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


Custom Hou,e clFcers forod Ly The party
Sine. this speech was delivered, the rcpor. of
tho investigating Committee has been made; BY
which 1t appears from the examination of witness.
es belonging to the custom house department at
New York, that the officers of flat department
have been regularly assessed. from ,ne to six per
cen: on their salaries, for political purposes. and
have been called on by collectors Cor the amount.
III was assessed (seys one OF the witnesses) by
the general committee os,he Tsmmany Hall party.
" tie individual did not pay the amount he was
taxed WITH the collector would remark You tciH
be reported 10 The general committee; and erery body
understood that prescription mouid foiior. The
| collector OF the general committee has nm alpha
beiical book, which contains the names Of persons
| taxed and the amount each individual is required
10 pay
Here we have glimpse of the secret move
men,s of the machinery by which Executive pat
| ronsge Is 'brougbt into conflict with the freedom
OF elections" There are more than four hundred
officers OF various grades connected with the Gus
tom muse in the city Of New York and here is
nn exhibition of the influence which moves them
in solid phasnx at the elections. and draws from
The avails Of heir Offices the means of aiding 20
secure party ,rumphs A Tammany Hall commit
Tee gives them TO understand tina, prescription will
for political purposes. What would Martin Van
Buren,, Richard Nj. Johnson, and Thomas II. Ben
| ton (the prominent members Of the committee on
executive patronage in 1926, TO whose report l
hpve referred) have said. if the custom house de-
partment at New York had then been under such
| an Influence as is here disclosed? What horror
would have seized them on making the discovery !!
The bare contemplation Of the possible effect Of the
power of the President over the offcers then con-
| nectcd with that custom house was made the oc-
| cssion of sounding an alarm by the committee
| Hear them. Amer stating that the number then
| amounted to 1884, and their compensation TO $l19,
| 620, 1.-THE present number is over 400 and the a
mount Of their compensation more than S400 900 !
| the committee SAID:
| "a formidable list. indeed-formdable in mum.
| bers. and sill more from the vast amount Of
money in their hands. The action Of such body
of men, supposing them to be animated by one
spirit, (whai was then superstition is now reality
must he tremendous in an election and that they
will be so animated is proposition too plain to
need demonstration. Who so capable of giving
iufment TO their predictions as the prophets
themselves y Power over mans support has ol-
ways been held and admitted to be power over his
will. The President has power over the support
of all these officers. and they again have power
over debtor merchants to the amount of ten mil
lions OF dollars per annum, and the daily sup
port Of an immense number of individuals, profes
sonal. mechanical. and Ga y-laboring. TO whom they
can and will extend or deny a valuable private as
well as public patronage. according TO the part they
shall act in State as well Federal elections"
What the committee thus spoke OF as possible
and probable in 1926, has become sober reality in
1880 while there is added (what did not then en-.
Ter The conceptions Of the propheis) Tammany
Hall taxation for political purposes enforced by the
threat of official prescription Such some
of the fruits Of he corrupt principle which the
forming dynasty have adopted in the bestowmont o
Executive patronage, and 10 which they have
sought and are still seeking. TO give the force OF I
settled, permanent rule Of executive action.
Manufacture Of public sentiment.
But, Mr.. Chairman, there is another brarch o
this machinery which is not less perfectly organ
lied and not less completely within the control o
the Central power. mean the affiliated party press
Of the country. IL it determined by the Presden
with the advice Of The seect political cabal tha
any new party movement shall be msdef a mes
sengcr is despatched-lbe editor Of the Globe sp
pears (thoogh he is understood TO be generally
present one Of the advisers y instructions arr
given, and the Globe moves. Strsightway Their
is a corresponding and Simultaneous movement IL
. the party press in Vermont. in Pennsylvania, II
Georgia. and in the far West. Public sentmen
is manufactured, as The cotton is taken from tn
, bale. in the lower story, and comes out a perfec
web in The upper. Every editor and every execu
tive officer knows his place knows what is sxpec.
ed ofhim. and knows he shall be shot for deser
lion.' No military government was ever more alb
soluie. No machinery ever moved with a prees
ion more perfect.
Wonder is offer expressed iha,, with the utmos
powerful means--so far as there is power in troll
, -(slas IT is too often powerless) the Opposition
are sbc 10 make go little impression, and are 81
oflen defeated when victory seems certain. Here
cir, is the secret. The President and his men On
! derstsnd IL and while the Wings talk Of pnneipl
they lsogh al its ineficsey when brough, into con
he; With their party machinery. Mr.. Chairman
how many illustrations Of this nigh, be draw
from the history Of our political conflicts dannI
the last ten years. Suffer me 10 refer you to on
/. OF them.
4 EJecvtipe i,tlpeAee and Ge EEPungiAg resolaiiOA
0 You remetnber. cir. the celebrated ease Of ih
deposiies. The Presiden, took the responsible
: ~ md the pubic treasure moved at his bidding