The Yazoo Democrat., 1852-07-07


s was more particularly created, or, rather would
not that department still be the most powerful
for evil in the government
: The President is, under the checks of the con-
;, stitution and law, righduly invested with the
d power of the sword and he has again and again
mad that OF the purse also. The houses Of Con
gress, 1t is true, lay taxes, fix imposs, and regu
late the sale of the public domain; but ills ha
through his agents, who handles the proceeds
From 1873 to 1886, Ito say nothing of the
5 presently he alone nominated and dismissed all
the agents who kept, well as those who col
lected, distributed, and disbure he public reve-
! nue. The apothegm, make us executors, we care
not who are your legatees, has frightful appli-
cation to such agents and the immense treasure
E 1ne' 'faff6 1ncfease and spread of popuIauon,
| the growth Of national wealth, the amount Of
! revenue collected and disbursed, the new rela-
tlons (by the extension of commerce) with
!, foreign countries, the additional appointments
: at home and abroad, the number and value Of
contracts-all constantly and necessarily on the
2 increase--a general decay in morals, perhaps as
great in Congress as elsewhere the habit that
1 we have seen prevail during several presidential
terms, Of filling public offices with but little or
t no regard to moral standing-have taken alto
gether, already opened to the head of the govern
: ment elements Of power and corruption which
2 it was impossible for the trainers and adopters
e of the constitution to foresee or to conceive.
a Who, at that distant day, for example, ever
r dreamed of the spectacles which have recently
) disguised every honest citizen ?of postmas ters,
mail contractors, mail agents. and census takers,
Z Iac, 4bal tb
handbills and extra gazettes. sufficient, Cfread }
r. to sap the morals, public and private Of an en-
If tire generation ?--of the custom house merce-
: nares in the large cities, living on the public,
II neglectng every duty for party meetings and the
g polls. and rendering to power the most bnbe-
5 worthy services 2--of districts attorneys and
Ie collectors rambling missionaries, defending
= every abuse of ofice-their own the most indie
lg cent-in order to maintain power in the hands
S of their patrons. All who have reflected on thu
foregoing facts must be ready to affirm that ex
ny ecutive patronage has increased, is increasing
r and ought to be diminished"
= hope, then, by an early amendment of tn,
IN constitution to see reduction of the President
ia veto. The regulation of patronage would prop
ny erly follow.
Dr. should not be overcome by bare majority j
ly each house of Congress ofa the members eecte
N to it-say, for the benefit of reflection, at Ii
end of ten days from the return of the bill. A
ed amendment to this effect would leave the Pres
en- dent-the general representative of every Stat
IN, and district-armed with the votes Of all th
mt members absent at the moment from the respec
Id tives houses; and there will always be some al
OF sent from both.
he ROTATION IN oFFIcE.--The inquiry under thi
IL head is not definite in any letter before me.
BY however, is presumed to refer-l To governor
lrd and secretaries of Territories, and of tn
ng judges therein; district attorneys, collectors
ice SURVEYORS and naval officers of the customs
Ia narshalls, post-masters whose commission
ice amount to thousand dollars per annum; nav
led agents, registers and receivers of land offices
lw surveyors general of lands, and Indian agents
the all of whom are by law appointed for a term Q
or four years, but subject, by express enactment
(except the iudges) to. be removed at pleasure
al q To high class of civil officers, (next to tn
ifl chiefs. in the executive departments at Wast
su- ington; other high functionaries-foreign mir
on isters secretaries of legation, and consus, pos
yu- masters whose commissions amount to less tina
oe thousand dollars per annum; superintendent
SET of Indian affairs, Indian subagents, &c, &c
De- all appointed without limitation to time, yt
too subject, in practice-not by express law-to
ply also removed at pleasure, and B. TO the ASST
tants allowed by law to very many OF the priI
ven cinals included above which assistants are ger
ais erally called clerks-some of them deputies a.
ent risers rveighers gaugers, subinspectors, stor
ugh eepers, lighthouse keepers, Sc, SJc.--an a
reat ointed and subject to removal, as under Il
Ver Acond head
ore, am asked whether in my poor opinion, q
les bose functionaries (amounting to many thou
hus nds,) or any of them, ought to be periodical
svi superseded by original appointments? II yes
icy, when? And if part only--which?
on We have seen that great number OF otiic
GER are filed for term Of years, and more witho
cor anv limitation as to term. l, however, ca
an hraw no line of just distinction between Il
the kainns of the two classes upon the favor
the ountry or government.
lis Prenising that regular periodical changes
itu- .,,bordinate servants of the country. mere
Ida the sake of change, would necessarily swe
sslkecutive patronage, already too much swolle
laW II am obliged to add that more than doubt, {
de- other grounds, the policy and justice of su'
his changes-1. Because, for the able and proln
the execution of public business, much official e
! to perience, in a great number of particular ST
still - - ,,ooo-corg 8 Tgaca71