Columbia telescope. (Columbia, S.C.) 1819-1821, May 30, 1826, Image 1
? (itiiiMiri^ v i'i! "i ' riEW'MMlii,
-jHrv -
Rf*1 t
nk .?>
yft *
?#VF
AND
'i , | % f.
[? - i in
l-^ *1' ;<>i' "i \.1a
? ? I ??? III III lima !??(,' I' t ? II ?gMMBMMWWWM?Wea?MMMCTi |I I ??i?1 ' I 1 ,' 11 ,W
>';/ COLUMBIA, (9. C.) TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 30, 1920. (NO. *8.
?I i iifc
COLUMBIA TELESCOPED,
BY HUUJiM) ?. HfTKWr
frinlirito tki ihutt if Hjrptu**imlh** ?fStuih
, Cm flimt.
RttMS:?Tnnm Doit*** par annom, ftijpblt
i w Of Fotm DoU*m payable at the
end of tun year.
.VivKHT!>RnaiiTS| art lawrttd at-tho rata of
eeateforavanr?wanly lioe., or a
~ tho IrM fiwertlon, and ff.ly
Milmai^^-ThaM from MM
be accompanied by the catb,
i reference, or (bay will raaciva
TMK BfilDAI, DtROK
Sb* MIowIwr ** Bridal iHts*,** though annony
-iftdbt, h evidently trom tb? pen of una of tna
flrat writer* of the day.
The bride b dead! The brTda It doad!
Cold nort frail, and fair ?he liatli;
Wrapped It the lo tullen lead, U
And a flower U kt bar brad,
Ami the breera above hi; ?igl?Mti,
Tiumtatib nlghi and thorough day,
' Fit d awuy!?Fled away'/
Once?-t?ut wh?t can that avail
Once, iIm wore within her botom
Pity, which At (?*tr fail,
, A hoc that dqthed the Illy |<ale;
Aud o^on her cheek a Moatom
furii itf y?( wat never known.
?Allb pot and overthrown!
Mourn! the eweetrtt bride b dead.
? Aod h?r knight it ?ick with torrow,
That her bloom it ' lipped in lead,*
? Yet hehopeth, fanry fed.
He any kit* hi* love to-m^'r^w,
0<it the hrrrge?? -what ?ay they.'
?Fled away!?Fle-1 nwny!
X.N THE SEN AIR OF Till. UNITED STATES
Mug 4, 1HM.
|4r. Benton, from the-select committee, to
which was referred the proposition to
inquire into th'A expediency or reducing
tho patronage of tho executive govern
ment of the United State*, made the fol
lowing report:
That alter mature deliberation, the com
mittee' tire of opinion that it i? expedient to
diminish, or to regulate, hy latv, the e*o
entire patronage of the federal government,
whenever the same can be done rboiictent
)y with the provieione of the constitution,
and without impairing the proper efficiency
?>f the government. Acting under this con
?vleilon, they have roviowod. as eareinlly.
us lime ami other, engagementa wohtd per*
Ujjit them to do, the degree end amount of
patronage now exercised by tho President,
ami hate arrived at the conclusion that the
same may'; and ought to*be diminished by
law. For this purpose they herewith pre
sent to tho senate si* bills, entitled:
). A bill to regulate tho publication of
?he Laws ofthe United State*, and of pub
lic advertisements.
2. A bill to secure in office tho failhftll
collector* and disburse* of the revenue
and to diSfllace defaulters.
3 A bill to reguleto the appointment of
Pom Masters.
4. A bill to regulate the appointment of
ffttdet<
5. A bill to regulate the appointment of
midshipmen.
6. A hill to prevent military and naval
officers from being dismissed the service
at the pleasure of the President
The* committee do not doubt but that
there are maoy other branches of executive
patronage, in addition to those which are
comprehended in the provisions of these
hit]s, which thight he advantageously rego ?
l*ted by lawi Par from thinking that they
h ive exhausted the subject, they bglieve
Cut they have t,nly opened it. end that no
thirtg m-?re can be dpne, nt this time, than
?o lay tho foundation of a aystem to be fol
lowed up and completed hereafter.
In tohi'ng tolhe conclusion that etecu.
