Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1839-07-09

Lelter was wfNlcn ana pubNshcc ~ the NicN-
monS Enquirer, aud other papers. in which the
writer a Senator Of the t. s. one of the coutpi,
ra,ors, writing anonymously declared that vie.
iiiag the Presidents mansion, be had found the
East Room so gorgeously furnished Tbs, il could
hardly be looked into without dazzling The eyes Of
the beholder. when he knew that there not ten
dollars worth Of furniture in the entire room All
these insinualions Of personal extravaganza origin
ated with men who knew then. as all the world
knows now, that the object Of their SANDER was
| one of The PLANES, and most economical unos'on
'a,ious Chief Magistrates the country ever had.
And then, too, he the son Of his father -
| His blood was tainted with tho gu Of federalism
and though he really possessed more genuine re-
| pubeansm than the whole combined host Of his
| calumnIators, he was held up TO the country
| high-toned nristocrat without n single feeling ia
common with the mass of his counirymen.
| 1t was by these and kindred means that the pub
lie mind had been prepared for the grand charge of
| extravaganza, and the splendid professions of O.
economy and retire nchment which closed the polit.
cal campaign Of lS25-'29, and consummated the
purpose OF putting down the "pure" administration
regret, Mr.. Chairman, that ! have not time to
give full history Of the means employed 10 sprnd
through the country the false cnmor Of extrnva.
gance, and the equally false as well hypocritcal
be Brief and snail confne myself to a single range
/ Of inquiry.
/ You remember, sir, the abors Of the celebrated
'retrenchmcnt committee appointed by the house
of Representatives in the winter Of 1928. Their
report was made IN May of that year, just IN time
/ 10 operate on the Presidential Election in Novem.
Der following; and circulated through the
country in unsparlng profuson, and with prompt
ness and zeal worthy of honest The
committee protested to have discovered great
abuses in useless multiplication Of executive of.
| 6cers, especially in the departments of State
! Treasury, War Navy and Post Office in this city,
aud declared their conviction TINT, by judcious
system Of reform, at least ono third of the number
| Of clerks in those departments might be reduced
with safety to the public interest,"" independently
| of considerable additional reduction which might
be effected by The enforcement among them Of
due degree of industry. 1--WE believe (snd the
commttce) that there in fact a corps of invalid
pensioners attached TO of these offices; and
just in proportion TO their increasing disability TO
discharge their duties, there is an increased me-
cesslty, for the appointment Of new Clerks
The committee said, however, that they could
not propose 'any specific reduction Of the num-
Der of clerks, nasmuch 'ictout The cordial aid of
the Erecufiue. 10 effective scheme eff retrcnchment
could be instituted. Nothing but the Executive
at with more than a third of the clerks, and
make the remainder industrious and faithful No.
thing of course but change Of administration was
necessary TO consummate the reform
The next session of Congress found the reform =
ers at their posts. Rerenchment was still the
watchword. General Jackson had been elected;
and the cordial aid of the Executive was, OF
course secured. In this state of things. the fol-
lowing resolution offered by the author Of The
retrenchment report, and adopted:
"Rcsoired, That this House has right to ex-
pect that the Executive will submit 10 Congress
at IT'S next session, comprehensive scheme Of re
, trencAnont, which shall extend to the LpIdng of o
oil useless otfees and the securing more cGectiu
accountability in those which are retained"
Such, Mr.. Chairman, had been the pretended
discoveries ofcxtrayagance, and such was the NOTE
n Of preparation for IAN effective and comprehensive
scheme of retreEchment,' VIXEN this administration
came into power.
: And now, sir, let me ask-whai has been doot
1 to redeem The pledges thus madei What ex7en
n diiure has been dminishedl What Offices have
been Topped OFF, Where is The promised com
/ prehensive scheme Of retrenchment 2 Has Their
G been relrenchment to the amount of single dol
: lar in one Of The Executive Departments Mr.
c Chairman, ask these questions in sober earnest
J. | ask them in the name ofa deceived and abuse
u peopie-n people VINO brongU this administrator
into power to get rid Of offices they supposed to b.
d useless, and cut off expenditures they believed t
G be extrayogsnt.
IF ! know indeed, that, TO make show Of attemp.
: ing reform the President in his fret message, in
e yed the attention Of Congress to the subject, q
!. ascertain what offices be dispensed with, en'
}, what expenses relenched.' That paft Of the mes
/. sage was referred TO a committee Of this House
n aud the Committee called on the heads Of oil ih
Executive Departments for information 10 wha
II extent reductions might be made IN their segefa
II Departments. And, what replies 90 you thin
y were gven' Why. slr from every one Of thea
e there back The response that no reduction o
b officers could be made Wide most Of them aeiu
d ally asked for an iHcroase! Yes sir an increase
ID The 'reformers' had promised retrenchment II the
"a could get possession Of the Executive Offices, an
II haze The cordial aid Of The President. Well the
x we're grsu6ed. They got Pfes'den, OF ihei
s. choice. They took possession Of the Egeeo'ry
" offices. And Dir. the Pfesden, himself-ii we co
believe the deelsr,iou ofthc unued States Teie
e graph, st lhs, line his Official organ-gase b.
id cordial and efficient I'D by actually visiting th
al ~ .f.,, IN fffa