The  ordinary  executive  business  of  a  state  is  generally  so  simple  and
so  little  that  the  congregation  at  the  seat  of  government  of  a  number
of  semi-idle  state  officers  with  great  titles  and  little  duties  has  tended
to  a  great  political  evil  of  which  more  comment  will  be  presently
made.  Our  constitution  considerably  curtails  the  number  and
dignity  of  these  gentry;  and  with  the  exception  of  the  lieutenant
governor,  who  does  not  properly  come  within  this  objection,  the
present  number  could  not  well  be  lessened.  A  governor  there  must
be,  and  the  several  duties  of  secretary,  treasurer,  and  attorney-
general  could  neither  be  safely  dispensed  with  nor  safely  consoli-
dated; the  union  of  the  functions  of  secretary  and  auditor  in  one
office  is  a  safe  and  good  economy  of  state  dignitaries.
