Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-11-18

der to maintain power in the hands of their patron
A II who have reflected on the foregoing facts must
be ready TO affirm-lhat Executive Patronage. "has
increased, is increasing, and ought to be diminish
lshed"
hope then, by an early amendment of the con-
stitution, to see reduction of the President
Veto. The regulation of patronage would nat
urally follow.
There can be no good reason why the veto
should not be overcome by bare majority IN each
House of Congress, of all the members elected
to t-say, for the benefit of reflection, and at the
end of ten days from the bill. An amendment to
this effect would still leave the Presdent--the
general representative OF every state ana dstrlct,
armed with the votes of all members, absent at
the moment, from the respective Houses ; and
there will always be some members absent IRON
both.
RorArlos IN OrrICE.-The inquiry under this
head. is not definite in any letter before me- 1t,
however is presumed to refer, lst-T To the gov
errors and secretaries of territories and some of
the Judges therein district attorneys, collectors,
SURVEYORS and naval officers Of the customs
marshals; postmasters, whose commissions "a
mount TO a thousand dollars per annum navy
AGENTS registers and receivers at land offices 3:
surveyor general of lands, and Indian agents-all
of whom are, by .aw, appointed Tor a term OF four
wears, but subject, by express enactment except
the iudres) to BE- removed at pleasure. 2d-To
high class of civil Offices (next to the chiefs in
the executive departments at Washington other
hirh functionares-fo ministers, secretaries
of legation and eonsuls; postmasters, whose com
missions amount TO less than thousand dollars
per annum superintendent Of Indian affairs, In
dian sub agents, &c. &c.-all appointed without
limitation as to term, yet subject, in practice
not by express law--to be also removed at pleas
ure 3d-To the assistants allowed by law to
very many of the principals included above, which
assistants are generally called clerks-some OF
them deputies, appraises, weghers, guagers sub
inspectors, store keepers, light house keepers, &C
all appointed and subject to removal, as under the
second head.
am asked-W Whether Gin my poor oplnion) all
those functionaries amounting to many thousands
or any of them, ought to be periodically suppressed
ed by original appointments If yes-irhen q
And if a part only-which
We have seen that great number of offices
are filled for term of years, and more without
any limitation as to term. however, can draw
no line of Just distinction between the claims of
the two classes upon the favor of country or gov
eminent
Promising, that regular periodical changes in
the subordinate servants of the country, merely
for the sake of change, would necessarily swell
executive patronage, aready loo much swollen
am obliged to add that / more than doubt, on
other grounds, the policy and justice of such
changes. lst-Because, for the able and prompt
execution of public business much Official expe-
rrnce, in a great number of particular stations,
is known to be necessary ID. Because many Of
flee holders appointed under even reckless admin
istrations (sueh as we have seem will always
after time, be FOUND of tried integrity and of
equal industry and abilities Sd. Because again
some may be found in state OF honorable power
ty, the result no less of stern integrity than of
long and exclusive devotion to the public inter-
ests, and-4th. Because, toremove such servants
or not to appoint them al the end Of term,
would not only discourage successors in faith.
fu disc barge Of duty, bnt could not fail to OUT
rage the moral sense of entire communities. !
speak on this head, from what witnessed in
l529-30, of the cruel experiment, on a large scale
then made upon the spnsibilities of the country,
and the mischiefs TO the public interests which
Early ensued.
What | would, therefore, humbly advise, is this
To turn out, not only on a change OF President,
but in any and every week of the year, all office
holders known to be deficient in either honesty,
capacity, or industry and appoint in their stead
men known to possess those qualities. Without
an ANXIOUS attention to this rule, government
of the people resting on virtue and intelligence,
cannot long be successfully maintained; for blind
or vicious distribution Of enormous patronage
would soon-by the force ofthe highest example
beat down all that is taught in the Church, the
School or the College
One PRESIDENTIAL TERM OF the eight chief
magistrates that preceded General Harrison
whom 4 nation yet mourns-the first third, fourth
fifth and seventh, presided over this union. res
pectively, two successive terms the other three,
but for four years EACH and every one of the light
whilst IN Office, became a candidate for second
term.
consider the sublime example set by the faith
er of his county, in declining third election
which has been duly followed by four popular
Presidents, and would no doubt have been OBJ
served with equal good faith by the other three,
under like circumstancPs-as establishing bar
rer against third term, impossible as if ii
were em bodied in the constitution itself. But
do not consider it respectful to the 'ople, nor
otherwise proper in a candidate, to solicit favor
on a pledge that, if elected, he will not accept
second nomination. 1t looks too much like bar
gain rendered to other asplrants yield TO me
now ! shall soon be out of your way too much
like the interest that sometimes governs the Car
dinals in the choice of Pope many voting for
Themselves first, and, if without success, finally
for the most superannuated-in order that the e.
lection may the sooner come round again. | am
however, in favor of an amendment Of the con
sttution in enc of the forms presc rbed-declar
ing, that no citizen shall be eligible TO reelection
to the Presidency, and also, of an extension of
the term 20 that of Senator-a period Of six
years.
AGENCY OF THE pREslDfNT IN LE6ISLATloh.-l
am persuaded that this should be strictly limit
ed, /. To the Veto, qualified as suggested above
2. To a command of the consttution-"he shall,
from time to time give to Congress information
of the state of the Union and recommend to their
consideration such measures as shall Judge ne
cessarv and expedient, and g. To furnish through
the appropriate executive departments, such de-
II r IL sc