New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-19
RrpoRT OF THE coMMITTEE.

The Committee appointed unoef uno iee0,"@Vn'
..-.d by the Hon. John Covode, and sdoPted oy the
Easss on TIE 9Th of March last, entered upon their
s.,e. On Tuesday March 20, 1869 ana nave pursued
yr.r. with az much assiduy as the circumstances un
H. which they appointed, and the events follow
~ ne adoption Of the resolutions, wouio "io"'
Yaa, Committee found themselves greatly emoar-
,assss IN pursuing their Investigations ior several re
,ou. First, because, although they had oeen c'o'ned
Nv ths House with power 10 SEND iof persons nu p'-
.ss,s. no appropriation Of money was mace oy Ooh-
s,e,s until the oath day Of May last. Your Commit
he therefore did not feel at liberty to summon w.t.
~ 80 <som distance to attend upon their inyestga-
,en tl,ey would be compelled to take the certii-
co a the Clerk in discharge of their fees and dispose
Al tltu. here in Washington at discount. In some
b, ,snees the Chairman Of your Committee has FAR
i.haa L;s own money 10 aid in carrying forward the
;avsstiva,ion. In other instances, your Committee
have ssinmoned Witnesses persons whom they have
Ss are IN the city, preference 10 sending for par
g. 4. a distance, when there had been no provision
M. Congress for the payment of their fees.
~ On The 18th day Of March last, the Presi-
Ami he United Ststs saw fit to submit TO this
Hoi Is solemn protest against ite proceedings IN the
a. " Ainent Of this COMMITTEES. This seems TO your
O. nua,ffee 10 have peen proclamation 10 the world
thst DE whole power Of the Executive instead of be-
me sxerised 70 forward an investigation into s adj
luistrasion of affairs, would be exercised 10 protect
Al zoe who choose 10 dsoeey the summons OF The
ersakes Of this House, OF VINO, having oeeyed the
snmrona might refuse 20 testify before your Commit
tee In any event II declaration on the part oil
tbe President of the United States which his adherents
woaid not fail 10 regard Under these circumstances
yoar Committee have prosecuted their investigation 70
a cts..t an extent as tie time and means allowed them
rccld acruit The President in his protest having
fried lie power of te House to Investigate whether
s,he President Of the United States, or any other
sser of The Government hos, by money, patronage,
sox other improper means, sorght 20 lnnuepee tue
'seion OF Congress any Cornittee thereof Tor OF
against the psssage OF am ol perd ny, 10 .ie
stino wheeler any officer or officers Of the Govern
'lneni have, by combination OF otherwise prevented
os a.seated or attempted TO prevent or defeat th'
'eyeeusion Of any laws now upon the ste,Ite-book
.sra whether the President has failed orTefused Z
'onnpel the execution of any law thereof;" you
Iountee have thought proper, in the frst instance
bexaraise the history of Congress and ascertain
ssts were any precedcuts which might control thei
-enduct.
Regarding the construction of The fret clause Of tn
rssoinsc as one invoking the abuse Of the power
she Government by any officer thereof your Commit
zee End apon examination, that as ear4y as the 9Th
February, 1896, the following resolution was submit
bed Ito she Senate by Mr.. Macon and adopted:
'nee,s.a That the Committee 20 whom was referred d
Instructed to Inquire into the expeaency Of diminish
s,ss 1 That the Committee have leave 70 report By bin
On tn 9Th of the following May, Mr. Benton, from
your Committee mako the following extrasts:
1.-THE patronage Of be Federal GsyeaaneTt at the begnnins
ss saS sRSD and within The Se Of many now S0
operate upon 100000 The whole revenue must in a
Tower support has always been held aud admit
I'D 20 be power over bis WIN The President has power over
~ support al these officers, and tey again have
The support debtor merchants to The amount Of $1,000 oo
Individuals mechanical and aborHs to whom they and
p extend deny valuable private as wei as public patron
a. fedsrd elections.
The power Of Psronage unless CHECKED by the ysGEoa, IN
Saance IN many psIts Ibis conisdeTs,ion win
elections Of Scotland Ireland and
be gat naval stations Of ro;a , aud Ia no
e pre- Of lie abest advocates been more completely s
ae blue Bool they VIII discover enough to show that
ne predictions Of those Who net blind the defects Of the
Of ieas contrary to D5 the a a5 IN e
tste PATRONAGE that woking. win eOnsamuste the purity
Of all elections ard enable the fedeys Government eventually
many provinces Of one vast empire. -
Abe wSS q S s ~ S Se9'sT re- Psd
Of The United States the OF patronage He presdes
The entire system & Fede5al sPp,ioaen JOB ana COW
who administer the he makes and unuakes them he
dismiss them and upon ali the principles Of human action Tl
a.as sem az .sp IS they disaRPoSt ms ekPes ns
I've must then look forward 10 the time when the public
be doabled; when the civil and military officers Of
e Federal Geyern%sn. WIN be 9uadTuped when is
Ie nsoiDso by he President all carry any through the
Snsie snd his recommendation carry measure through
the two Houses Of Congress- where the principle Of pubhc
win De open and ayowed The President wants my vos
S S ws e off S PsU % Si vote as ne WINES 'n'
These which in 1896 were words of prophecy, seem
already TO have net their fulhimen and become the
saern record of history.
On the 2sth Of March, 1928, Dir. James Buchanan,
then Senator from Penney lyana, speaking upon this
subject, said:
The nature of man Is the same under republics and under
uonsrhes The history the human proves that liberty
long be preserved without popular Jealousy II Is
soEaon of s enjoyment that rnlers inst be narrowly
~stchsd. IL ss maxim Of despots that the people
should inquire in.c the Of government Those
ssDSeasoed by presenting them with and ey
tope from the conduct Of their ruleIs Gov
hss been "a aPo9 oTTsSl 3 s sS NJ
IKE care that every abuse shall be corrected ,
at hs. in times Ike the present the republic IS al
WAYS mott when the clouds Of adversely lowering
over county, aud when direct taxation becomes necessary
for the support OF the Government the people eic whniu a
L The hcyO days Opeace and prosperity when the ea9asy
people sumbr that abuses moot likely TO stes! Into
nt Administration with pon but DO most sosnnly be-
heretsst several Of their had strong tendency to-
n st. soDduc, and have as e secrets IS p ssble.
sdvsDoet attack the position In the argument OF ny
attempted prove s. the PstrOsge Of the Government
strengthen but rather TO veaken the Adnnista-
lion By which Distributed II that gentesnsn character
Cor csndar were above SUSPICION try believe TO be-
shoUt doubt h sincerity To establish this position De -ASs
that gr.sagde weaker passion than self lvYewhich cd
,u-snd st heTefore the Administration loses by dis
appointed candidates than they gain by their appointments u
tt gentleman know that wi mao once appel
selfish Of his nature enlisted for the
purpose ef resning III All Office holders are but enlisted
soldiers o. shat Adnin ton by which they are sustained
Their comfortable existence depends reeccon OF their
does daPp long rss te Of the
nent ~h patience they know wen how to present anew elam
% ofhoe ct future tune. -.
For ny part juding from history when this Government was
oomnencirg operauos and when ia patronage was com