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thereby in appearance at least, sanctioning the new principle of executive patronage.

The case of Major Barney, naval officer of the port of Baltimore, excited much interest. He was the son of Commodore Barney, and fought by the side of his father at the battle of Bladensburgh, in August, 1814, in defense of the city of Washington; and distinguished himself in the defense of Baltimore, in the succeeding September. He had enjoyed the office for a considerable period, faithfully performed its duties, and was entirely dependent on its emoluments for the support of a numerous family. His removal was for no other apparent cause, bnt to make room for Mr. Carr, editor of the Baltimore Republican, a partizan newspaper in the late canvass. It drew from the pen of Mrs. Barney, a daughter of the late judge Chase, a severe and animated address to the president, which did honor to the talents of her sex, and interested them in behalf of the proscribed officers. Mr. Carr's nomination passed the senate by a majority of one vote.

Retrenchment. Much was expected from the committee on retrenchment, appointed at the commencement of the session. The public had been made to believe that there were many sinecure offices created or continued by the late administration that ought to be abolished. The committee on this subject, in the latter days of Mr. Adams, reported that there were many offices of this description, but were not able to point them out for want of the co-operation of the cabinet, and expressed a full belief that when they could avail themselves of such co-operation, much might be done to reduce the government expenditures. The present committee, consisting of some of the same members, and with the same views, entered on the subject in earnest, depending on the zealous co-operation of a reforming administration. Unfortunately for the issue of their researches, they found no salaries in the numerous offices attached to the executive departments, to be reduced or dispensed with. Within the halls of congress they found nothing subject to their pruning knife, except a draughtsman, who had been employed by the speaker, in consequence of a resolution of the house several` years ago, directing him to procure maps and charts for the use of congress. His services, they thought might be dispensed with, and reported a discontinuance of the office. This occasioned a debate, at intervals, of several weeks; at length it was discovered that such drafts were necessary, and that this was the most economical mode of procuring

them, and the office was continued. Nice calculators estimate the expenses of this debate equal to a ten years salary of the officer. The abortive labors of a reforming administration and two committees of retrenchment, satisfied the people that whoever might govern, they must pay that a new set of hungry officers were at least as avaricious as the old; and that when the watchwords ECONOMY and REFORM had done their office in deceiving the people they would go into disuse.

Veto. A bill having passed both houses, authorizing a subscription to the stock of the Maysville turnpike road, in Kentucky, on being presented to the president for his signature, was returned with a document of great length assigning his reasons for not approving it. After stating the great importance of internal improvements, and the president's zeal to promote the object, the document concludes with the opinion that no money is to be drawn from the treasury for that purpose until the public debt is wholly extinguished; and not then without an amendment of the constitution, authorizing the collection of a surplus revenue, and a distribution of it among the states in proportion to their representation in congress. Two other bills of the same nature were returned without his signature, referring to this document for the reasons. The veto, as it was termed, occasioned a stormy debate in the house of representatives, at the close of the session, which terminated in a rejection of the bill for the want of a constitutional majority. The principle relating to internal improvements was fully discussed, and was supposed to be settled in the congress of 1823-4, by the passage of an act making a liberal provision for surveys. Since that time, several important works have received aid from the public treasury, which must have failed without it. Several are in an unfinished state, commenced under a well grounded expectation of receiving assistance from the government, which must be abandoned if denied the expected aid. The principles adopted by the president on the Maysville road bill are at variance with the act of April, 1824, with General Jackson's own votes on the subject in the senate, and with the opinions of every branch of the government since. They go as well against the improvement of harbors and river navigation, as against roads and canals. The whole system to which the friends of internal improvement have looked for the rapid increase of the wealth and population of the country, and the multiplication of its conveniences and resources, is prostrated. The veto is so con

sidered by the opponents of the system, and hailed as one of the most important measures of the administration, and as they term it, capping the climax of the whole.

Its effects on the west. No measure more hostile to the interests of the west could be devised. One of the principal difficulties incident to a new country, is the want of convenient channels of communication. These, on an extensive scale, require the aid of the general government. Individual enterprise or state funds cannot be expected to accomplish them. It is the only mode in which the west can be benefited by the expenditure of the public moneys. Hitherto the great mass of the public treasure has been expended in the Atlantic states, and for objects more immediately beneficial to them. On the plan of internal improvements, the west were beginning to be benefited, and probably in the end would receive their full share. The principles advanced in the Maysville document, carried to their extent, are calculated to retard improvements in the west, half a century.

The notion that the moneys of the United States, destined to objects of internal improvements, are to be distributed to the several states in the ratio of representation, to be expended under the authority of their legislatures, and within their respective limits, is so inconsistent with any rational scheme, that it has been considered rather as a finesse to get rid of the whole subject. Two considerations are suffi. cient to show the futility of the project. A channel of communication, whether by land or water, to be of any public convenience must be continuous, and in most cases pass through more than one state. It is not to be expected that several states, having different views and interests, will unite in the same operation. The other is, that the states needing the most, will probably draw the least money. Indiana and Illinois, for instance, requiring heavy expenditures to connect the navigation of the lakes with the Mississippi, will draw but a small portion of the funds.

The veto, in unision with the opening message, recommends an appeal to to the people for an amendment of the constitution, authorizing internal improvements, and defining and restricting the manner in which the power should be exercised. The slightest observation of the difficulties attending propositions to amend the constitution in times past, is sufficient to show that to be a hopeless project, and the subject may as well be entirely abandoned, as placed upon the event of such a contingency. Two important bills, one making an appropriation for light-houses, and the im

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