The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-29
whig Convention in Vermont.

wing convention Vermont.
We applaud the sentiment contained in the
two following resolutions of the Vermont Wing
State Convention:
"A greater restriction of the Executive power
and patronage of the United States, which now,
from its vast and yet increasing extent, bids fair
to overshadow every other branch of tine Govern
ment, to the great detriment of the general well
fare, and with manifest danger to the liberties of
the people.
can administration of the finances of the Gov
eminent (boh of the State and of the United
Sta:es) which shall be strictly limited by law, and
economical IN its character"
The convention says well, ''that party
which maintains such principles in free
country never dies" unless, it might be add
ed, freedom should expire with them.
We are well satisfied that the Executive
has grown at the expense Of the coordinate
Departments Of the Legislative and the Judi
ciary. 1t is also fast overshadowing the dig
nifty of the States themselves.
OF the power Of the Federal Executive over
the Congress we need offer no higher proof
than the number of members who have sought
and accepted office at the hands of the PREsI-
DENT, and the open use that is made of Execu-
tive influence in strengthening the representa-
tive by bestowing office upon his constituents.
The same influence has been shown in the
translation of the highest State functiOnaries to
Federal offices, and by the swarm of persons
who, passing by the employments public and
private offered at home, besiege the Executive
with their claims, and what must be even
more annoying TO him, their batteries.
The press is far from having escaped the
attractive effects of Executive patronage.
With a large amount of advertising and job
work at its disposal, the temptation to sustain
the dispenser of such rewards is too strong for
ordinary morality. Hence we see the more
immediate recipients guarding the door OF the
palace with the most ferociOus vigilance,
whilst the smaller pack in the interior yelp
an accordant wrath at any thing that threatens
the hand which feeds them.
How Executive power may be restricted, is
question worthy of patriot statesmen. 1t was
the question upon which the Wing party was
founded, and we regret to say that it is now
farther from solution than at first. Perhaps
if the Wing party had not been led off upon
immaterial lssues-mere measures Of expedi,
ency-it might have achieved more; but we
have always regretted that the republican
principle upon which it was fOunded-we
mean Executive restriction and official re-
formulas become so mixed up with the sub
ordinate measures of revenue, the encourage
ment Of manufactures, the improvement of the
country, and the domestic question so danger
Gus to the existence of the Union, that it has
not attained the great constitutional result
which had been hoped for
Another great principle to which the Wing
party owes its organization was the cOnstitu-
tiOnal and economical administration of the
Federal finances. This has, we regret to
know, been held an issue of less consequence
in these latter days-whenm men, without respect
to party, have been guilty of the most corrupt
abuse of public trust both under the Federal
and State governments.
These cardina! principles enounced by the
convention cannot, we are convinced, die so
long as the principles of rePublicanism shall
throb in the bosom of Americans; and although
the popular mind may have been diverted
from their view by the clouds of abstraction
OF the interposition of expedlency, we are
convinced that upon any proper issue made
in regard to them the American people will be
found, without regard to party classification, to
approve the restriction of Executive power,
and the strictest economy, both in the appro-
priatiOn and expenditure of the public money.
The Hon. HENRY VAIL, formerly Repre-