?ive pitrt nage ought to be diminished and
regulated, on the plan proposed, the coir
t-?i?t?*e? rest their opinion on the ground that
? '?osercista of great patronage in the hind*
??i'pne Chun, has a constant tendency to sully
the purity of our institutions, mvl to emlan*
C*rth#? liberties ofthe country. Thisdoc
trine, is not new. A jealousy of jW>v?or,
and of *he inlluenrr of patronage, which
?nu*t xltvays accompany its exerr.i*e. has
f.wrr hern a distinguished vfeature in the
American character It displayed itsolf
strongly at the period of the formation, and
*fthe adoption ofthe federal constitution.1
At that time the febloness of the old con
federation had ntcited a much greater
dread ofnnarchy than of power?"of anar
chy among the members than ef power In
tftc head '.-**and although the impression
?? nearly universal that a government of
more cnergetic character had become in
diapensably neces?ary. yet even nnder th??
influence of this rnnriction<?euchVra* 'he
dread of power and patronage?that the
States, with evtrrme reluctance, yielded
their absent to the establishment ofthe fe
deral government. Nor was this the effect
of idlo awl visionary fear* on the pari of
an ignorant multitude, without knowledge
"f tbe nature sod tendency of power. <>n
the contrary, it resulted from the most
rttonsiv* end profoundpolitical knowledge
from the head* M statesmen, unsurpassed
?*s4?r??ri. *
ill any M?t. in uimi patriotism No*
thing could reconcile th? grant wen or (but
day to ? constitution of to much power, bat
the guards which were not upou it against
the abuse of |H>tiflr, Ore ml ami jealousy
of this abuse displayed itself througoot th?>
instrument. T?? this spirit we are ind?lit
ed for the freedom of the press, trial b)
jury, liberty of conscience,4reedo0iof.de
bate, retponsi ility to cooriituents, power
of impeachment, the control of tbe Senate
over appointments to office; fc muny ether
I provision* of n like character. But tbe
'committee cannot Imagine that the jeidous
f iresight of the tiirie, ?re.?t as it waa, or that
any human Nigncity, could have foreseen,
and placed a competent guard upon, every
possible avenue In the abase of power.-?
rho nature pf a ronititutlonal net excludes
the possibility of combining minute perfec
tion with general excellence. After the
exertion of all possible vigilance; something
of what ought to have l>een done, ha? been
omitted, and much ot what haa been at
tempted, hns been found inMitficicnt and
unavailing in practice. Much rum??io? for
us to do, and muoh will mill remain for pos
terity to do?for thn?e unborn generation*
to do, on whom will devolve the sacred
task of guarding the templo ofthu constitu
tion. and of keeping alive the vestal (Lime
of lilwrty.
The committee believe that they will he
acting in the spirit of the constitution in h
boring to multiply the guard*, and t6
strengthen the barriera against the possible
abuse of power. If a community coulil be
imagined in which the lias should exernte
themselves?in which the power of go
rernment should consist in the enactment
of laws?in such a state the machine of go
vernment would carry on it* operations
without jar or friction , Parties would be
unknown, and the movements of the peliti
rul machine would but little more disturb
the passions o[ mot\ t>nn they Hre disturb
ed by the opentions of the great laws of
tha material world, But this is not the
cane. The scene shifts from thisimutinary
region, where law* .execute themselves,
to the theatre of real life, wherein they are
executed by civil nnd military officers, by
?mite end navies* by court* of justico, by
the collection and ilisbursemrnt of reve
nue, with all its train of snlnrieti. jolt*, nnd
contract*; and in this n*pect of the reality,
we behold the working of rATRONAer., and
discover the reason why so many standi
ready, in any country* and in all age*, to
flock to the standard of rowen wheresoe
ver. nnd by whomsoever, it may ho r.uscd.
