Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-05-18
NATIONAL LEGISLATION.
PREsIDENT.MAKI0e AGAINST THE NATIONAL
INTEREST.


the present session, if that name can be
given to such useless expenditure of
time and money, confirms US in the
opinion long since and frequently ex-
pressed about The necessity of reducing
the executive patronage. We have
often said, and still say, that all our
national evils ensue from President
making, and that President-making is
the especial business of oficeholders
and oficeseekers. Congress has now
been in session during four months and
a half, a period amply Sufficient. for all
useful legislation. But what have our
Legislators done during this period?
We could much more easily tell what
they had left undone. The tariff, the
st-office, the rivers and harbors, the
army and navy, the Oregon Territory,
are subjects which have long been be-
fore them, and are before them still;
and we have some reasons for supposing
that most of these subjects, instead of be-
ing decided during the present session,
will be postponded as subjects of agi-
tation during the Presidential election
now pending. And thus are subjects
Involving important national interests
disposed of by the National Legisla-
ture according to their influence upou
tho Presidential election, and thus are
national interests sacrificed TO Presi-
dent-making.
Under the present constitution Of
the Federal Government, no policy
can be permanent. Change, fluctua :
ton, instability, to the injury Of all
business, and often to the ruin of some
branches, must govern the national
policy of these States while the existing
constitution continues. On all nation
al subjects, the British Government
legislate for centuries. British states
men assume that nations never die, and
that generations are necessary to the
growth Of a national interest, and that
any interest which has thus been the
work of ages, should not be destroyed
in day or year. Though we do
not approve the whole history OF the
British Government, as we see its hor-
rible consequences at home and abroad,
yet we cannot refrain from contrasting,
to our own dscredit, this far-seeing,
sagacious, patient craftsmanship, with
the political philosophy of our own
statesmen. who, ever restless, will give
to no national interest more than llv-
ing from hand to mouth. The same
sagacity expended in seeking the hap
piness olthe whole people, which the
British Government has expended ior
that OF an oligarchy, a few arlstocracles.
would have made the British nation
the happiest, as it is among the most
powerful, on earth. But in our coun-
try, no policy can endure beyond an
administration; we mean beyond a
term of the Presidency, or beyond the
Presidency of a single incumbent; for
as a Presidential election is always
pending, all legislation in Congress Will
always be under its influence. Be
ginning with an Inauguration, we find
that the defeated party, or some new
party, Immediately prepare for anoth-
er campaign This compels the sue
cessful party to prepare for defence;
and then all legislative action Of each
refers entirely TO this campaign. Up
on each legislative proposition, the
question will be show will this affect
the election?" and not show will it af-
lect national prosperity and honor!"
IOf this we have had signal and mis-
chievous examples in ali Congression-
al quarrels about the currency since
1880: for in all these, the question a.
mong politicians was, "wlll this pro
mote or defeat the election Of General
Jackson, or Mr.. Clay, or Mr.. Van
Buren,. or General Harrison?" And
we now have similar examples in the
pending tariff bill, the post-ofiice bill,
the harbor and river bill, and several
others. All these must be kept during
the recess as subjects Of agitation, for
the manufacture Of influence for or a.
eainst some candidate for the Presi-
dency!
The remedy for all this mischief is
simple and practicable; and it is an a.
mendment Of the constitution to take
from the Executive all its present pat
ronage, excepting the Judicial and mill
tary. If the President has nothing to
give, members Of Congress or leading
politicians can have no personal interest
/ :, ~ oIact;oo and therefore will abau-