The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-09-15
CITY OF WASHINGTON.

SATURDAY MORNING, SEPT. Is, Is4s

The Cabinet System Of Espionagc.
In our paper Of Tuesday we alluded to the system Of
espionage established in this country by the Captain
General Of Cuba for the purpose Of detecting the repub
cans Of that island who may here for business
for pleasure. That Infamous system pervades our So
ciety like the invisible miasma arising from putrd and
poisonous matter which bears disease and death
upon its wings Like presidential efluvia, the agents
Of this deestable system, devised by despots for the
betrayal and persecution OF the friends OF liberty are
everywhere present. although secret and invisible They
follow footsteps, minge in our society," listen to our
conversation eat at tables, and yet they are not
known. We are not conscious that the base berayer is
circumventing and plotting ruin. 1t such vile
system that the Governor General OF Cuba, and very
possibly the Emperors OF Russia and Austria, have es
tablished in this republican land for ferretng out the
friends OF freedom, in order that they may send
them to dungeons and death If they should happen TO
venture back to their native country. It is the most
abominabe OF all the devices OF tyrants; il nfuses the
whole atmosphere OF social life with hypocrisy and
reachery leading to the bases crimes and mniserng to
the most profound and consummate despotsm.
Yet in this republican country, not only has such
detesabe system Of espionage been established by the
Governor General Of Cuba, but our own government
the cabinet Of General Taylorhas instituted system
of secret inquiry and surveillance, bearing in principle
strong resemblance the system Of espionage resored to
by the despots Of the European governments Some
weeks ago we mentioned the fact that the Postmaster
General Jacob Collamer had instituted such system,
for the purpose OF ferreng the political opinions, and
the ccumsa with regard TO property of the clerks
employed in his department 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 esorted
to the same practice in order to ferret out the political
opinions and pecuniary circumstances OF their clerks
Some of these Secretaries, their subordnates have
admitted the fact that committees OF whgsvery proba
bly, the Rough and Ready Clubhave 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 designed for decapaton have expressed enter
tanned So minute is this system, that all the private
affairs of the doomed clerks inquired into, ascerained
and reported to the Secretary Of the department to which
he belongs And the first he knows, he is informed that
he is removed-n the first place, because he is demo-
crat; and secondly, because he owns house, or has
few hundred dollars in stock, other property and
that he has but many children, none, as the case
may be- II he has been prudent and careful in the
management Of his private affairs, and is democrat, he
is sure to GO He is doomed Disreputable to the
cabinet this practice is and shocking as il must be to
every honest mind we assured from the most reliable
sources, that il exists and that il be abundantly
proved, il inquiry in respect to it authorized by
committee Of Congress
But for the evidence Of the fact showing the existence
Of this secret and infamous system OF espionage,
need not wait for the revelations OF committee OF
Congress- The agents and minions Of the cabinet them
selves furnish it. They not only, in substance, admit
the fact OF the existence OF such system Of secret in
quy in this city, but they invoke their friends in the
country 10 become secret spies and common iatormers
against their democratic neighbos Base and Infamous
as such proposition is actually find il made in 80
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 10 prove the existence Of
this shameful system Of secret nquison, and to show
the ferocious spirit OF prescription which pervades the
bosom Of the writer, and which find its parallel only
among the brutal and sangunary human butchers Of the
French revolution of 1885:
tFrom tn. Richmsnd wing ofAusust asI
WASHINGTON, August 81, 1919.
MEssRs EDrroRsi roget 10 hear occasional comp ains
from wings of the tardy progress Of om and read the
bitter denuncatons of ocofocos upon the administration
these discontents expccf Though civil revolution has
been effected by the suages of The people, without resort
TO arms for which indebted 10 the conservative
principle OF scfgovernrnent sl as the commander
In chief Of the ship OF State could seize upon the whole
ships crew. and throw them overheard once
IL pretty certain that every Of them had conspired TO
desud and dspossess the rightul owners hazard
wreck In the struggle, II behooves be patient, and
have confidence while tho good work slowly but surely
progressing under the dictates OF searching and Impartial
nve stigation which will justice all, and safety
the public service.
La m credibly informed that the Of delinquency IL
The first branch Of includes those whose
party interests have involved In official abuses by
ytatng the freedom Of elections The second embraces
the supcrannused otherwise incompetent The third
takes In the dishonest and negligent After this whole
purgaon, what portion of the original executive
missionaries will be found worthy to be retained in the
Service, lie yet ioreseen But Il Is obvious from the
system OF espionage pacssd by those who ndefatga
BILE In the vocaons OF locofocoism, that effort will be
FORM tu the unworthy incumbent receives his doom
and this Is the chief object of Union and Of the
spondeuce which continues peforste the country, and
disseminate falsehood In every direction from Washing
ton All their forfs, hocsvr mast eventually Be snaparg
the frs~ds of Official responsibility probify ndssfry and
rsfrspchsnf w lend their aid in communicating and
svherfic Information to the proper dtparfme~ from the
MEDIATE vcnfy Of every srworhy repmbsrf wih the gsai
ifcaons asd character Of suitab sbsfwte, insfead Of
their sympahss TO Be enlisted By the cmrg hy
pocrv of those scho are ready creep and lick the dust
the feet Of those they hare rspsd For the people
rsER sch i~foraon above Indicated lathe only
j1sffcs saJsfv AND efficiency to the public service only
thea reafrs for those who oogwsan Of facts whieh oord