The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-07-13
WING Convention in Vermont.

hh OCuNthIoh Al ct tuoht
We applaud the sentiments contained
in the two following resolutions of the
Vermont Wing State Convention.
"A greater restriction of the EIecu-
tire power and patronage of the United
States. which now; from its vast and yet
increasing extent, bids fair to overshad-
ow every other branch of the Govern
ment, to the great detriment of the gen
eral welfare, and with manifest danger
to the liberties of the people
AN administration of the finances of
the Government (both of the State and
of the United States) which shall be
strictly limited by law, and economical
in its character"
The convention says we'll, shat a par
ty which maintains such principles in a
free country never dies" unless it might
be added, freedom should expire with
them.
We are we'll satisfied that the Execu-
tive has grown at the expense of the CO.
ordinate Departments of the Legislative
and the Judiciary. 1t is also fast over
shadowing the dignity of the States,
themselves
OF the power of the Federal Execu-
tive over the Congress We need offer no
higher proof than the number of mem
bcrs who have sought and accepted Of
fees at the hands of the President, and
the open use that is made of executive
influence in Strengthening the reprcsen-
tative by bestowing Office upon his con
stitucnts.
The same influence has been shown in
the translation of the highest State func-
tionares to federal Offices, and by the
swarm of persons who,passing by the en-
ploymcnt public and private offered at
home, bcsiegc the Executive with their
claims, and what must be even more an
noying to him, their batteries.
The press is far from having escaped
the attractive effects of Executive pat
ronage With large amount of adver-
tisng 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 i'm.
mediate recipients guarding the door of
the palace with the most fcrocious vigil
lance, whilst the smaller pack in the in
terror yelp an accordant wrath at any.
thing that threatens the hand which
f c 8 them
How Executive power may be restric-
ted, is a 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 up
on immaterial ssues-mcrc measures of
cxpedicncy-it might have achieved
more; but we have always regretted that
the republican principle upon which it
was founded-wc mean Executive re-
striction and official rcform-has become
so mixed up with the subordinate meas
urcs of revenue, the encouragement of
manufacturers. the Improvement Of the
country, and the domestic question so
dangerous to the existence of the Union,
that it has not attained the great con
result which had been hoped
for
Another principle to which the Wing
party owes its organization was the con-
stitutioual and economical administers
ton Of the Federal finances This has,
VIC regret to know, been held an issue of
less consequence in these latter days
when men, without respect to party, have
been guilty of the most corrupt abuse
of public trust 10th under the Federal
and State governments.
These cardinal principles enounccd by
the convention cannot, We are convinced,
die so long as the principles of rcpubli- |
canism shall throb in the bosom of A
mcricans; and although the popular mind
may have been diverted from their view
by the clouds of abstraction or the in
terposition of cxpedicncy, we are con-
vineed 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 strictcst c.
economy, both in the appropriation and
of the public money
Washington RcynJfic.