Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-01-24
FlectiOueeriaG.

SEC. -. That 10 person now ia the civil
service, or who may hereafter be in such
service, shall take part in the business of
.g-aJneeEing, or attempt to influence the
voice Of others, for or against persons 20 be
elected - any position IN State Governments
OF tie Government Of the United States, or
attamp, 70 control or influence the free ex-
excise Of the elective franchise on the part OF !
any T0rer, and any person violating the pro
visions Of this section ehail upon proof OF
such violation, BE removed or dismissed from
Gle service.
- This section, ne it seems 70 az, does not
=. Tar enough. The rule should apply 10
persons ia the goDs-nr.eRt, as well as IN the
81 civil service 50 cslled. W hat is dis
s---zIul md wrong in subordinate officials,
mast De more 1isgrsceful ia the higher and
more srCnsI5le members Of the government.
Congress Is q branch ot .he government
Ihe congressman arc II tue service Of the
people, 0Ba ne PAID BY tue people money,
II -rulg as the collectors and postmas.ers
They are chiefly responsible for the selection
"a tLe person Iu the civil service tor theIT
rc concentrations have practically controlled
such appointments And they are popular
. Is supposed o. Il take part IL the business
II t.eetlJueeriDg 70 4 considerable extent
I4cg make electioneeTiDg speeches, Tor and
.-l--s5 candidates. They own and control
f..-s If others They run conventions
Ia person 9r By sending thither the custom
house clerks and civil officials VINO are under
If-i- tri7u= ID them for their place.. WI by
ug- s.rise the evil a. its root II Mr. Vii
lard wall amend his section is, So that It
-Htu r-s5 No Congressman cr other
member lf the gcvernmeur. 0r any person iu
rHe civil service shall take paEt Ia the bust
re-s 81 ejecu0neering, ~ etc. re viii agree, Tor
77o. rot IT, oppose it.
BIAS oaEl- gn.s thing really 70 ssoP mere
il man any influence who vorSs, cannot
ISL avoid having IL known hoe he votes
And talt knowledge cannot bat 80 influence
lae .e- fotl.rs. Clearly another clause
.- r.. .al 5H the section. fJrbidding all per
bins holding lfs e ir ~ under the govern
.at ..rr -5.ng.
fe.-a these additions, and perhaps one
u.re .-954I.ng all such persons from mcn-
a0H.az .te name u, ar III uding te, sny one
ev.a Us .r uav he q candidate for ON &C., III
st5a would probably answer the purpose
And vs r5-e n1 d5uts that even under such
1 u.-- b. could b. found IN sufficient
distress u- employment t1 accept office. and
e..a-H u them % fill all the Offices. In and
.aa .. Congress.
President Jefferson. ID 1850. .s-uej tine
following circular o. Office hoij=rs
t.e President IF the United states has
seem, a.-1 t.-sar -saction, officers Dc the Cen
er1- Government taking. on various oc-5-
-Hn- active pare DO the elections 81 public
. uuctHu1rics whether in the Genera! 0T
--tss Governments Freedom OF elections
. as.a- essential @ 5ne mutual independence
{ 3. t1Fe-uueuJ. and Of the different branches
=. t.- Same Government. SO vitality cherished
-g ua=. q. our Constitutions, b. IL deemed
Improper iar oE1scrs depending On the Exec
uEsa sf CHE li1n 60 attempt q control or
.llIencs Che free exercise Of she elective
.l-ll. 4 j. expected thag no officer Will az
tempo ~ -uEIeaee the votes ST other men,
-er take amy part 10 tus business Of election
. eerI-.s--aar being deemed moons. stent
sth tlc sgisi5 ~ tlo Constitution and his
lutiC-
4 President Jackson ia MS inaugural address
.a ISIS used the following language
{. The recent demonstrations Of public sen
I C.ue1t iuslr 15 on the lisE Of Executive du-
\ l.-s, ID characters too ieglDie % DO over
/ looked, the task q reform, which 1il re-
a1ire particularly the correction ct those
abuses that have brought the patronage o.
. che Federal Government in.c cont CT 9Th
I the freedom 81 elections.
I Felix G-anjy, "a 1925. wrote
svL-- ) soc IN ofH,e-. hglGgr tuyet.of.ag
4 Or elections, it occurs - me that ne il think
. t,e yfLls s-lar7 and bic bread aad e saore
J lore ssatis a3vlser of the people.
\ Gen Harrison once expressed ;-is Up-u
ion
.'Eas Executive should never attempt 20
T influence the elections. either by tle People
( 0r state Legislature, nor suffer the officers
under ais control TO take Any part IN them,
othe, than 8y giving their own votes when
they possess the right Of voting.
Daniel Webster, II g speech on tie power
of removal aud appointment, in the u S
senate. in 1888 said
The extent Of the patronage springing
from this power 81 appointment and removal
Is sC great that 70 brings dangerous mass Of
private and personal interests into operation
10 all grelE public elections and public
questions The unlimited power
Cd gran. atdcs and 90 take il away gives =
command over the hopes and fears Of q vasi
multitude Of men 1t IL generally true that
he Fao controls mans living controls his
wll Office Of every kind is now
s.ugdt wi,u extraordinary svidity, and the
condition well understood to be attached 70
icseTy Office. high OF low, is indIscriminate
support 81 Executive measures, and Implicit
obedience % Executive will. am
Tor arrostin. the further progress of this
Executive patronage, IT we can arrest IL. I
am for staying the further cOntagion Of this
plaque Sudden removals from Office
are seldom necessary; We see hOT seldom, by
reference u the practice Of the Government
under oil Administrations which have pre-
ee1-d the present. desire only, i0T
tle present at least. that when the President
turns man ogg Of Office be should give he
REASONS tJr i5 10 the senate. when be nOmi-
mates another person to FL the Pl 'ce.
The remoqIog power. as recently exercised,
tends Is turn tie whole body Of pubic officers
lHlJ parJ.sans dependents, iagorltes, syco
phauJs, and mau-wOrshlppers-
5 5. Prenriss, Of Miss, said, IN the House
lol Representatives in 1888.
Since the avowal Of that unprlnoipled and
barbarian motto, that 10 she vicCors bel Jng
Jbo sppils, off 20. which was intended for she
use and 8eueH1 u the people, has become but
chs plumber % party. Patronage Is waved
like q huge magBe; over the land. and dcma-
gogucs. Ike iron filings, attracted By q law
Of their nature. gather and cluster around
its poles Never yet lived the damagogue
VINO would not take Office.
The whole frame OF our Government
thc whole institutions Of the country, are
tdls pr9-tituted 70 the uses of party. ! ez-
DRESS Inv candid opinion when aver that |
DO not DeAeYe single once OF importance
/ within the control oi the Executive has, fJr
tht five years, been filed with any other
. viee gr upon any other consideration, than
c.-s party effect. Office is conferred as
/. r.a reward Ut partisan eeryice.
2. DO you EoC see the eagerness with which
even Governors, Senator's, and Representa-
tives in Congress, grasp At the most trivial
appointments-rhe most Insignificant en-
ployments2r
These a~e torerabIv resnecra bic authorities