The patronage of the federal govern
ment at the beginning, wan founded upon
a revenue of two million* of dollar*.* It i?
now operating upon twenty-two million*,
and, within the hfe time of mnny now liv
ing, mutt operate upon bfiy. 't he whole
revenue must, in a few year*', bo wholly
applicable to subjcct* of patronage. Tit
present, about one half, say ten million* of
it, are appropriated to the principal and in
terest of the public debt, whicti, from the
nature of the object, involve* but litllu pa
tronage In the cour>e of a few year*,
this debt, without great mismanagement,
| must be paid ofl A short period of peace
'nnd a faithful application of the sinking
(fund, must speedily accomplish that most
| desirable object. Unless tli revenue be
1 then reduced, n work m difficult in repub
lic* ?a in monarchies, the patronage ot the
federal government, great a* it already is,
mu?t, in the* lapse of n few years, receive
n vast accession of strength. The revenue
1 itself will be doubled, and instead of one
half being applicable to ohjects of patron
age, the whole will take that direction.-*
! Thus, the reduction of the public debt, ami
?e increase of revenue, will multiply in a
ur fold degree the number of persons in
the scivice of the federal government, the
quantity of public money in their hands,
nnd the number of objects to which it is ap
plicable; hut as each person employed will
Imv* ? circle of greater or loss diameter,
of which he is the centre and soul?a circle
composed of friemls and relations, and of
individuals employed by himself on publn
or on private account?the actual increase
of federal power and patronage by the du
plication of the revenue, will l?e, not in the
arithmetical ratio, but in geomatricjl pro
gression, an inrre.t?o almost beyond the
power of the mind to calculate or to com
prehend.
The committee think it right to nttempt
to give nn idea of the greatness oft hi* pow
er of patronage by relet nog to an example
in a single city. I hey will take the city
of New,York, fend a single branch of the
federnl patronage in thai city; nnd to avoid
mistake or error, will limit their reference
to a work of unquestionably authority upon
this subject?b.e of the Re
public, which correspond* with the "Jfrw
Jlw/lr'' of monarchies, atyl will read from
Ry.-f' * 5
?Pr'Oi the *h of Mtreh, tfc to the 91st at D*
eaibhtr, |lr * ?>srtn?t of slmovt three ymin, the
aikoent ..fthe r?vt <>?? oitlie federal get* a
aaeitt was only f4,44*01*.
page* 41,4&?jir* ot lhal grow
ing little volume.
(Il?r? b hmrtaUla the report a llat of tb? mrim
of oiBcenietteeliei'le tlx ciMwri of N?w*York
with iht comMMAtion to etch.)
A lb. midable li?t indeed! formidablo in
nuuilHtrf, awl' sUli nmio ?o from the va?t
mneuut of money in (Mir hand*. T|
tion of Mich n bi'dy of men, ??ippotioj
to be'aoimateri by 900 ?!????<? mu?t
nieitdou* in nn election; atw I that the* will
be mi animated, it n proposition ton plain to
need demonstration. F"Wrr over a man'*
tiif/purl, lot* alway* been held ami -olroiited
to be p iott over hi* n in.0 The Provi
dent hint -power" over the ''unppo t** ol
Mil tbe?e othccre; and they ngnin Iihva "pow
er" over the ?support" vf ucbtor tnejr
ch.int* to the Mmountoftei)jmllion? of dol
lar* />t -injmwi, and over the daily support
of nn immense number <df innividmil*, pro*
fcMionnl, mechanical, nod day-laboring to
whom tiK?y c.?? and wtti extend, or deny,
ti vaiuabie private at- Well as public patron
age. acnoruing to the p <Tt which they thai I
net in h well ** in Jb''d?ral, elec
lion*. Suit thi* u only u branch, i^'mere
l?ronk% of Kedorul patronage in the city of
New-York. I he aatne government h?w, in
the rnnne city, a branch 01 the United States'
Bank, wielding a capital of many millions;
a largo military, mtvtd, and post-office e?
t?bh*hment; a judiciaty, with its appropri
ate officer*; pre**e*, which print tho ia?v*
and public ftdverti?ement?; and n Ion*' list
of contractor* and jobber"".
I3nt it may be *>mJ that thn i< an extreme
case; that No?* Vork tsthe lir*tciiy in the
Union, and Fcuerxi patrunaspj nece??Mrily
the greatest Uieio i?r.?nte?l. I ben go 10
the ?ther extiemc; tike a borough town of
comparatively *io;dl population, Mid un in>
Mgnificitiit amount ?f revenue to collcct:
take N<nfo|k. w ?t t? he.r \% Mto popula'.ion of
nva tnoiM.itiu aouls, and her nett revenue
of sixty tour thousand *even hundred an?l
twelve dni|?r4 noti twenty-seven Cents, and
see the power of patronage there.
