New-York tribune., 1841-11-09

tory n, declara,ory acts of Congress-.
M Er,cs.ive Veto-Thi' BY the trainers o'
,be CONSTITUTION could only have been desigseo'
To enable the President TO defend bis own rlgh'-
fl powers against usurPation' on the part OF Con
r.ei.. . To enable MIN to forbid other legislative
;nsrsct,ops of the Constitution and 3. To guard
,be country against other acts OF hnsty or violent
legislation
1t is hardly possible TO conceive a case under the
first or second OF these heads, against wkica the
Judioiary-the balance-wheel Of the sysieu-dses
not afford OF Itself all the security that the people
can require.
But without, the protection Of either the Bench
OF the Veto, would the executive department (be-
come so super-judicial of late years be too weak
10 fulfill the strictly executive functions for which
it Was more particularly crea'ed or rather would
uot that department still be the most powerful, tor
evil, in the government.
The President is under the checks OF the Con-
stuton and law, rightfully invested with the pew
er of the Sword, and he mas again and again had
that Of the Purse also. The House ct Congress,
it is tue, lays for imports and regs!aie the
sales of the public domain; but it is he Through
MS agents) who handles the proceeds. From 1888
to 1886 10 say nothing Of TIE present he alone)
nominated and dismissed all the agents who kept
as well as those who distributed and sisbur-ed the
public revenue. The apothegm-'nake Us your
executor we care not VINO are your legislators
mas irchtful application such small agents aFd
the immense treasure that annually passes through
their hands
The rapid increase and spread of population;
the growth OF national wealth; the amount oi "a
venue collected and disbur-ed; the new relations
(by the extension Of commerce) with foreign coun-
tries the additional appointments at home and
abroad the nnmber and value OF contracis-a!l
constantly and necessarily or the increases gen
era decay in morals. perhaps, as great in Congress
as elscwhere the habit that we nave seen pre-
vail during the presidential terns--ot filing pub
lie Offices with but little or regard 10 mora!
standing-have taken together, already opened to
the head of the government elements OF power and
corruption which it was impossible ioI the trainers
and adopters of the constitution TO foresee or 10
conceive Who, at that distan, day, for example
ever dreamed Of the spectacles which have recent
~ dis-usted every honest citizen: OF postmasters
malconractors, maihsgents, and census takers,
covering the land with government pamphlets,
hand.b bills ard exra-gazettes sufficient, Ut read
to sap the morals, public and private. OF an entire
generatlon3 of the custem-house mercenasles IN
the large cities, living on the public, neglecting
every duty for party meetings aud the polls, and
rendering to Power the most bribc-worthy ser
vices OF District Attorneys and Collectors ram
their own the most iadecent-in order to main
tain power in the hands of heir patron! All who
have reelected on the foregoing facts must be ready
to siiirm-,hat Executive Patronage, has increa-
scd is increasing, and ought TO be diminished.
| hope, then, BY an early amendment 81 the Con-
stituton to see reduction of the President veto.
The regulation of patronage would naturally follow
There can be no good reason why the veto should
rot be overcome by bare majority in each House
of Congress of all the members elected 10 lt-say,
for the benefit of reflection, the end OF ten days
from the return of the bill An amendment 10
this effect would still leave the President, the gem
eral representative Of every State and district
armed with the votes of all The members absent at
the moment from the respective Houses and there
will always re some members absent from both.
Rotation in OGce.-The inquiry under this
head is not dehn ite in any letter before me. 1t
however is presumed to refer lst. TO the Govern
ors and Secretaries of Territories, and of the
Judges therein; District Attorneys, Collectors
Surveyors and Naval Officers of the Customs, ;
Marshas Postmasters, whose commissions amount
10 thousand dollars per annun Navy Agents :;
Registers and Receivers at and Offices; Survey
ors General of Lands and Indian Agents-uli OF
whom are, by law, appointed for term OF four
years, but subject, by express enactment, (excePt
the Judges to be removed at pleasure. I'd, to
high class of civil officers (next TO the chiefs) in
the Executive Departments at Washington: other
high unctionaries-Foregn Minister'S Secretaries
of Legation and Census pesmaster., whose com
missions amount to less than thousand dollars
per anaum; Superintendent of Indian Aii'lirs, In
dian Sub gents &c. &c.-all appointed without
Limitation as to tcrm yet subject, in practice-not
by express law-to be also removed at pleasure.
3D. 10 the assistants allowed by law 10 very many
OF the principals included above, which assistants
are generally called Clerks, sene OF them Deputies,
Appraisers, Weighers, Guagers, Sub Inspectors,
Storc-kecpers, Lighthouse Keepers, &c. &c.-ail
appointed and subject to removal, under the sec
ond head.
| am asked-Whether (in my poor oPinon) al
those functiouaries (amounting to many theusands)
or any of them, ought be periodically superse-
ded by original appointments I 1t yes When !
And ii part only-lVht h!
We have seen that great number OF Offices are
filed for a term Of years, and mere without any
limitation ns to term. |, however can draw no
line of Just distinction between the claims of the
TWO classes upon the favor OF country or govern
ment
: Prcsuming that regular periodical changes in the
subordinate servants of the country, merely tor the
sake of change vyoaid necessarily swell executive
patronage, already TOO much swollen-I am obliged
10 add that | more than doubt on other grounds,
the policy ana justice OF such changes. Isl, De-
cause, for the able and prompt execution of public
business much official experience, III great num-
Der OF particular stations known 10 be necessary
y Because many Office holders appointed under
even reckless administrations (such we have
seen) will always after time, be found OF tried
integrity and of equal industry and abilities; s.
Because, again some may be found in a state Of
honsrabe poverty, the result no less OF stern in
gritty than Of long aud exclusive devotion to the
public interests and /, Because TO remove such
servants or rot TO re.appoinl lhem at the end Of