q i.adieiaps
number oil clerksin those Departments might
be reduced with sufctyto the public interest"
independently OF considerable additional
reduction which might be effected by the
enforcement among them Of a due degree Of
industry. 1--WE believe (said the committee)
that there are, in fact, corps OF invalid pen
sioners attached 10 some ofthese offices and
Just in proportion to lbeI increasing disa-
bility TO discharge their duties, is there an
increased necessity for the appointment of
new clerks" The committee said, howev-
er, that they could not propose '-any speci-
| fic reduction OF the number Of clerks" mas
much as, "tcifhoHt The cordial aid Of the En-
ecutire no effective scheme Of retrenchment
could be instituted" Nothing but the Ere
eutire stood in the way Of reform which
should dispense at once with more than a
third of the clerks, and make the remainder
industrious and faithful Nothing, Of
course. but change of administration was
necessary 10 consummate the reform
The next session OF Congress found the
reformers at their posts. Retrenchment was
still the watchword General Jackson had
been elected and the cordial add Of the
/ Executive was, of course, secured. In this
state ofthings, the following resolution was
offered by the author OF the retrenchmeni
report, and adopted
"Resoved. That this House has right
to expect that the Executive will submit to
Congress, at its mex, session, a eomprehen
sice scheme Of retreachmeat, which shall ex
tend TO the looping of Of all useless Offices
aud the securing more effective aecountabiit
ty in those which are retained"
Such, Mr. Chairman. had been the preten
ded discoveries Of extravaganza, and sucf
) was the note appropriation for ian effeclivs
: and comprehensive scheme OF retrench
menl" when this Administration came into
power.
!. And now. sir, let me ask-what has beer
done 10 redeem the pledges thus made q
What expenditure has been diminished p
What Offices have been "opped OFF,
! Where is the promised "comprehensiv,
: scheme Of retrenchmen,2" Has there beer
retrenchment to the amount OF single dol
lar in one Of the Executive Departments p
Mr. Chairman, ask,hese questions in sobe
q earnest ask them in the name Of de
!. ceived and abused Peoples People whit
broughtthis Administration into power I,
. get rid OF offices they supposed 10 be useless
and cut offexpenditures they believed to b
: extravagan,.
Q know indeed, that, to make a show o
attempting reform, the President, in his frs
message, invited the attention OF Congress L
o The snhieot uto ascertain what offices can b