flier follow* tim pmnfii >>\ y fucrs iIImI|kI to
the cu?tom* ot? Nurioik with Mm c<?ai|>*D?*twus )
Forty-one oAcerssuppurlcd ami employ
ed by ii single bn.nc^ot Federal uetreiage
in Norfolkl lo collect *n .annual d<
revenue ol $t>4.Jl* ST; a single branch,
for this borough, also* ha* ber uavy yurd,
and military e-tabinhtneut; her judiciary,
pout ollice, priwH*. .iml (he unknot* n and
unknowable list <>fjobbers nnd contractors;
imlthc Mill more iiim rutiibln liWt if expec
tant*, who Mrc waiting lor "dead men's
shoe*. * ami willing, in the mean while, to
?lo .my thing that lUt? living into wiah. The
influence of Mich a tvdy ofmpn, animated
by onA-spirit in an i-ioctt n, thust be still
more efficient in a borough Wwn of live
thous and souls, ihiin Uie influence of a far
greater uuinbcr of Federal officer* and re?
miners, iu the far greater population of N.
York. And 40 through ml ihq Union.?
Kvery where, to the extreme frontier of
the remotest State >r Territory. 'Federal
patronage will be found m degree And force,
proportionate to the population of the place,
and forever augmenting with the increas
ing power of the Government. Diminu
tion of patronage is not thought of: the
state of the Custom Uouse in Norfolk, in
already pregnant proof of thii The, pow
er of patronage, nules* checked by the vig
orous interposition of Congre**, mutt go
on increasing, until Federal influence, in
many part* of this Confederation, will pre
dominate in election*, as completely as
British influence predominates in the elec
tions of Scotland and Ireland, in rotten bo
rough towns, and in the grent naval stations
|of Portsmouth and Plymouth. In >ito part
of ibu practical operation of the Federal
Government, has the prodicltona of ita
ablest advocate* been more completely-fal
sified, th?i in this subject ol patronage.-?
The numheis 4h and 40 ol the Federal*
1st, weru devoted to nn enquiry inte the
comparative means of influence poaseaaed
bv the Federal and the State Governments;
and the superiority, at every poAt of the
inquiry, was assigned to the latter* It will
be useful to read a tew passages from thea?
numbers Compared w.th the actual state
ol things, they will vshibit the differeoee
[which a fe.v short years have developed,
between the theoretical and the practical
Government of thin Union; nu'l the think
i g mind will be carried forward, by e na
tuial impulsion, to contemplate the litrther
1difference* which a few more year* must
uncover.
Tiir. rA?sAor.?.
"The powers delegated by the proposed
institution to Ihn fWrr?/Gurern?neet<ere
JfH' ami tlrjlhrdi those which remain tethe
# if* Government*, are aVaulMM* and* <n
ar finite. ? ? # *
I'he number of individuals employed antler
the constitution of the U?u*it will
be etoah siaa/Zer than tk? number eftaple
ed umler the particular fttatrv there Will
consequently, he Uu of personal influence
on the aHe of the farmer than the Imte ?.
? ? t' ? ?
UL-4?
If the I'titVrui OvveroaiMil i? to hnro col*
Itclun of revenue, (be S atu Governments
will have thrir* also; and mi thote of the
foitoer (the United State*) will be princi
pally on the tee coast, ami not very numer
ous, wbilat those of the lut'er, (lA?*
will be spread over the face ol' the conn
try, end will be vrry numerous; the advan
tage in thin view nlao liee on the Mine aide,
rtU$Kidt ?JxhtHtatrn.) ? * ?
Within every district* to which a frdtral
collector wooM be allotted, there would
nor He lew than thirty ob forty* or even
mnre officer*, ol different description* (in
the employment of the State*,) end many
of them persons of chnrncter and weight,
whose influence would lie on the tid* of
MfSTATC."
To be able, to show to the Semite a full
and perfect view of the power nnd work*
ing* of federal patronage, the Committee
nddressed n note, immedintely after they
were charged with this inquiry, to each of
the departments, and to the post muster
general, requesting to be informed of thfe
iwholo number of perron* employed, and
the whole amount of money paid out, under
the direction of their respective depart*
ment*. The answer* received are here
with submitted, and made part of this re*
pott. With tho Blvk I.ook, they will
discover enough to aliow that the predic*
lion* of llioao who were not blind to tho
defect* of the Constitution, are ready to be
r<*idi*ad; that the power and influence of
F'tif ol patronage; rontrnry jto the argu
rncnt in the i% b'nieraltntm an overmatch
forth? power antl influcnre ol S #v put run*
fli.it it* workings will contaminate the
purity of 4II election*, and enahio tho fed
eral government, cvcMiiuaUy. to govern
throughout thit Mate*, ?* eflertually a* if
they were ho many province* uf one vast
empire.
