The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-09

The Organs out Of Tune.
"Chaos has come again among the poti
cians-and the most remarkable and racy devel
opements are daily taking place. The organ-i,
differences between the Globe and Union, a.
well as the examinations and recriminations pas
sing between the larger and the SUBJ rgans-
and the manifestoes of the dry-nurses of the
Union Constitutional founding, which came into
the world but half made up, and gave up thu
ghost on the night of the Sd inst.--each and al
of these interesting movements have tended t.
disgust everybody with Organism.
As a remarkable instance of the depth anG
universally of this feeling, we append an article
| from the Richmond Wing, hitherto one of the
most ready echoes of the central Wing organ
in which the heretical opinion is openly ex.
pressed that even the National Intelligencer il
biased by public patronage, and not wholly 70.
| liable where its pecuniary interests IRE con-
cerned. This slap at the patriarch of its party
looks like stalking new departure"
From the Richmond Wing.
| SEPARArloN OF Pass AND STArE.-~The inter-
minable controversy between the Globe and the
Union. seems to have turned principally upon the
question, which ofthese organs has received most
|
stood the highest in the confidence Of Gen. Jack
son
\ We presume that the difference is more ques-
ton Of patronage than Of principle, but we noted
some particulars in the extended publications. that
are Of importance to the public. II seems that an
far back as the period when the deposites were
removed, and that this organ has been sustained
with the money Of the people, paid out upon a
rate Of compensations for public printing infinite
ly higher than that for which private enterprise
| would have performed the same service. From
this system Of Executive compensation, it has re-
| suited that large sums of money have been re-
ceived by the Globe, Intellisencer, Union, Madi
sonan and Republican one word, by all the
| party papers Of the city Of Washington. This
fact has been established by the controversy re-
ferred to, and by other evidences before the pub
lie. The method Of compromising the party press
has been somewhat changed, it is true, by the
contract system; and the question now is, whether
this system shall be continued or the former sys-
tenn restored. Of the particular merits Of the
quarrel between the Globe and Union we know
nothing. Each has pro6ted much by the patron
age Of the Government.
The Globe charges that Mr.. Tyler proposed to
Mr. Polk to withdraw his pretensions to the
Presidency, and deposited 700 in the hands of
Mr. Cameron for the purpose OF getting up pa
per to supersede the Globe 1t charges that Maj
Hess furnished the means for the purchase Of the
Globe from a political friend, aud like Achates,
faithful to the tomb of him who has paid and pro-
tected it, Mr.. Rives says ia his speech:
snow, should not Mr.. Blair and myself feel
grateful to Andrew Jackson, above all men who
ever livedi We are indebted to him for a compe
tency of this worlds goods, if not for fortunes;
and we are also indebted to him for most Of the
good opinions which the good Democrats enter
tain of u.s."
The Union, on the other hand, denies the
~. .oTf he nd affrr in rnit,u linn
that it has not made one-fourth, we believe as
much by the patronage of the party, as the mere
business partner, [Mr. Rives,l of the Globe has
DONE Ii also affirms that the contract for the
public printing has latterly been very onerous, and
asks relief at the hands of Congress. 1t publishes
mond for Washington, and certainly assigns rea-
sons of personal character to justify the change.
II charges and proves that the Globe has made a
great deal Of money out of Congress; that it has
received more than was just for many services;
and that Mr.. Rives "had the face to say" that he
had lost by a private speculation, and he obtained
relief And, what IL stranger still, he obtained
relief without any difficulty. No strict investiga-
ton made OF the merits of the case; no reference
to committee; no sitting Of items; but the mat
ter went through like shot, and we believe every
thing he asked was granted to the tune of about
400 900, as far as nre informed. And all this,
whilst another public officer, with whom we have
tract we were sufficiently informed, was denied
one cent although the Standing printing commit
tee Of the House had, after full examination, re-
ported favorably on his memorial. How differ
eni the fortune Of different men,
The other party papers in Washington are silent
in the controversy. They feel, probably, that
their interest consists in continuing the system Of
party patronage, and Of taxing their chances for
reward, If the party to which they are attached
should be successful. They think that the par.
ties are but doing what themselves or others would
do under the same circumstances.
With the propositions for indemnity, now be-
fore Congress, we have nothing to do. We have
no vindictive feelings to crafty. Ii is to mat
ter of indifference who gets the reward if the sys-
tenn Of party organism is TO continue, and II would
be money most wisely expended, If it is to ter
mir ate with the reksf now asked Mt the hands Of
Congress. But the connection with the Govern
ment destroys the independence of the press. 1t
perverts its whole character, and instead Of the
sentinel of popular rights, sustained by and re-
! sponsibIe to the people themselves. it becomes q
hired stipendiary, employed to defend every &C,
Of the power that pays it, and to assni every mo
tive Of those who differ with its matters.
We have here the secret by which the admins
tration OF General Jackson was sustained by ths
Globe Its editors were indebted to him for
competency Of this world goods, If not for for
tunes How startling an admission. Is it not
plain then that this, by far the abest political pa
| per ever published in the Union, WAS defending
the hand that fed it When the Union has assaiet
Wing men, measures and motives, is it not natura
| that the public should attribute it's zeal to tn,
promptings of its interests, or the dictates of it,
duty ms an organ maintained by the patronage o
partyi
When the Intelgencer balanced upon the un
easy pivot of the Proviso, might not its anxiety
| for adjustment have been stimulated by the con
sderntion, that If the Union was dissolved, tn,
perquisites of the national press would cease.
/ The separation Of the Government and pres,
ought to he demanded measure Of nationa
reform. We have had great camor about th'
bank and State. They have been terribly
though perhaps not entirely separated. The con
nexion between bank and State has been src
ceeded by the connection between banker AND
State. We think every connection between pub
lie and privnte interests ought to be--if it wer'
lpossible-terminsted. Bot how much more dan
gerous is the connection between the press and
the Treasury
What is the control Of the banks TO the subor
nation Of the press' What is the appeal t.
popular cupidity, to the crime Of poisoning tht
sources Of public intelligence with calumny and
malice Ii is full time this saIutary reform should
be introduced. Let Congress do exact and i'm