Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-08-09

the bestowment Of Executive patronage
We have not considered how strongly i ap
peals to the selfish and sordid passions OIL
our nature nor how systematically and per
severingly the means have been sought and
found oil giving il effect We have not been
aware how rapidly its fusidious influence is
debasing the moral feelings Of our country
men, and lowering the standard of political
morality. Why, sir, what an instantaneous
effect must the full disclosure OF this principle
produce on the moral feelings OF the army Of
office-holders scattered throughout the c5un-
try2 How suddenly must they feel the
promptings OF interest," urging, them to seek
10 retain their Offices, not by an independent,
manly, conscientious discharge Of duty but
by mean and selfish subserviency e the
power that dispenses patronage How, un,
der this system, must patriotism wither at
the very approach of Executive influncel
How rapidly will principle yield to eipedi-
ency, and self rise up and take the plsce OF
country With how little ceremony will
conscience be thrust aside as an old-faihion-
ed puritanical counsellor, unsuited u this
age OF political refinement and rdorm |
How soon will office.holders cone to
adopt the maxim that "al is fair id poll
tcs"-naturally concluding that. IL Is fair
for the President TO act on The MerenaTg
principle in appointing them. il is fair to car
ry out the same principle in supporting him;
and that if he may bride with patronage
they may bride with money and resort to
every conceivable trick and stratagem to
sustain his administration and perpetua.e his
power.
Sir, a man whose living depends on sub
serviency TO power must be 'fhrice armed
with virluous principle, TO maintain high
and uniform political integrity. If bis con.
tinuance in Office is made TO depend on o
conscientious performance of his duty, then
will his very Office become the means oil
Strengthening his good principles; while
on the other hand, il il is made to depend on
subserviency 10 power, his Office will be
come the inrtrument perpetually tempting
him to debasing compliances, and total
shipwreck of yirtuous principle
Thus, sir while the great principle on
which removals and appointments are made
adds 10 the power Of the Executive, by pur.
chasing subservient friends tsends, through
hosts Of office-holders and ofiice-seekers
contamination and corruption through the
whole length and breadth OF the land.
But the whole extent OF The mischief is moi
yet disclosed. The moral influence of high
station is immense and undesirable. And
what tremendous influence on the general
standard ofmorai feeling must be produced
by the known and admitted fact that the
PRESIDENT OF TIRE UNITED STATES is per-
pelually overlooking il not furnishing" hon
est merit: for the purpose of PURCHASING
support to himself by the "Iewardngn OF po-
litical subserviency and profigacy. Ii the
CHEF MAGISTRATES Of this great nation
may with impunily thus disregard sound
moral principle in the daily exercise of his
high functions, in what department Of society
will not the influence Of his example be felt 2
Sir, il will be TO our country what the orig
inal transgression was to the world, when
"Earth felt the wound, and Nature from her seat,
Signing through all her works, gave signs Of wo
That all was Iost.''
Ii political dishonesty is seen in The high
places of this nation, what sort Of dishones.
ty will it not encourage and countenance o.
Well did General Jackson say. when ad-
dressing the Tennessee Legislature in 1925,
that corruption would become the order oil
the day." when but one branch OF this sys.
tenn should be carried into execution. But
if corruption 10 that extent was to be the ef-
feet ofthe practice Of appointing members Of
Congress to Office, what shall we say Of the
effects. direct and indirect, ofthe application
Of the mereenary principle to the entire ad.
ministration ofthe removing and appointing
power2 Sir, it is like the pestience that
walks in darkness. II conlaminates the
very air we breath. and sends disease
through every artery and vein OF the body
polite.
But, sir, this corrupting process is carried
on not only through ofice-holders and Office.
expectants. and the influence OF Presidential
example. but through purchased and pros
tituted press. The poison is thus mingled
with the daily food Of thousands aud hun
dreds Of thousands of minds which are fed
by the newspaper press ofthe country, and
to which il is thus administered, under dis
guises which render them alike .unconcious
ofits nature. and unaware OF its origin
And. finally, there is given to the whole
ofthese combined influences the greatest pos
sible energy, through party organization
the most perfect, and by party discipline
the most /" rigid, exact unsparing, and mex
orablen
Such is the great principle which lies al
the foundation of the leading policy of the
Administration such the means Of giving
il efficacy and such its whitening Blight.
ing influence on public and private virtue
Comparative Importance Of The question of
Executive patronage.
am aware, Mr. Chairman, that, by many,
the lending fonic IN u,hich HIM, du,aIt