The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-31
Democratic COnfcSstons.

Democratic Contentious.
The Petersburg (Va.) Southside Democrat,
a staunch champion of Southern rights, has a
Washington correspondent, who has relieved
his conscience by writing as follows concerning
the hordes of office seekers that are now set.
ting traps to catch the President elect:
"The Wings in Washington are cracking not a
few jokes at the Democrats; alleging that are
absolutely without any seven men of such mar ked
ability and distinguished public services to
enable the President Of the United States to recog
mise them without looking through magnifying
glasses in the shape of recommendatory puffs.
written by gentlemen desiring subordinate places
for the most part This ia meant as a fling at the
fashionable amusement of electioneering with the
President elect for the appointment of this that
aspirant for such place. It is deserved, and it
will serve no honest purpose to deny the fact; a
man in Washington with half an eye in his head
who ponders on what he hears momentarily, will
be satisfied that at least hundred men, pry |e,c
Of ,Dhom persons tohose previous history tDould
suggest Themselves TO General Pierce in such con-
nerion are being urged upon him ,oith all the para
phernaia Of putting letters, with long lists of sign
ers, resorted to for some years past in getting q
petty poet Office or the surveyorship of some out
of the way port.
"The worst feature in the is the fact that
the gangs Of o6ice-ssekers trho foied in Balti
more in their efforts TO effect nomination that prom
ised most surely to pay them leach gang) best, are
the parties ,oho thus hunting do,on General Pierce.
To such pass has this game come that the Wings
of the press now in this city seem to know as
well as any Democrat just what Offices each set OF
the hackers of each gentleman being pressed are
after. The result will be, that this disreputabe
disrePute, unless our own presses put stop
to it by speaking out in its condemnation. So
far, if am not greatly mistaken, no Virginian
has permitted his name to be thus urged on
General Pierce, though we have a rumor to day
from Richmond in the mouths of hundreds OF
Wings as we'll as Democrats, saying that many
members Of the Legislature have signed such a
paper to be rcsented to General Pierce. If So in
stead OF eftecting its purpose, it will merely
q sort Of advertisement of the fact that there
is nothing in the public history Of the candidate OF
itself emitting his claims to consideration in seek.
ing out proper persons to be placed ut the head of
the different Executive Departments Of the Gov
eminent. have not yet heard the name of the
person recommended from Richmond, being
too much disgusted with much as heard of it
accidentally to remain to hear the balance Of the
story
This is Democratic description-be it
remembered-of practices at this moment pre-
valent in the Democratic ranks. 1t may be
doubted if contemporary criticism from Wing
pens has dealt more harshly with Democratic
doings than the candid correspondent of our
Petersburg contemporary. He has faith in the
maxim that confession is good for the soul -
and tells the whole truth, though it cover his
political friends with disgrace.
The passages we have italicized reveal nothing
absolutely new, but they give the stamp of au-
thority to statements which partisan papers
have strenuously contradicted. 1t is an admitted
fact, now, that corrupt bargains were entered
into by the friends of defeated candidates a
the Democratic Convention and that the par
ties to this compact are organized to influence
| General PIERCE in their own behalf.
Perhaps this fact gives the clue to the mo-
tives and objects of other letter-writers. WHIT
are putting the pretensions of distinguished
Office seekers with such prodigious zeal. Thu
crowd are to push this Senator, that Judge
and that other Mr.. Nobody into cabinet offices
and the illustrlous trio are to scatter crumbs
and something else-with generous hands
amidst all who helped them. We have heart
of men who kicked the ladder which had car
ried them up to greatness; and the rank anc
file of the office seekers, profting by remem.
brance of the event, have exacted security te
prevent the occurrence of a parallel in ,heiI
case. Divided in their dsappointments at Bal
tmore, they are resolved to hunt in solid pack
.after the promised spoils. With such tribe
athis heels, who would exchange prospects
with General PIERcE9 The myth of the hun
ter worried by his own dogs may yet be veri-
fled in his experience.