Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-07-19
NO. 46.

York! Just about as much effectiveness
IN i as there was truth in the charge of ex-
travagance, and sincerity in the pledges of
reform.
Let me call your attention. sir. to ono
other point in the famous retrenchment re-
report. The committee professed great al
arm at the amount of"Executve patronnps
OF the press" Estimating that there were
about one hundred printers employed in
publishing the laws and Government adj
veriisements and doing job-work they say:
when your committee look at this amount
OF patronage, placed, without control or
responsibility, in the hands Of the Executive.
or those Of subordinate chiefs OF his Depart
ments; and when they reflect on the moral
mechanism upon which this patronage acts.
with power that seems irresistible, thew
would deem their duty very inadeouateiv
discharged If they did not propose some
remedy for abuses alr,sdy existing
and essentially liable to be augmented.
The danger which assails the
freedom OF the press, through the insinua-
ton OF this species Of influence, is far more
serious than any star-chamber code Of pains
and penalties. This pecuniary censorship
OF the press must end in its utter prostitution
to an indiscriminate support Of the acts of
Government. however Injurious TO the rights
and interests Of the People"
To cunail this dangerous patronage, the
commiite proposed that The control of the
printing ofthe annual volume Of the laws
should be taken from the Secretary of
State. and given 10 the Secretary Of the
Senate and the Clerk Of the House of Rep
resen,aiives; that the Secretary of Stale
should be compelled TO select the paper
published By the printer Of the laws of each
State TO publish the laws of the United
States that the papers published by the
printers Of both Houses of Congress should
be selected TO publish the laws and Govern
ment advertisements in the District of Col
umbia ; and that the job printing. binding.
and stationary for each Department should
be done and furnished under contracts made
by the lowest bidders, on advertised prop
osals.
And now Mr. Chairman, what account
must give ofMese promised reforms? Can
l tell you that they were executed after the
reforming Administration came into power2
No, sir. Was no proposition made in Con-
gress TO that effect by the reforme.s2 None!
Did not General Jackson press the matter
IN his messages 10 Congress- Not at all
Sir. not word was heard from him or his
friends, on that subject, after he came into
power The visions of danger which stood
dream %nen one hwaReifi' ''.'''
But it may be asked, ifno legislation was
proposed as ''remedy for abuses" in the
Executive patronage OF the press" did not
the Executive himself very cautiously avoid
such an exercise of that patronage as
,rn,,Id IN uancsp that ehoult
interfere with the freedom of the press"
and "prostiluie it to an indiscriminate sup
port of the acts .ofthe Government 81 Did
he not. for example, direct the Secretary Of
State TO divide the patronage of publishing
the laws fairly among the papers Of the diff
ferent parties. having respect to location.
circulation. and moral and literary charac-
ter2 Did he not say-However may be
disposed TO reward friends and punish enc
miles," | will never consent TO extend that
principle 10 THE Pass. whose entire and
perfect freedom from Executive influence is
Indispensable 10 its fidelity as sentinel on
the watch-tower OF freedom2
MIR. Chairman. the President neither
said nor did any such things as these ques-
tions suggest No, sirl; the very reverse OF it
was then. s. has ever since been the settled
policy Of the Administration. In carrying
out this policy. the press has been approach
ed with the same influence that has been
broughlto bear upon the host Of applicants
for office. Executive subservency has been
made the test Support the Administration.
or you shall moi publish the laws Of Con
gress or the advertisements Of the Depart
ments, or do any work for the Government
There was not an Opposition press in the
employ OF the Government at the time this
! Administration came into power, that has
been able TO retain its employment without
changing its political character And there
is not single press now enjoying the Exc
cutiye patronage, that can become truly in
dependent, but at the hazard of an instanta-
neous and entire withdrawal ofihat patron
age. Nor is this all. A great number.
probablv not far from one hundred, editors
or printers of newspapers have been APP
pointed to lucrative offices. Many Of them
have received the Office Of postmaster, which
has given to their establishments very pecu
liar advantages. Many presses, il is we'll
known, have been kept from sinking by the
mere aid thus received through Executive
patronage,
Thus. sir. have the sound doctrines Of
the retrenchment report been disregarded.--
1t aided to put patronage and power into
hands that have since torn and scattered il TO
the winds. The patronage OF the press. as
well as every other branch Of Executive pat
ronage, instead Of being regarded as deli,
cate public trust, 10 be used with a high
sense ofthe danger ofils perversion. has been