Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-09-10
AN EvaL THAT SHOULD BE
ARATED.

1t is urged with force that the people
ought now to vote for Horace Greedy in
order to establish the one term principle
and prevent the abuse of executive patron
age. This argument has been strengthen
ed by the course which Grant has pursued
since his nomination for reelection. He
has made it point to dismiss every man
holding an office under the government who
has dared to oppose him, while he has not
scrupled to use the machinery of the gov
eminent to advance not only his private
interests but his political adj
vancemenf. With the one term
fully engrafted upon our policy,
the great and growing evil of executive
patronage would no longer loom up in our
election contests. So long as this evil con-
tinues to exist, its deadly influence win be
felt, and the most earnest efforts for reform
can have no permanent success. The evil
has in our day grown into such gigantic
proportions that every man can now see
some remedy is needed, but it was long
since foreseen and distrusted. As early as
Feb. s, 1926, Senator Macon, of North Caro-
lima, offered the following resolution in the
United States Senate:
ssResolved, That the committee to whom
was referred the several resolutions to
amend the Constitution of the United
States be instructed to inquire into the ex-
pediency of diminishing or regulating the
patronage of the Executive of the United
States, and that the committee have leave
to report by bill or otherwise"
On the 4th of May following, the Hon.
Thomas Fl. Benton, Of Missouri, reported
to the Senate as follows:
"The patronage of the Federal Govern
ment at the beginning was founded upon a
revenue Of two million Of dollars; it is now
operating upon twenty-five millions, and
within the lifetime of MANY now living
must operate upon fifty millions. The
whole revenue must in a few years be
wholly applicable to subjects of patronage.
Power over a mans support has always
been held and admitted TO be power over
his will. The President has power
over the support of these officers, and they
again have power over The support of debt
or merchants to the extent of ten millions
of dollars per annum and over the daily
support of an immense number of individu-
ais, professional, mechanical and day labor
ing, to whom they can and will extend or
deny valuable private as well as public
patronage according to the part which they
shall act in State as well as federal cleo
tions.
"The po';er Of patronage, unless checked
by the vigorous interpositiOn of Congress
must 60 on increasing until Federal infu-
ence, in many parts Of the Confederation,
will predominant in elections as completely
as British influence predominaes in the
elections of Scotland and Ireland, in rotten
borough towns, and the great naval sta
tons of Portsmouth and Plymouth.
"With the Blue Book they will discover
enough to show that the predictions of
those who were not blind to the defects of
the constitution aIe ready TO be realiz d;
that the power and influence of Federal
patronage, contrary to the argument In the
Federalist, is an oyer-match fo- the power
and influence of State patronage; that its
working will contaminate the purity of all
elections, and enable the Federal Govern
ment eventually to govern throughout the
States as etfectUaly as if they were so
many provinces of our vast empire.
"The whole of this great power will CEN
ter in the President. The King of England
is the fountain of honor; the President of
the United States is the source of patron
age. He presides over the entire syetem of
federal appointments, jobs and contracts.
He has power over the support of the indi-
Viduals who administer the system. He
makes and uDmakes them. He chooses
from the circle of his friends aud support
ers, and may dismiss them as often as they
disappoint his expectation. His spirit will
animate their action in ali the elections of
State and Federal officers.
ave must look forward to the time
when the public revenue will be doubled;
when the civil and military officers of the
Federal Government will be quadruped;
when its influence over individuals will be
multiplied to an indefinite extent; when the
nomination by the President win carry a
man through the Senate, and his recon-
mendatlon can carry any measure through
the two Houses Of Congress; when the prin-
ciple of public action will be omen and
avowed: the President lcGllts ma eofe and
toant his pGtroRdge."~
Those were prophetic words of warning
from that patriotic and learned statesman.
How fearfully are they being fulfilled by
the present INSCRIPTIONS administration,
with one hundred and fifty thousand Off
GERS under its control, and hundreds of
millions ofpatronage to dispensed