Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1839-07-16

retain, unimpaifcd, and even lnyiEofaloj, TIE eie-
mcnis Of It's triumph and prosperity. Invasion
may unite its people injustice may deepen their
sense Of right oppression may make them feel for
the oppressed dangers may develop their rosour-
ces Of skill and courage; %priyaton and hardship
may give patience TO endurance and adversely may
impsrt strength TO virtue. Our own glorious rev.
olu,ion presents an illus,rious example Of all this.
The noble minds that founded our institutions. and
the stern virtues that sustained them amid the per
ils and weakness of their infancy, exhibit some Of
the fruits OF that severe and trying conflict.
But Mr.. Chairman, whore nc the rcdeeming
qualities of that influence which silently infuses
corruption into the life blood of a peoplcl What
shall restore n nation thus contaminated What
shall change corruption into purity, convert base
servili,y into love of country, and give TO selfish
ness the lofty elevation of stern, unco%mpromising
viriuel VIII the Ethiopian change his skin, or
the leopard his spots7 Then will corruption cure
It's own ieprosy, aud the worm which is gnawing
at the root of our republican institutions consume
Itself.
SIT. one good sound moral principle ehec,unlIy
wrought into the very heart and soul Of this great
nation, aud wbtchfully cherished there, is worth
more for IT'S permanent defence from foes without,
and Ms security from foes within, than all the uealh
of both the IndIcs, and all the fleets and armies
which that wealth can purchase and employ. Let
the great moral principles on which our Institutions
are based, and which were bodied forth in The per
sons Of our evolutionary and constitutional fathers
cease 10 exert a controlling influence upon the
men to whom is entrusted the government of this
country ; and let their dereliclion from these nrinci.
pies receive the deliberate sanction of the Ameri-
can People, and this nation, with all It's show Of
high health and sigor, shall feel to its very extrem-
i'les a paralysis from which it will require little
lose Than n ,u,roo1a 10. -, .ooa.o.
Cause Of Defdlcations.
There has, Mr.. Chairman, been much said, re-
Gently, about the defalcations of public officers ::
and the amount of losses throug public agents, es-
pecially one of hem, has been dwelt on with much
emphasis. Sir, this is right. We may we'll feel
the loss Of the large sums of which the treasury
has been detrauded. But the amount of money lost
is not The true measure of the mischief; nor would
it be if it were twenty tim cs multiplied. 1t rouscs
indeed, public attention but if that attention is
not fixed upon something beyond the mere loss of
money, and beyond even the means of future secu-
rity by checks and penalties, it will be employed
to a very inadequate purpose. These defalcations
lave been the results OF the dangerous and corrupt
ing principle of executive removals and appoint
ments to which ! have called your attention.
The appointment of Samuel Swartwout-who
has been suffered, by a most ~culpable neglect, to
accumulate in his hands and squander a million
and a quarter of dollars-was, as | have before in
umated, one of the first of the appointments made
by General Jackson, AFTER dismissing the Senate in
lS29-an appointment made upon the removal Of
a competent and faithful officer, for the express
purpose of rewarding an active and devoted parti-
san. The question Of rustworthincss was not
made the question in that case. If it had been,
Jonathan Thompson would have been retained
But no; ~partizan friendship and pa~rtizan services
outweighed all other considerations; Thompson
was removed and Swartwout appointed.
That removal and appointment; was a foir sam
pie of lie great mass Of removals and appointments
made under this dynasty; and it will be found that
The numerous cases of defalcation have been those
ct men who have been thus appointed, upon remov-
ais for opinions sake. They have, as matter Of
course, been more solicitous to serve the executive
than TO discharge their official duties; and have,
moreover, felt TINT they might expect especial in
diligence from an executive bound to them by
strong party ties. and reluctant, from motives of
party pride, to have them exposed. 1t would
have been Il miracle if the public moneys had not
been p%lundered under such circumstances. The
deialcatIons, therefore, which have so startled the
country, have been the legitimate fruit Of the cor
rupt use oil executive patronage, with which it has
been cursed Tor ten years, under the name of re-
form. If sir, this fruit shall lead the people to
consider The nature Of Tie tree which has produced
it. and shall beget a determination to cut it down
and destroy 1t, The nation may well afford TO sus-
tain all the losses complained Of. Yes, sir; if a
hundred millions and twice a hundred millions
could purchase for the country a perpetual exemp-
ton from that abuse of Executive power which |
have described; if 1t could secure an indefinite sue
cession of administrations formed, in this respect
upon the model Of the "pure'' Administration which
General Jackson put down it would be a richer
purchase than two hundred or ten hundred millions
ever made.
But, sir, what cannot be purchased with money,
the people may be reused 10 accomplish by their
votes; and ! trust they are preparing to accom-
pllsh 1t in a manner which will be long remember
ed by those who have abused their confidence and
betrayed their rights. They are beginning to feel
their strength, and put it forth upon the massy
pillars Of the temple Of corruption. Give them one
full and fair 'heave." and it shall tumble into
ruins.
Pretended reform gIs29. really needed ia 1889.
II is not a little remarkable, Mr.. Chairman.
that the abuses which the Wings are now labor.
Ing to reform, BY putting down tho Adufnis,.,t..