I he whole of this prr'it pouor will cen
Irc in the pre*ident. T he king of En^
l.in<l ii? the of honor;" (he pros
iil<nt df the United Slates in the source ot
patronage. lie presides over the entire
?y?tetn of federal appointment*, Job*, und
contract*. Ilo tin* 4,powcr" over ihe
support" of the individuals who Administer
the *vt<?. He makeannd unmake* them.
He chonscs from the circle of his friend#
nod suppotters, and inoy dismiss them, and
upon all the principle* of hmnan action,
WilliiiMnis- them as often ns they disappoint
hi* expectations. Hi* spirit will animate
their action* in all the elections to Vote imd
federal oflicrs. There may be exception*,
but the truth of n general rule is proved
by the exception. The intended check
and control of the Senate, without new con
?titutionalor?tRtutory provision*, will cense
to operate, I'ntronngn will penetrate this1
iKMly. subdue its enpneity ?<f resistance,!
chain it to the car of power, und enable the
Pi evident to rule h* easily, and much more
securely with, than without, the nomimd
check of i ho senate. If the president was
himself the officer of the people, elected
by them, and responsible to them, there
would be. Una danger ftom this concentra
tion of all power in hi* hsinds; but it is the
business of statesmen to act upon thing* its
they are, and not as they would wish them
tu be, We must then look forward to the
time when the public revenue will he
doubled; when tho civil und military otfi
cers of the federal government will be qua
drupled; when its influence over individu
al* will he multiplied to en indefinite extent;
when the nomination by the president can
carry any man through the senate, 4ml his
recommendation, can carry any mra*nre
through the two houses of congress; wh?*n
the principle of public action will be open
and avowed, the ftrenidettt want* my voir,
und i want hi* Mtronagf\ I will vote a*
he withe*, and he wiU oivu me the nfflc* J
with fur. What will this be hnt the go
vernment of oue man? and what is the to
veinment of oue man but a monarchy/?
Names are nothing. The nature of a thing
Is in its substan-e, and the nsme soon ac
commodates il? If to the substaoce. The
first Komxn F.mperor was *tyled Kmperor
of the R'pHbtic, ni*\ Ihe last French em
peror took the same title; and their res
pective countries were Just a* essentially
Munmrchial bofore a* after the ns*umption
of the?e titles. It cannot he denied, or
dissembled, but that this federal govern
ment gravitate* to the same point, and that
the election of the executive by Ihe legis
lature quickens Ihe impulsion.
I h ise who make ihe president must sup
port him. Their politicsd fate Incomes
identified, and they must stand or fall toge
ther. Might or wrong, they must support
him; and if he is made contrary to the will
,ef the people, he must be supported not
only by vote* end speeches, but by erme.
A violent and foroo# state of things will
ensue. Individual combats will take place;
and Ihe combats of individuals wdl low the
forerunner to general engage meets. The
arhiy of man against man w||) ho the pre
lude to the array of army agAinst amy, aed
of State against state, ftoch t* the law of
nator4t and it is squally'm vain for onOseV
of men to claim an a sewpUon from its oyer
.?*4
?WWW??Bgllll IWH'1 h ?
etion, m it would be for any other*e^to
suppose that under the same circumstances
thej would not net in the tame manner.?
The natural remedy fer ell tbie ttB would <
be to piece the election of Presided In the
hands of the people of the United State*.
He would then hare e power to support
him, which would bm as able M willing to
tdd him wbeo he area himself supporting
the intereata of the country, aa thijr woeld
be to pat him down when he ahoukl neglect
or oppose thoso interest". Your committee,
looking at the present mode of electing the .
President as the principal aource of all thie
evil, huve commenced their labor* at the
beginning of thia session by recommending
an amendment to the constitution in that <e*
sential and vital particular! but in thia, m
in many other thing*, they And the greatest
difficulty to lie in the firjit atep. The com
mittee recommend the amendment, but the
people cannot act upon it until congress*
rthull "propose" it, and, pei-adventure, con-*
gress will not "propose** it to them at alt.
