Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-08-23
a coNrRAsT

the receipts for duties on i'm
ports were S23,205,523 ga, the collection
Of which cost S032,O9 93 In 1887, the
duties collected were Sll,l69,290 81, at a
cost Of 8 .4s2.947 81 the amount collected
under Mr.. Adams being nearly double that
under Mr. Van Buren, whileihe collection
under MIR. Van Buren,, cost almost double !
that under Mr. Adams
The above facts furnish a striking illus.
traton Of extravaganza ofthe Administration
Of Martin Van Buren,. The inquiry arises,
how il should cost so much more to collect
81 100000 90 by Mr.. Van Buren,, than it
did the 24,000,000 90 by Mr.. Adams2 Can
there be any doubt in the matter2 Batting
the due proportion for the thefts of Sub
treasurers, il is mainly owing 10 the IN
CREASE OF OFFICE HOLDERS, by and under
The President, and connected with the rev.
enue department. We need not 60 far from
home to learn this truth. The facts are
plain and palpable TO the people of this part
Of Vermont-open TO ocular demonstration.
While the necessity for the employment of
more officers connected with the custom
house upon the frontier of the States has de-
creased fifty per cent within the last Ten
years. we think we are safe in saying, the
increase OF officers has been equal 10 fifty
per cent The change in the revenue laws
has now almost cut off the Involvement TO
smuggle, and hence, as there exists little or
no disposition to trespass upon the laws, IL
would follow that the officers should be re-
duced in number and salary. Butthe con-
trarv has been the fact
The interest Of The country does not re-
quire one fourth the number OF officers there
is now located in Vermont connected with
the custom house. But it is asked what or
whose interests does require them2 1t is
the interest of Mr. Van Buren, and that of
office-seekers of his pary-not that of the
people who pay them. There are at least
four custom house officers in Caledonia
county--costing the people FOURTEEN
HUNDRED DOLLARS per annum, Tor which
no service is rendered worthy OF notice by
them. In Orleans, there is one to nearly
every town, 10 pay whom q tax is levied
upon the people not far from THREE THOU
SAND DOLLARS per annum. The efficient
officers would be amply sufficient TO protect
the interes, OF the Government there. But
it is again asked why there are SO many |?
We repeat, ii is that they may serve Mr.
Van Buren, as partizan, and not as a
President, TO whom their utmost endeavorc
are devoted. During the present year an
addition has been made TO the corps.
! An anecdote will illustrate the why and
the wherefore they are appointed. One OF
the lately salaried gentleman. having be-
come quite hungry in pariizan services,
told the leaders and office procurers, after
much solicitation, that unless he was APP
pointed custom house officer he would
Join the Wings" The decision of the APP
plicant prevailed, and he now renders $3.50
services to the party. He is retained by
Van Buren, with this fee, to labor in this
cause
Now. we admit that there should be a
sufficient number of officers attached 10 the
custom house, and the laws should be en-
forced We would not speak against the
government but only the abuse of the ap-
pointing power by The administration, for
party purposes, when the people--ihe tax
payers, receive no benefit The error is not
in the governmental is in the abuse Of it by
those who appoint officers. There is an
implied contract when those supernumera.
ries are appointed. between them and the
president, that they shall serve him. Do
mol the people see it, and DO they approve OF
such waste of their money! If Mr. Van
Buren's administration cannot sustain it.
self by its own merits, it should be suffered
tc sink But he now conducts like man
guilty Of henous crime, and who robs his
neighbors to retain counsel for his defence.
His course is anti-repubican---it partakes
OF the very essence of those principles OF
! federalism which are charged upon the old
federal party, viz. the desire TO concentrate
understandable powers IN the hands of the
President, and the use thereof 10 strength
en- the executive. Jefferson and Madison
condemned such conduct and so must every
republican.
We in Vermont can judge from what we
can see about us, of the manner things are
conducted in other States. Ii is the same
all over the United States as here. II is by
this means the people are obliged to pay
$4,000 per year TO support government
whenten years ago under Mr.. Adams, they
paid but $I3,O00,000 to carry on its afiai,s
Here is the great outlet to the treasury-al
to secure political power. Mr.. Van Buren's
10000 office holders in the u. S. are eating
| out the substance OF the people--and in ten
years more. unless the people change the
administration and put honest men into
Office, our annual tax will be increased from
FORTY to SEVENTY millions. Let every
man ponder these things, and ask himself
Iifit is not his duty to unite with the Demo
cratic Wing party in bringing about o re-
lorm-a curlailmenl Of the expenses Of gov.
eminent = Caledoniam