The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-03-30
THE DRoNE AND VAMPIRE OF MR.. VAN
BUREN'S OFFICIAL ORGAN.


BUREN's OFFICIAL ORGAN.
There are very few men. who cannot re-
pose upon the reflection, that, during their
life time they have "done the State some SER
vice." Hardly any, however humble their
calling or occupation, who do not, in some
way, contribute to the general mass Of COM
fort, happiness or wealth Of the nation. The
merchant, who builds ships to plough the
'vasty Deep" sends them forth to enrich the
country on their return with their earnings
the cultivator who digs riches from the bowels
OF the earth--the hardy mariner who ventures
among the mountains Of ice in unknown seas,
and grapples with the leviathan Of the deep,
thus drawing gold from its bottom---the shoe
maker, halter, blacksmith, tinplate worker,
carpenter and toilor, all contribute, through
their labor and industry, TO the augmentation
OF the national wealth while those engaged
IN professions. such as the parson, doctor,
and even lawyer, each in their respective call
ings, render services to mankind and their
country.
What an exception TO each and every one
Of those, does Mr.. Van Buren's chosen con-
ducter Of his official organ present He stands
exhibited before the country, from early boy
hood up to the present time, DRoNE and a
VAMPIRE: mere Ieech, feeding and fatten-
Ing upon the industry Of others, without the
power to say, he has ever rendered particle
Of service TO his country.
Let US glance at this individuals history.
In August last, he gave this account Of his
early history. In substance he said, he ,ra,
first an apprentice in a couri; then he was
raised 10 a cierkship. ,Ohich he resigned and
came to Washington, and obtained through
the popularity cfhe President, and the public
Jaror, large circulation aud some public
,cork, By phich he had been enabled to realize
The little property on ,chich he resides. An
other part Of the history Of himself, which he
gave, was, IAN excellent wife aad a smart
little fortune on her side" that "made up the
outfit" before he aras one and tyenfy. This
smart little fortune, on the side Of his wife, it
is well known, he had squandered. When he
came TO Washington, he came pauper. The
friends Of the administration here, in Philadel-
phia, and New York, were called on for con-
tributions to enable him to purchase his press
and types. with which he printed the first
number of the Globe. We do not doubt that
some of the money for which Swartwout is
now defaulter, was thus bestowed upon the
then suppiiant mendicant. How much, he
must know.
Up to this time, (when he came here) do
We see single thing whatever that he had
done to benefit his country, or add to its
weal.h' Not one. He appeared only as
a miserable drone, And what has he
done since! He does not even claim TO
have done any thing since. He acknow.
lodges that every thing which he has re-
ceived since, has been "obiained through
the popularity Of the President and the pub
lie favor" Now, let us see what that amounts
to. From official reports, we find he received,
for Executive Department printing only, in
the years 1882 to 1886 inclusive 1909
For printing for House Of Representatives,
for 2ith Congress, Io5,sl4
For printing for Senate, he states he receiv-
ed, for the session OF 1887, 3S 5l,84
The printing for session OF 1888, '39 will,
undoubtedly, amount 10 as much more 5l,6l4
The Executive Department printing, for
the years 1887 and '3S, we estimate for
each, The same as for 1895 and '36-say 4S,7G2
!, Total : 1910, 4o3
Thus, it will be seen, that this VAMPIRE,
in seven years, has drawn out Of the public
Treasury, collected into it from the hard
earnings Of The people, THREE HUNDRED
AND SEVENTY THOUSAND DOL
LARS! Then there is to be added "the
large circulation for which, he says he is
indebted to the public favor"
But this is not ALL There is to be added
to this enormous sum, taken by authority from
the public Treasury, another sum--that which
the people have been almost plundered Of.
There are but few, if any, who do not know
that the conductor Of the official organ settled
a d, BIT due TO the Bank of the United States,
of twenty thousand dollars, for tUo hundred
dollars. One fifth part Of this belonged to
the United States; and consequently, here is
nearly four thousand dollars more, which have
been drawn from the pockets Of the people,
for the benefit Of Mr. Van Buren's favorite
Such is he, who is placed at the head Of,
and to conduct, "the Robespierrean press at
Washington, under the immediate control of
the administration Such is the man, who
has the ear Of Mr.. Van Buren,, and TO whom
he gives his confidence
If there is any truth in the maxim, uultus
est inder animi, who can look at him and not
involuntarily eyclaim odi prof1nn,n pulous ct