The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-01


the national Legislature we may set down the
annual appropriations or gifts directly and in
directly, at about twenty five millions.
We have undertaken to extend the protection
Of the government to all the Indian tribes Of this
part Of the continent We have started in this
work by recognizing them as constituting vari-
Gus Independent nations, have treated with them
as such, purchased their lands, and have cove
nanted to pay them annuities, to provide them
with agricultural implements, to send them re-
ligious missionaries, mechanics and doctors.
The net result Of our Indian policy is found ia
the fact that the aborigines have been reduced
from condition of comparative independence
and comfort to bands Of drunken, thieving de-
pendents, relying upon the federal authorities
to provide them with the means Of living.
1t is manifest from this simple statement that
The Indian Department of the government is
one Of vast patronage, and it is equally mani
fest to those who know anything Of the details
of its busine ss--who know that it is in truth
fountain Of corruption-a rendezvous Of politi-
Clans source Of endless populations, extend
ing it's influence necessarily to the army, which
is little more than an institution Of our Indian
policy-that it is means Of legislative and
national Generalization.
Congress is the trustee of the people, with
power to make "needful rules and regulations"
for the sale Of the public lands That body
has not virtue and integrity enough to execute
such trust faithfully.
We have now before the Senate bill re.
modelling the patent laws obviously with q
view of converting that industrial Institution
into an instrument of Generalization, like the
Land and Indian Offices
We have our Custom House system-our
Coast Survey, now grown into q permanent
and enlarging tax upon the public treasury
our Territorial or colonial administration our
public printing, fountain of endless intrigues
and corruption-our army and navy, increas-
ing only in xpenditures-and, to sum up the
whole, we have seen the expenses Of the gov
ernment tIipled within the last twenty years.
1t only remains to point to the fact that as
these sources of population and fraud have
been opened and enlarged, so have all the
departments of the public administration be-
come more and more degraded and democrat
lied. They have become the property, indeed,
of politicians; they constitute the vital power
of parties they stimulate men to acts OF dis
honesty, and so accustom the we'll disposed to
scenes Of moral delinquency as to make them
unmindful Of the decline of the administration
in all that constitutes good and wholesome
government.
We have, then, in this view of our affairs,
the inner machinery Of the spoils system-the
propelling power of parties and this is the
work Of q republic resting its authority upon
the alleged basis of popular opinion. This is
the government established by the people, ex-
GLIDING the fatal heresies known to the mo-
narchical systematic union Of religion and
politics, the old pension policy Of England
and the continental States-but adopting
errors equally, and even more, destructive of
public morals and official integrity.
And to what else than party, and the cursed
machinery and ambition Of politicians are we
to look for this state Of affairs? Is corruption
necessary element of all governments? Can
we hope for perpetuity. and thus 60 on
in the work of national degeneracy :.
After we have established written con-
stitution, and been signally blessed by its
fruits-a constitution made to restrict
and cripple intrigues and managers, to pro-
tect the masses from their mercenary designs,
retaining in the people the governing power
was it necessary that we should organise a
system of conventions, which in their opera
tions should transfer that power to the lead
ers? What is the difference between mo-
narchy of leading men and republic OF lead
ing men? How is an ambitious man in the
United States better and more patriotic than
elsewhere? Are spectators and trimmers not
alike every where? Do leeches refuse to suck
the blood of good men? Do the people con-
cede that they cannot govern without the die
tation Of conventions? If this be so, let US say
no more about popular sovereignty, popular
instincts, and the blessings Of free system.
But more What have conventions done for
us that we should install them as our guides,
that we should make them the interpreters Of
the constitution, and permit them to exercise
for us the actual governing power? By their
aid have we grown better? Is our administra-
ton purer and wiser? Have they kept down
our expenditures? Have they maintained in
ternal harmony? Have they secured the bless
ipgs Of union, fraternal concord and good
neighborhood amongst all the people? Then
what mean our expenditures Of over sixty
millions year in times of profound peace
with no increase of the army or navy? Why
are we dinned with the hoarse and angry
strifes Of border feuds and civil wars. Why
are we driven to the verge Of disunion by the
leaders chosen by conventions? Are such men
our best governors? Are they more patriotic
than the peoples
Arrival OF Mr.. Champion.
We understand that John r. Champion, who has re-