Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-09-19


During Mr.. Adams admin
H istration the average an
Il nual expense Of the Gov
/ eminent, exclusive ofpsy-
\ ments on account Of the
/ public debt, was $l2,625,478
During General Jackson's
two terms it was 1925, ,oss
During Mr.. Van Buren's
II term 80 $40 ,485
H The result Of the "sirict economy"
being that the annual expenditures ofihe
Government were nearly fre6ied during
the "Democraiic" Administrations.
i The average population Of the United
States during MIR Adams term is esii-
mated at | | 500 ,093 so that the annual
average tax upon each person, had ench
been compelled TO contribute, would have
been s 90 the average population
during Mr. Van Buren's term was less
than l6,000,0OO, and annual average
tax So So
Another reform TO be introduced wns
one OF an abuse which had never existed
the appointment Of members Of Con-
gress to lucrative Offices. When the
pseudo democratic party came into
power, there were not halfa dozen indi-
Yvduals in Office who had received ap-
pon,ments while members of Congress.
But such was the rapid progress in
"relorm" in this matter, that, according
to an Official statement laid before Con-
gress at the session of 1856, it appears
that the sum Of S488 ,689 80 had at that
time been distributed, by the "Relorms"
Administration, to twenty-five members
Of Congress, being an average douceur
Of more than So 900 each. The whole
amount thus distributed during the Dem
ocralic reign was probably not short Of a
million Of dollars. The effect Of this
abuse-so obvious TO the rciormers be-
fore it existed became afterwards suffi-
cien,ly apparent. An office could be
given but TO one man but a dozen might
take ticket for it in the political lottery, =.
tender their consciences, and place them
selves in the market The prize was
awarded, Of course, to those who tagged
The most patiently, and "bOo'd" the
oudest
The abuse Of "binging the patronage
OF the Government into conflict with the
freedom Of elections" was reformed in a
similar manner. The rewarding of par.
'isans was reduced to a science and sys-
tenn. In the principal theatres of polit-
cal struggle and government, patronage,
a regular Impost on salaries was levied,
and 'more duty paid than the Turks
tribute" The united recommendation
OF all !he most respectable leaders of tho
Opposition could hardly have procured a
underwriters place for one Of their own
party. CnwaveriDg fidelity to the party
IN power was the exclusive and all-suif-
cicnt condition Of Office.
The influence Of Government NITRO.
mage on elections cannot be precisely
entertained, but there can be no question
of ils-bavlng been extensive and power-
iul under the spoils sy stem. Not only
the ofice-holder himself, bui his friends
and relatives, and all whom he can move
IN his behalf, naturally array themselves
IN the side OF the dispenser Of bounty.
The lowest estimate Of office bo!de.c (of
high and low degree) numbers forty
thousand. The majority Of popular votes
IN favor of Mr.. Van Buren,, in 1886,
was only twenty three thousand seven
hundred and SIXTY four Twelve thou
sand votes, or less than one third OF The
number of ollIce-holders, would have
turned The scale. There cannot be n
rrasonable doubt that, for the last ten
'enrs ut least, the free, unpurchased
S"iirages OF the people have been in ia
v"r ot the Whig party. Yet, for sixteen
wears such has been the influence of Cow
frnmeni patronage, that the Whip partv.
and especially the ilusirious individual
now at ns head, has been under the ban.
b"t he has ''sen, happily, and will rise
'finhphani'y, IN spite of the whole or
g"n'Hed i"rce oi Government Janissaries,
and this single consideration ouph, 10 bo
S"ihrient To recommend him 10 III q SYM
Pa'h'es and support OF every generous
and patriotic mind.
Want Of time fo,bids us 10 occupy INV
more space with the contrast between
me pledges and The acts of Locolocoisrp
oe'"eeh It's loud vaunts, upon coming
'n'" power, oi the reforms it was TO ac-
c"hP'lsh, anu lis multiplication and az
.ravhtion, before going out, of the very
abuses which it pretended TO reform.
80 on after it got fairly under way.
he wisdom of the new ADMINISTRATIVE
was slgnallzed by series Of wiful n.
rmpfS to change the natural order of
hIngs by acts Of legislation for example
o destroy the credit system upon which
he People and the Government had
and grown great, to establish
u us place currency exclusively metal.
Ic, such as can never exist in n (ree
government. The favorite axiom of tho
'hief oi The party that call who trade ON
borrowed capital ought 10 break" and
he determination expressed by one of
Il leaders by exclamation in debate,
Perish credit Perish commerce ~
ire well remembered
The necessary and inevitable conse-
lnences oi such n wild career nr misrule,
'efsevefcd IN with all the obsiinacy Of
r"sumptuous ignorance, overlook tho
Administration oi the Government very
oon after 1t passed from the hands of
zen. Jackson into those ol Mr.. Van
jnrcn, who as he obtained his biph
'"llon through the nsirumenlaIny of his
PREDECESSORS power aud popularity, was
Inn1n In, .,,Il -.