Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-01-31

They came into power upon the avowed Prlncl-
pie, that the patronage of the government "had
increased, tcas increasing, and ought to be dtmtn-
,shed." This was JefFersonon Republican doc
trine in 1927. That was Ile year, IN which on
the resolution Of the venerable Nathaniel Ma,
con, u Committee Of nine members was raised
in the Senate, TO take This "petty point into
considerations Col. Benton was Chairman, and
Mr. Van Buren,, Judge White, Mr.. Forsyth, and
other leading Jackson Senator'S were members.
They made an elaborate and eloquent report,
from which we will make a few
EXTRACTS.
ain coming to the conclusion" says the Re
port, SHAT executive patronage ought 10 DC Oh
minished and regulated on the plan proposed,
the committee rest their oplnN on the ground
that the exercise Of great patronage IN me hanaS
of one man has a constant tendency TO Suity me
purify Of our Institutions IND 10 ENDANGER THE
LIBERTIES OF OUR COUNTRY.
Again VIC rcad
"The committee believe that they will be act
ing in the spirit OF the constitution in laborlngI
10 multiply the guards and to strengthen the
barriers against the possible abuse OF power
| liza community could be imagined IN which the
laws should execute themselves-ln which the
power Of government should consist in the en-
lactment Of laws-in such u State the machneI
Of Government would carry on It's operations
without lar or friction. Parties would be UNI
known, and the movements of the political ma.
chine would but little more disturb the passions
Of men thoa they are disturbed by the opera
| tons Of the great laws Of the material world.
But this snot the case. The scene shifts from
this imaginary region, where laws execute
themselves, TO the theatre Of real life, wherein
they are executed by civil and military officers,
by armies and navies, by courts Of justice, by
1.-The collection and disbursement OF revenue, with
Iall is train Of salaries, jobs and contracts; and
in tnis aspect Of the reality, we behold the
working Of PATRONAGE, and discover the reason
why so many stand ready, in any country, and
in all ages, TO flock TO the standard OF POWER,
wleresover and by whomsoever it may be rails
ell"
After declaring that "the power and influence
of Federal patronage is an over match for the
power and influence Of State patronage: that it's
workings will contamnate the purity of all cleo
TONS and enable the Federal Government even
tually to govern throughout the States as effec-
tualIy as if they were so many provinces OF one
vast empire" the Report adds:
"The whole Of this great power will centre
in the President The King Of England
is the fountain Of honor;' the President
Of the United States is the source OF pat.
ronage.-He presides over the entire system OF
Federal appointments, jobs and contracts tie
has power over the support of the indlvldu-
ais who administer the system. He makes and
unmakeS them. lie chooses from the circle OF
his friends and supporters, and may dismiss
them, and, upon all the principles of human ac-
lion, will dismiss them, as often as they dlsap-
point his expectations His spirit will animate
their actions in all the elections to State and
Federal ofices.-There may be exceptions, but
the truth Of general rule is proved by the
exception. The intended check and control oil
the Senate, without new constitutional or saIu-
tary provisions, will cease to operate. Patron
age will penetrate this body, subdue It's capacl
~ of resistance chain it to the car Of power, and
enable the President TO ruiz as easily, and much
more securely, with than without the nominal
check of the Senate lfthe President was him
self the officer OF the people, elected by them
and responsible to them, there would be les
danger from this concentration of all power II
his hands; but it is the business Of statesmen t
act upon things as they ure, and not as they
would wish them TO be. We then look for
ward to the time when the public revenue vii
be doubled; when the civil and military officers
of the Federal Government will be quadrupled
i when its influence over individuals will be mul
+, Itipled 10 an indefinite extent, when the nomi
nation by the President can carry any ma,
through the Senate, and his recommendation
: can carry any measure through the two Houses
of Congress; when the principle of public actor
will be open and avowed the President cant
J. MY Uote, and | cant HIS patronage; / wW voTl
: as he DisheS, and he wiH GIVE me the office wiSj
D for. What will this be but the Government 0
0 one man? d what is the Government Of one mar
Il but monarchy? Names are nothing. The ma
: ure ola thing is in its substance, and the nam,
soon accommodates itself TO the substance"
Further on we have the following:
. "The committee must then take things u
}. they are. Not being bic to lay the axe to thu
}. root OF the tree, they must cote pruning amonI
$ the limbs and branches. Not being able to re
y form the constitution in the election of Presi
dent, they must 90 to work upon his power
J. and trim down these by statuary enactmenls
@ wherever it can be done by law, and with JUS
IS regard to the proper efficiency Of the Govern
d ment."
/. For this purpose, six bills were reported b.
l. the Committee of the following titles:
D. 81. A bill to regulate the publication Of tn
laws oil the United States and Of public adver
h tisements.
o. "2. A bill to secure in Office the faithful co
s. lectors and dsbursers of the revenue, and t
n. displace delaulters.