Washington telegraph., 1853-02-09
office Seeking---DeEnOcr Con-
fessiOEas.

The Washington correspondent of the
Petersburg (Va.) Southsidc Democrat, writes
as follows concerning the hordes of office
seekers that are now setting traps to catch
the President
"Tho whies in Washington are cracking
not u few jokes at the democrats alleging
that we are absolutely without any seven
men of such marked ability and distinguish
ed public services as to enable the President
of the United States to recognize them with
out looking through the magnifying glasses
in the shape of recommendatory putfs. writ
ten by gentlemen desiring subordinate pla-
ces for the most part This is meant as a
fling at the fashionable amusement OF elect
ioneering with the President elect for the
appointment of this or that aspirant for such
place 1t 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 one hundred
men, very few Of whom are persons whose
previous history would suggest themselves
to Gen. Pierce in such connection, are
being waged upon him with all the para
phernalia of putting letters with long lists
Of signers, resorted to for some years past
in getting petty post Office or the survey
orship of some out-of-the-way post.
"The worst feature in the case is the fact
the gangs of office seekers who were foiled
in Baltimore in their efforts to effect a nom-
ination that promised more surely to pay
them (each ganD best, are the parties who
are hunting down Gen. Pierce. To such a
pass has this game come, that the wings Of
the press now in this city seem to know as
we'll as any democrat just what offices each
set Of the hackers of each gentleman being
pressed are after The result will be that
this disrepntable practice will bring the
democratic party into disrepnte, unless our
own presses put Il stop to 1t by speaking out
in condemnation So far, If ! am not great.
ly mistaken no Tirginian has permitted his
name to be thus urged On General Pierce.
though we have Il rumor to-day from Rich
mond in the mouths Of hundreds Of wings
al well as democrats, saying that many men,
bers of the Legislature have signed such a
paper to be presented to Gen. Pierce II
50, instead Of ef7ccting its purpose, it will
merely serve as a sort Of an advertisement
OF the fact that there is nothing in the pub
lie history Of the candidate. of itself, enti-
Ting his claims to consideration in seeking
out proper persons to be placed at the head
of the different Executive Departments OF
the Government. [ have not yet heard the
name Of the person so recommended from
Richmond, being too much disguised with
as much as heard Of it accidentally to re-
main to hear the balance Of the story.
"This, says the Washington Republic, is
a democratic descripton-b it remembered
of practice at this moment prevalent in
the democratic ranks 1t may be doubted
if contemporary criticism from whig pens
has dealt more harshly with democratic do
ines 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
covers his political friends with Disgrace .