The Madisonian., 1840-01-23
WHOLE NO. 304.

King, Linn, Moulon Nicholas, Norvell, Preston,
Roane. Sewer, Strange, Walker, WALL Wr;ght-20
NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Belts Clay OF Kentucky,
Clayloa, Critenden, Davis Dixon, Henderson,
Lunpkin, MeIrick, Phelps, Pierce, PrentSs Robin
son, Rnggles, Smith, of Connecticut Smith Of linda.
SouIhard, TapPan, White, Of Indiana, Williams,
IOun6-22.
Mr. BUCHANAN now moved as an amendment
thst the salary Of the Treasurer Of the Mint at Phila
depha should be increased from 81 900. and that Of
Treasurer Of the Branch Mint at New Orleans from
$1,000, each respectively to ~, 500.
MIR CLAY, Of Ky. wished AK OF the honorable
Senator what had been done at the Mint at New Or
leans, and whether any coin had been made.
Mr.. SEWER asked the Senator from pennsy vania
10 move Ss4 900 for the Treasurer at New Orleans.
MI. BUCHANAN. do not like 10 make motion
III the face OF vote Of the Senate.
Mr. SEWER then moved the "a 600
Mr. MOUTON spoke IN favor Of this notion and
mentioned the very high salaries given in Louisiana.
Remarks made by Messrs. Norvell, Sewer
Calhoun and Tappan, understood 10 be in favor of this
notion and also Of general retrenchnent but not
emphatic enough TO he heard or embodied by the Re
porter; and also by Mr. Henderson in opposition,
Mr. BUCHANAN also insisted his general re-
gard to economy he rarely voting for an increase Of
salary and yet be would for this 10 get suitable
man and give him proper support.
Mr. SMITH, OF Indiana said he had at all times
when the question had been before the Senate, voted
favor OF an equazaon as far practicable, OF the
salaries Of the federal officers with those OF the State
officers performing corresponding services His object
IN rising TO place his vote this instance upon his
own ground He concurred with some OF the remarks
OF Senators who had opposed the increase this
lie admitted the truth OF all that had been said by them
IN favor Of economy but be did not place his vote
mainly on that ground He had never believed that
economy consisted in refusal to pay for services
far compensation any than he did that economy
required to dispense with the necessanes of life ;
fair compensation IN the necessary to
healthy political action. and In the other the
res Of life essential to individual health and en-
Joymen The question, what was reasonable com
pensatlon was to be decided He had said, former
occasion. that the standard afforded by the States
the safest that could be adopted He had made tha,
his standard because he believed the States able
10 Judge what was or what was not fair compensation
to the officers residing within their limits. He did no,
place this question, mainly he had SAID, on
economical grounds though perhaps. at no former pc
rod did white robed economy look mo.e beautiful or
better become the habment Of the nation and people
The question before the Senate not merely Of
dollars and cents He placed 1t upon much higher
grounds he viewed 1t great political question, in
timately connected with the perpctuiy ofthe free nsti
tutions Of the country. Had Senators been so blind or
inatentive to passing Tor the last years
not to have seen the shifting position OF the political
machinery Of the government, and the corresponding
influence the public Had the centralzlng enden-
cy Of the government in direction passed unno,ced
and unheeded Had gentlemen shut their eyes the
Of attraction. secluded themselves from his
huence Time was when excluslve State rights gen
temen alarmed at what they supposed the central
zlng power OF Congress where were those gentlemen
now
There danger, if there was, from
that influence but did Senators that there
another great cenalIxng power, poten, than all
that had preceded put together, which had sprung up
within the last ten years. threatening to inguf IN It's
meLdous vortex all the other powers oil the Govern
ment, aud undermine and PROSTATE the airest fabric
OF human wisdom ever constructed by man. Had Sena.
tors contemplated the Executive as that power
Had they not seen the power and Influence OF the States
vibrating to and fro like The needle near the magnet,
Had they not the highest State functlonafes leave
their peaceful homes and bow the snppant knee at tho
foot stool Of power, and humbly crave a crumb from
the Executive table! Did not gentlemen see daily, the
crowds of hungry applicants for Executive favor that
throng the city aud surround the White House Who
had passed through the crowd an election day, Of
late years, that did not among the most busy those
who either held expected Federal office Who had
been blind not TO have seen, dull not 10
have perceived that this patronage alone-this appoint
ing power-used to reward friends and punish enemies,
held by the Executive aud welded to political ends.
had made him the great centraizng power attractive
its force to bid defiance to all the centrifugal pow
that the State People could bring bear against
it, Those in Office fight for continuance renewal
OF the term expectans vie with each other in render
they may render while by the application OF the
rotating principle generally leaving particular
empt from ii, the Offices continually kept in view,
aud the number Of the army daily increasing The prin-
cipe was carried into the elections Legislatures were
returned prepared to act special concert with the
Executive. State Legislatures instructed their Sena-
tors to do so, and the whole power of the nation
etiectually centralized, while the public will and
could be other than the will Of the Executive Sena
tors might think OF this matter as they pleased but 1t
the allsmanc cord that binds together those who
would surrender all power to the President, and bids
fair, not arrested to eecually change the whole IA
brio Of Government to that of an elective monarchy
the government OF one man-whose fiat would grasp
the sword unite the purse, and pour out the best blood
of the nation. Were Senators prepared to stand by and
witness the progress Of these principles without raising
q hand to arrest them
The cry Of reform had gone forth in days past
the number OF officers was to be diminished, and sa-
laries and public expenditures were 10 be reduced.
These were empty sounds they tickled the ear, but
based only on promises never 10 be performed.
Those who had welded the destinies of the nation
for the last ten years were too Sagacious 10 act III
contorm nifty with these pledges. The army OF de-
pendent supporters that would be thrown around The
Executive by holding out To the country that 10 the
vctors belong the spos," and that the Executive
must reward The vgilant, not the sleeping, was OBJ
vous An Executive guard (not national as in
France) was the consequence of the policy; guard
sufficiently numerous and powerful 10 sustain the
Executive when his will was brought in contact with
the rights, interests, and will OF the mass of the
People. There were, il was true, many honorable
exceptions among the officers of Government within
his knowledge, but like other exceptions, they only
proved the general rule. He presumed that the
question would be asked, What remedy did he pro-
pose for the evil The Senator from Kentucky,
Mr Crittenden at the last session, had introduced
a bill 10 restrain Federal officers from interfering
with elections. Mr. S. had voted against that BILL as
he did not believe in the form Of the remedy, while
lie distinctly recognised the evil He had said al
that time, and he repeated it, that the tender point
was the salaries. touch that point and you make
yourself felt. Men of seven prnciples-as was
and Two fishes, who carry their principles in their