period it would become a formidable instrument to control the free
operations of the State governments. Of trifling importance at first,
it had early in Mr. Jefferson's Administration become so powerful as to
create great alarm in the mind of that patriot from the potent
influence it might exert in controlling the freedom of the elective
franchise. If such could have then been the effects of its influence,
how much greater must be the danger at this time, quadrupled in amount
as it certainly is and more completely under the control of the
Executive will than their construction of their powers allowed or the
forbearing characters of all the early Presidents permitted them to
make. But it is not by the extent of its patronage alone that the
executive department has become dangerous, but by the use which it
appears may be made of the appointing power to bring under its control
the whole revenues of the country. The Constitution has declared it to
be the duty of the President to see that the laws are executed, and it
makes him the Commander in Chief of the Armies and Navy of the United
States. If the opinion of the most approved writers upon that species
of mixed government which in modern Europe is termed monarchy in
contradistinction to despotism is correct, there was wanting no other
addition to the powers of our Chief Magistrate to stamp a monarchical
character on our Government but the control of the public finances; and
to me it appears strange indeed that anyone should doubt that the
entire control which the President possesses over the officers who have
the custody of the public money, by the power of removal with or
without cause, does, for all mischievous purposes at least, virtually
subject the treasure also to his disposal. The first Roman Emperor, in
his attempt to seize the sacred treasure, silenced the opposition of
the officer to whose charge it had been committed by a significant
allusion to his sword. By a selection of political instruments for the
care of the public money a reference to their commissions by a