The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-09-26


ton eat at our tables, and yet they are not known
We not conscious that the base betrayer is cir
cumventing US, and plotting our ruin II Is such a
vile system that the governor general OF Cuba, and
very possibly the emperors of Russia and Austria,
have established in this republican land, for ferret
ing out the friends of freedom, in order that they
may send them TO dungeons and deathif they should
happen to venture back To their native country. IL
Is the most abominable Of all the devices OF yrants
II infuses the whole atmosphere of social life with
hypocrisy and trcachery, leading to the basest
crimes, and ministering TO the most profound and
consuinmate despotsn.
Yet, IN this republican country, not only has
such detestable system of espionage been estab-
hshed by the Governor General of Cuba, but our
own government-the cabinet of General Taylor
has instituted system of secret inquiry and
Ueilance, bearing in principle strong resemblance
TO the system OF espionage resorted to by the des
pots of the European governments Some weeks
ago we mentioned the fact that the Postmaster
General, Jacob Colamer, had instituted such sys-
tenn, for the purpose OF ferrcting out the political
opinions, and the circumstances with regard 10
property, of the clerks employed in his depart
ment Mr.. Meredith Secretary of the Treasury,
has, we understand, instituted similar system of
secret espionage And it is believed that Thomas
Ewing and the other Secretaries have resorted to
the same practice, in order to ferret out the Poht-
cal opinions and pecuniary circumstances of their
clerks Some of these Secretaries, or their subor-
dinates, have admitted the fact that committees OF
Whigs-very probably the Rough and Ready Club
have been commissioned and employed in such
shameful and infamous service. These committees
have made secret inquiry as to the opinions and
sentiments which the victims whom they have de-
signed for decapitation have expressed enter
tanned. So minute is this system, that all the pr
vate affairs Of the doomed clerks inquired into,
ascertained, and reported to the Secretary of the
Department to which he belongs And the first he
knows, he is informed that he is removed--in the
first place, because he is Democrat; and secondly,
because he owns house, or has few hundred dol
lars in stock, or some other property; and that he
has but many children, or none, as the may
he he has hpan rndp md car efnl in he
management OF his private affairs, and Is a Demo
crat, he il sure To go. He is doomed man. Dis
reputable to the Cabinet as this practice is, and
shocking it must be to every honest mind, we
assured, from the reliable sources, that it
exists, and that it be abundantly proved, if in
quiry in respect to it authorized by
mttee of Congress.
But for the evidence of the fact showing the ex-
stence of this secret and infamous system Of espi-
Onage, need not wait for the revelations Of
committee Of Congress. The agents and minions
of the Cabinet themselves furnish it. They not
only in substance admit the fact of the existence Of
such system of secret inquiry in this city, but
they invoke their friends in the country to become
secret spies and common iyormers against their Dem
ocratic neighb0s. Base and infamous such pro-
position is we actually find it made in so many
words in the following letter written in this city
and published in the Richmond Wing OF August
%. We publish the letter entire, in order to
prove the existence of this shameful system Of secret
inquistion and to show the erocous spirit of pro-
scription which pervades the bosom Of the writer,
and which can find its parallel only among the
brutal and sanguinary human butchers of the
French revolution of 1888.
From the Richmond Hing Of august 2S.
WAsHINeToN, August 81, 1S49.
MEssRs. EDITORS / regret to hear occasional
complaints from Wings of the tardy progress of
"reform," and read the bitter denunciations of Lo-
cofocos upon the Administration for the removals
that have been made. What can both these dis
contents expect? Though civil revolution has
been effected by the surages of the people without
resort to arms, for which we indebted to the
conservative principle OF self government, still
the new commander in chief of the ship of State
could not seize upon the whole ships crew, and
throw them overheard at once, were it pretty
certain that every man of them had conspircd to
defraud and dispossess the rightful owners to
hazard wreck in the struggle, it behooves to be
patient, and have confidence, while the good work
is slowly but surely progressing under the dictates
of a searching and impartial investigation, which
viii insure justice to all, and safety to the public
service.
am eredibly informed that the test of Delinquent
cy is three-fold. The first branch of it includes
those whose party interests have involved them in
official abuses by vitiating the freedom of elections
The second embraces the superannuated or other
wise incompetent. The third takes in the dishon-
est and negligent. After this wholesale purgaton,
what portion of the original executive functonares
will be found worthy to be retained in the service.
Is not as yet foreseen. But IL Is obvious from the
system of espionage practised by those who in
defatgable in the vocations of Locofocoism that no
effort will be left unried by that party 10 parayze
the operations of reform, TIL the last unworthy in
cumbent receives his doom; and this is the chief OBJ
ject OF the Union and of the correspondence which
continues TO perforate the country and dissent
nate falsehood in every direction from Washing
ton 4H their efforts, hotcerer must eventually be un-
tfnauang If The friends Of official responsibility,
puo6tty industry and retrenchnent ,cH lend their aid
in communicating correct and authentic information
TO the proper dspdr taents, from the inmediafe vicinity
Of eU1y unworthy incumbent, tcih the quail fcafions
and character Of suitable substitute instead of per-
IN he b,,f
hypocrisy Of those ,cho ready 10 creep and lick The
dust from the feet Of those they haze rerled. For the
people TO VOLUNTEER such information ADORE indi-
Gated, rs the only cdy 10 insure justice safety, and e.
tcicncy 10 the public service u only then remains on
those oho are cogni can't " facts ichch tpod elghten
the refining ana utying process, TO do their duty:
(nottoistdnding the effort 10 aPpal by bs bugbear Of
oscrrpfion) for the most searching cue of an ind
rtduai or the determined ,oiu Of the devoted pa
hiof, cannot penetrate all The recesses and c.aster
euery public delinquent this great empire, icittouf
the authentic information Of cediiabie eye witnesses TO
aud HIM II is, moreover, important that this work
OF reform should be complete, prospective point
of view. II will teach public officers in all future
Time to attend TO their delegated and official duties
alone; TO look 10 their present qualifications for
duty, and TO perpetuate them in freshness and
vigor; and that when they become deficient from
any cause, they must expect 10 walk, and relin-
quish the idea Of vested rights Of office. II will
teach them especially TO eschew all interference
with the primitive elections Of the people, the viz
gin purity of which is the precious jewel of that
sovereignty they have reserved To themselves. For
my part, were the most helpless pauper in the
world, would yet be content never TO receive a
cent from the public treasury, could the present de-
inquents have summary justice and the people be
protected in future in the exercise of their sover
eighty, while their servants devote a competent.
undivided, and unalloyed attention to their official
duties. JEFFERSON
The italics are our own, and have made use
Of them 10 bring out in bold relief the infamou,
proposition which the letter embodies. II is such
wrctches as the writer Of the letter which we have
copied above that now cater for this Administration
and are employed by the Cabinet and by their chief
instrument and tool, Truman Smith, to carry out
more cffectually the hagitous system Of proscrip-
ton practised by the Cabinet in violation not only
of General Taylor's solemn promises and declarn-
tons, but their own personal pledges and assur-
snces.
We now invoke the candid and serious attention
OF the American people % the facts which we have
stated, and which the letter above abundantly
proves We call the attention Of the honest and
patriotic men Of all parties in Pennsylvania and
Maryland, who are soon to express their Judgments
upon the acts and measures Of this Administration
tho al thinDa which NOT nl h..