The committee have also reported ano
ther proposition of amendment, intended
?o exclude senators and repreeentetivee
from appointment to civil offices, under the.
authority of the federal government; and
this proposition they will not despair of
seeing referred to the consideration and de
cision of tho people. They believe thai
every proim*itioo to amend the constitu
tion, not frivilous, or flagrantly bad on it#
face, should be referred to the people.***
Tho people mndx the constitution and they
can tiHund it. They are the only consti
tutional triers of the amendment. They
alone have power to adopt it; and for Con
gress to refuse to pr9|?oee the amendment,
is to prevent decision, and to act upon the
principle that the people are Incompetent
to decide.
The commiltrc mutt then take thing#
us tlu-.y ?re. Not beiny,nble to lay the ax*
to :lie root of ihe tree, they mustgo to Dro
ning among the limbs him I branches. Not
iHjmg able to reform the constitution in thv *
flection ,.f president. they must go to worll.
upon his powers, ?nd trim down th<?*e by
statutory enactmuuta, wherever it cho fa*
done hy law, and with a just regntd to tht
proper efficiency of the government. Fof
'bis purpose they here reported thesis
bills which hare been enumerated. They .
do not pretend to have exhausted the anb
ject, but only to have fee iced e lew of it*
prominent points. They have ooly touch
ed. in four place*, the vaat end pervading
system of federal executive patronatot the
prexi?the post office?-fh, armed fort*~+ I
ami the appointing pou-er. They are few,
compared to the whole number of point*
which the system present*, bat they are
points vital to the liberties of the country*
I I he press is put foremost, because it is the
moving power of human action: the pott
otllre is the handmaid of the press: the
urined force its executor; nndAlhe appoint
ing power the directress of the whole. If
ttie appointing power was Itself im emana
tion id the popular will?if the president
whs himself the officer and the organ of the
people?there would be Irs* danger ia
leaving to his will the sole direction of alt
these arbiters of human flite. But things
must be taken as they ere} statesmen mftst
act for the country they live '**? end not lor
the island of Utopia: they must act upon
the state of fact* in that country, end net
upon the visions of fancy. In thecoantrv
for which the committe act, the press, with
some exceptions; the post office, the am?
ed f?rce, and the appointing power, ere in
the hands of the president, and the presi
dent himself is not in the hands ef the peo
ple The president way. and in ike tor
rent of human afaIrs, wilt ha agmintt tha
i^opte; and, in his hands, the arbiters of
human fate mint be against them aWo.?
This will not do. The possibility ef it
must he nvoided. The safety of the people
is the "supreme luw;" end to ensure that
safety, these arbiters of human late most
change position, and take post on the side
of the people.
Office Seeking.?Th? Ooorgrtnwn M Mctrrmofi.
tan" iuforms u* that a resignation of one of the
Cl?rk< in the Treasury OAee at Washington ehy
took ptacs recently, and adds, that as soon as the -
resignation was known, then eame the tag of
prtemkoM in tha end chamber. Meaihers of
cosptn who had frlrnds to eerre, broken mer
bhants, discharged eUrks, ruined ?p?ndthrtfu and
idk boys, rushed la one promiscuous mass, until
tbo secretary found H asoesaary, K> |?MWm Ma
person from iteing taksa by Moon, to bars a label
pasted np In lb* anti ebawbsr annonafin* that
thn nppuintment had be?a made. Wo understand
that tbs plan was hi<My approved of, and that
Ota sever*l aeerrtanes hare ordered a sign to be
Mine dp, -aNrrilwd on one Mde, "J)? *Oe*ne4e?
fn tk(, OJfier," and no the other side, * Ab roar*.
r,rt filled," !f *Meb k wilt bo totted 1st anf
onwreeaeias, eras ikatel tsstgeatloe.
?. ? ) ^sAhiiystm l'0& . *
Hmr4 Aaltet.t A hoy wp? Isst week hasetlito
befbte one of wer iu?tgtot says the B jthsslae Tetf
sgrapb, upon a wilt ft habeas eorps
beeo Imprisoned for tjttH lareeny, epo
wblrb, It le said, *efe whipped from
stiyaava