The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-09-30
Total
$4,000

Total 33,O0l
Thirty three thousand public dependents
whose duties are local, and whose homes ar,
scattered through every township and villag,
in the Republic! What dn army of politics
tools, ready to do the bidding of their officia
patrons.
To these add the patronage Of the Stat,
governments, which will average 1000 each
Of a similar character, (54,00O) and we have
the grand total OF 1000 eighty seren thou
sand y men And this is exclusive of al
Cabinet officers. state and national, and tbei
troops of clerks and dependents; OF The arm,
and navy list, embracing their thousands; O
the whole diplomatic and consular corps the
hosts connected with the administration o
our land public system the Indian agencies
the swarms Of jobbers and contractors upon
Government works, DC.
These 81, 900 men are, or should be. those
who have arrived at their political maturity;
and The vigor of manhood. Supposing every
such man 10 support thrse-a moderate esti-
mate-and these $1,000 would represent the
capital. the social and political substance OF
26l 900 inhabitanis
In making this vast number Of appoint
ments,of course none but the friends and sup
porters Of the powers that be- will be chos.
en-. Public sentiment, usage und precedent
sustain the policy, wrong as it is in theory,
and perDlciOus as il is in practice. The sys-
tenn of removals and appointments extends
from the highest dorm 20 ne most Insight
licant Of the subordinate offices. The of.
fence is that of opinion. and recommendation
IS anil rap,oroJ l..
dcred. Men are removed by thousands only
,of oi';::on's sake, and thousands are in
stalled in the places made vacant, as reward
for active pariizanship-and the more un-
scrupulous the service, the more certain the
reward.
The ineriiabie evils growing out of such
a system are monstrous aud alarming, and
should awaken all true and patriotic men to
the Importance and necessity of breaking il
up. These evils are great in number, and
are constantly multiplying and extending.
They are seen everywhere. felt everyw here.
and deeply depIored by all who know and APP
preciate they amount of mischief they are
working, politically, morally, socially and
nationally.
The writer TO whom we have alluded SAYS,
it will be sufficiently conclusive upon all
who esteem thh end of government 10 be well
faro The governed, that centarilising pow
er BY patronage in the hands Of executive
officers tends,
Il. To interfere with and obstruct the fair
presentations of the public will.
III. That it leads to the selection Of incom-
petent and unsatisfactory public officers.
iii. That it creates temptation TO null
iify Offices for the purpose of creating and re-
wardiug political or personal friends.
Nv. That it tends TO bring into discredit
the character and reputation Of men who
have fairly earned the confidence Of the pco-
pie by their purity and capacity as men and
as statesmen, and also
". To lower the standard of the public
service by cheating an interest favorable TO the
selection Of INSCRIPTIONS officers.
vi. That it tends to interfere previously
with the liberty of opinion and discussion by
subjecting the political sentiments OF all
classes to the most unrelenting party Tyr
ranny.'
The remedy he suggests as the only one
both safe and adequate, is resort to THE
REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM. Those orwhom
benefit Offices are created, are alone compe-
tent TO Gil them wisely. Let them select their
own Postmas,ers, inspectors, Commissioners
&c. &c. IL they are competent to elect their
Federal and State ofiiccrs.they must be COM
petent to make these selections wisely and
well.