The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-05
SUMMARY.

exercised of late, on account Of the marriage
colored man, in New York, to whit
woman. The Courier and Enquirer OF tina
city, and the Inteiiigsneer of this, both said
conservative papers, are utterly scandalizcd Al
such amalgamation. Have they forgotten thai
the Democracy of the Union once gave to the
| United States Vice President who had col
ored wife, and signalized himself by his devo
ton to the welfare of their joint offspring
Possibly, the objection of the editor of the Cou'
rier and Enquirer lies against licit rather than
Illicit amalgamation. Social intercourse IS o
matter of taste. We should differ on this point
from that renowned Vice President, and his
less distinguished imitators North and South
but we cannot understand the justice of de-
nouncing Northerner for doing. licitly, that
which, when done ilictly, did not prevent a
Southern man from being elected to the'post OF
Vice President of the United States, by ma
Ority of his countrymen.
How is it that the Press, which slumbers
from year to year over notorious instances OF
adulterous amalgamation in high quarters
among Pro Slavery men, all at once wakes up"
to the enormity of a single case of matrimonial
amalgamation among Anti-Slavery men? 1t
is not the sin against God, but the offence
against caste, that shocks it.
The National Democrat complains of Mrs.
Stowe because she did not see proper to make
contribution, lately, to enable some benevo-
lent persons in Philadelphia to purchase the
freedom of a family of thirty slaves in Virginia.
Mrs. Sigourney was appealed to- it says, and
contributed twenty-five dollars but "Nrs.
Harriet Beecher Stowe gave not one cent"
And then it proceeds to abuse her. in most de-
lectable style. Who made the editor of the
Democrat Mrs. Stoves overseer? What bust
ness has he to be prying into peoples private
affairs, to see what they do, and don't do! He
would, doubtless, deem it an act Of gross i'm
pertinence, were some philanthropic person,
disappointed in obtaining a donation from him
to some deserving object, to publish him to the
world as a hypocrite, sheer "Aminadab
Sleek!' And yet this very act he is guilty of.
The case presented to Mrs Stowe may not
have been 50 urgent as some others: she may
have had, at the time, several very pressing
cases on her hands requiring her speci i atten-
ton We know that her benevolence has been
amply attestcd by deeds, and that it acts, not
from mere impulse but in obedience to prin-
ciple and sound discretion. The Democrat is
guilty of a vice, common to that large portion
of the American Press which is always med
ding with private character and relations.
Nothing is sacred against its intrusion. Coarse,
ill-mannered, vulgar, fippant, and malignant,
it prizes into a mans household and business,
and hesitates not to make his domestic affairs,
his pecuniary transactions, his very charities
topics of newspaper gossip. Such dwelling
scoundrelism deserves the contempt and indig-
nation of every honest man.
The work Of prescription goes on. Where
an office confers influence, it is but fair that
it should be filled by an incumbent concurring
in essential views with the Administration but
the hundreds of cierkships in the Depart
ments, in which little but clerical capacity is
required, and which can confer no opportunities
for shaping OR modifying, or embarrassing an
Administration, should certainly be taken out
Of the political arena. AS it is, they are re.
garded as much stock, to be invested bv
every new President, for the particular benefit
OF his Party, or as so many presents to be con-
ferred upon partisans. General Pierce, who
promised so well in his Inaugural has suffered
his Administration to adopt the proscriptive
policy. Scores Of clerks are removed, for nc
other reason than that their places are wanted
by partisans or their clients; and, as usual, no
respect is paid to age, condition, or means. The
man of sixty, with large family, and no
means of support but his clerkship, receives
notice to quit" instantly, and without any
cause. In the business world, the merchant
selects his clerks with reference to capacity
and economy. Having suited himself he feels
that selfinterest and justice alike demand that
the engagement be continued so long as they
shall be faithful and efficient, and their SER
vices be needed and should any change in his
plans require their dismissal, he will give them
notice in advance, and be at pains to terminate
the relation in a way that shall involve as little
injury to the interests of the employed as pos
sible. Political prescription does not act thus
1t is devoid alike Of common sense and COM
mon humanity. 1t turns out clerk, without
ascertaining whether the public service will be
injured and without the least regard to the
feelings or interests Of the prescribed. He
might starve, or hang himself, and the Admin
stration which has ruthlesaly driven him to
bcggary or ruin, cares no more for him than if
he were brute. The whole policy of political
prescription is blunder and crime. 1t dis
graces the Government, corrupts officials inter-
fcres with the public service, and tends to de-
moralze the clerks. 1t is unreasonable and
cruel and the President who should have the
magnanimity and frmness to repndate it.
might disgust the whole tribe of dcmagogues
and trading politicians, but he would receive,
as he would deserve, blessing and honor from
tho American People.
The Washington Union puts wet blanket
on the hopes of those naturalized citizens who
supported the Pierce Democracy, at the last
election, on the ground that it was more favor
able than the Wings to the doctrines of Kos
suth. 1t says that "the brief Kossuth mad
ness has long been over )" that in all the views
of practical Intervention advocated by tho
Hungarian, "the intelligence of the country
never saw anything but absurdity;" that
the crack-brained enthusiasts" who were
carried away by him, have either come to n
sounder way of thinking" Or "now see the
discretion of silence;' that in the tradi-
tons of our national policy, the dictates Of our
national interest, and the sanctity Of our ma
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