The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-16

with every disposition apparently still to enlarge
them.
On rstring from the Senate with the prospect
of being candidate for the Presidency, Gen.
Jackson in his lstter especially called the attention
Of the American people to the dangers Of Execu-
tive power, and minated that some 81 new barrier
TO the encroachments Of power or corruption
was necessary, and should be applied. He pro-
posed an amendment 10 the Constitution to Sc
cure the election of President directly by the
people, and to render members Of Congress in
eligible to Office, under the Federal Government,
for certain term. To the latter he attached
much importance, and said:
But if this change in the constitution should not
be Obtained and important appointments continue to
devolse upon the Representatives in Congress- II re-
quios no depth Of thought 70 be convinced, that cor
ruption could become tic order Of the day, and that
under the gafb Of Conscientious sacrifice to establish
pecedents for the public good evils of serious mpor
lance to the freedom and prosperity Of the republic,
may arise. II is through this channel, that the poo
pie may expect 10 be attacked in their constitutional
sovereignty and where tyranny may well be apprc
hended to spring up in favorable emergency
Against such inroads every guard ought to be inter
posed"
Mr. McDurriE, of S. c., in the House of Re-
representatives., Feb. 1926, made use Of the fol-
lowing language:
ITO say nothing of corruption, there few among
| us strongly ~ we may feel intrenchcd behind our
own dignity who not liable to have the steTnncss
of our purposes relaxed by condescending smile, or
an act Of Executive confidence, or-adinner These
little arts which, in their combined operation consti
tute what is usually dcnominsted intrigue, the
by which cunning aApirants address themselves
to the vanity and foblcs Of those who fall within the
sphere of their fascination The People sir, cannot
be reached by these arts but we, their wise and vr-
tuous Representative thrown into the fatal circle,
fall victims to influence of which are not our
selves conscious. 1t is in vain, sir TO disscmble We
may shroud ourselves in wise looks and digniiied
exterior but perhaps laboring under the fatal
charm Of the cnchantrcss at the very moment we
| Indignantly discaimng il.
Sir IL innocence that temptation conquers II our
first parent, pure she came from the hand Of God,
was overcome by this seductive power let us not mi
tate her fatal rashness, by seeking temptation, when
it il in power TO avoid it. Let US not vanly con-
fde in our own incompatible purity. We are liable
to be corrupted. To an ambitious man, honorable
Office will appear beautiful and fascinating the
apple Of Paradise.
admit, sir, that ambition is a passion, at once the
most powerful and the most useful Without it hui
affairs would become mere stagnant pool 1t is
the active principle that stimulates the patriot to
cxerton and in its very it is the railty OF
the most exalted minds BY means of this patronage
the President addresses himself in the most rresisti-
bic manner to this, the noblest and strongest Of our
passions. All that the Imagination can desire-ho-
nor power, wealth, ease, held out the tcmpia-
ton. Man not made to resist such aurements.
1t is impossible to conceive, Satan himself could not
devise, a system which would more nfalliby intro
ducc corruption and death into our political Eden
Sir, the Angels fell from Hearen Nth less fempfo-
/ ion.
SO great was regarded the liability to corrup-
ton, so alarming the increase of Executive pa
tronage, that committee was raised in the U.
s. Senate, in 1926, expressly to take the subject
into consideration. The committee, Of which
Thomas III. Benton was chairman, reported
| proposition SO to amend the Constitution as to
and prohibit the appointment Of Members Of
Congress to Office. They also reported to the
Senate six bills, entitled:
l. A bill to regulate the publication of the Laws of
the United States and of public advertisements.
q A bill to secure in Office the faithful Collectors
and Disbuscrs Of the Revenue and to displace de-
faultcr.
g. A bill to regulate the appointment Of Postmas-
tiers.
4 A. A bill TO regulate the appointment of Cadets
s. A bill to regulate the appointment Of Midshp-
g. A bill to prevent Military and Naval Officers
from being dismissed the service the pleasure of the
| President.
| The committee derived their data from the
Blue Book, to which they referred ''as work
of unquestionable authority" corresponding
with the 'Red Book" of monarchies, and gave
a list of about ITS officers of the customs at
New York city, not t,co,ffths of the present
number, and exclaimed:
"A formidable list indeed! formidable in numbers,
and still more from the vast amount Of money in
their hands The action of such body Of men, sup
posing them to be animated by spirit be
mendous in election and that they will be ami
mated is proposition too plain to need demonstration
Porer over mans support has always been held
and admitted to be poirer his nil The President
has power over the support of all these officers
and they again have power" over the Support" Of
debtor merchants to the amount of millions of dol
lars per annum, and over the daily support of i'm
mcnse number of individuals professional mechanical
and day-laboring, to whom they and miH extend,
deny, valuable private well public patronage,
according to the part which they shall act in State
well Federal, elections"
After giving the example of Norfolk, where
Al officers were employed to collect $4,000 Of
revenue, the committee urged the following
startling remarks:
"Thc power and influence Of Federal patronage,
contrary to the argument in the g Federaiisf is an
overmatch for the power and influence of STATE pa
tronage it's workings will contamnate the purity
of all elections, and enable the Federal Government
eventually, to govern throughout the States cfcc-
tually As if they were many provinces Of vast
empire
The whole of this great power will centre in the
President. The King Of England is the fountain Of
honor" the President of the United States is the
source of patronage He presdcs the entire ays
tenn Of Federal appointments jobs, and contracts He
has power over the support" Of the individuals
who administer the system. He makes and unmakcs
them. He chuses from the circle of his friends and
sumnrters and n1au dislnisa them and unon all the