Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1840-09-24

the Praetoran bands OF he Executive. They
came, all drilled, armed and paid into the con.
test, while the people whom they opposed, were
armed only with the Republican principles in.
stilled into their minds by their fathers Here
the orator drew striking parallel between the
\ Presidents army ofoflicc-holders and The Prae-
toran bands Of Rome, and mirrored forth the
fatal consequences that would inevitably ensue
if our people do not fully rouse themselves and
put the usurpers down. He told Of England's
democracy much it had at one time, ac-
compished byTesoving to submit no longer to
/ the arrogant Ind insutierabe dictation of the
throne. He then took glance at our own
country, when Jefferson was Vice President,
and told what that great Republican promised,
if the people elected him President, viz: that
I he would eflecualy put stop TO the election
eering Of the otfce.holders, which, even at that
early day, was beginning 10 alarm tie Repub.
Leans olthe whole country. This, Jefferson
did, agreeably 10 his promise. Harrison now
makes similar promise, and he will act upon
that promise as Jefferson did upon the one
which he gave. But seeing that nothing of the
kind was to be expected of the present Presi-
dent, he introduced bill year or two ago,
INTO the Senate, to bring about what Mr.. JefIer-
son himself effected, but what Van Buren, re-
/ fuses TO have any thing to do with, except TO
aggravate the offence complained Of. His bill
was designed TO secure the freedom of elec.
lions against the interference and dictation Of
the ofliceho 1t left them free to vote as
they pleased and it made them independent of
the Executive, Under it they were not com
PEELED to electioneer for the President, in order
to retain their places. They were filling the
peoples offices, and therefore ought not TO be
required by the Executive to neglect their le-
gitlmate duties TO electiUneer for him. In Sc
lecling Judge OF a court, the main object ought
to be to procure one who will attend TO the du-
ties Of his station faithfully and imparlaIy,
biased by no one, and under the control OF no
one. 1t should be the same in electins officers
10 the Government He said the bill had been
most grossly misrepresented. 1t had been
called gag bill by those who are attempting to
gag all the Office holders, to shut up their
mouths, and not let them say one word u
gainst the powers that be, however corrupt and
dishonest they might think them. Instead Of
gagging them, il would relieve them from This
vile state o significance, and make them men,
independent 10 vote for whom they pleased
/ This was the object he had in view when he in
troduced his bill.
He referred TO Benton's bill to restrict Exec.
utiye patronage, introduced in 1926, and stated
some olils arguments and predictions. Those
predictions, he said, had been verified. The
President says TO his Office holders, you cleo
tioneer for me, and secure my reelection, and
II will keep you in office. Though hose things
were not SO then, yet they were predlcted-and
the prediction has been fulfilled This worst
species Of venaity and corruption has come up
on US. His bill was intended TO put check to
III He loved the freedom Of speech, in part,
because he used it 50 freely. When his bill
came before the Senate for action, and Mr..
Benton opposed it, he said he referred him to
his own bill and predictions of 1896 When
Mr.. Buchanan opposed it, he referred him to
what he had said on former occasion against
the interference of the office holders in the
freedom OF elections. lie read to the Ponasyl-
vania Senator, who was taking notes TO reply,
1 his own words. The Senator dropt his pen
and sat aghast Three days afterwards he
had got himself prepared with reply which
4 he pronounced before the Senate.
But that was not sufficient, though Mr.,
Buchanan was an old Federast, and was pre-
sumed to DO well acquainted with the best me-
thod Of defending Federal and opposing Jetfer-
sonian Republican doctrines Mr.. Wall, Of
New Jersey, another old Fcderalisl, stepped
i forward 10 the rescue, and framed Report
(which not only countenanced the otiice-holders
4 in all their indecent interference in elections,
but absolutely enjoinedit upon them as one OF
their duties. This report twas ladopted by the
Administration majority, and $4,000 copies
were ordered 10 be printed and circulated! lie
! said he thought the number should have been
j 10000 so that each Office holder could have had
copy Of his orders.
For himself, he would say that his motives
we're pure in introducing that bill. He was
proud oft, and no name its reviers could give
lii would ever make him ashamed oft.
lie said he knew to what use that bill had
been turned by demagogues in Tennessee, TO
effect the object which was accomplished last
II year. lie knew it had been used against the
late Senators this State who voted with him
l for it. They, like himself, voted for it because
they wished 10 effect what Jefferson had the
honesty when President, to order done with
out the aid of sgisatiOn, and it gave him plea
sure-to have it in his power there 10 proclaim,
> that had his colleague been present when the
vote was taken, he too would have given it his
support.
But by means Of that Bill, the Senate had
been deprived Of its services, aye, the State Of
J tennessee, and the whole country, had been
deprived OF the valuable services Of his distin-
Iguished friend, (Mr. Foster) who was presiding
over the deliberations OF that Convention
But Justice will be done hlm--and that too, al
no remote day.