Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-17
POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT
THE sPEAKERSHIP.

We have recently seen numerous state.
ments and reports in various papers touching
the speakership Of the next Congress-. Every
form of speculation, every variety of hypo-
thesis, is INDUCED in. We would not heed
lessly encroach on the rights of that very nu-
merous class of men who live by gossip, and
fatten on scandal. They are to the newspaper
press what the newsmonger-the retailer of
small items-the finder out of family secrets,
is to society with this difference: that the for
mer is paid for his gossip-the latter dis.
charges his Office from pure love of it. To
maintain their importance, they must manage
to keep up constant interest and excitement
in the public mind. A new rumor every morn
ing, is as necessary to them MS new dress is to
fashionable belle. It matters not what the
rumor is SO it relates to thing, or person
of Importance. But one caution is observed
and that is to manage it with sufficient adroit-
ness to escape responsibility
The particular rumors to which we refer,
represent certain aspirants to the honor and
dignity Of the speakership, as the candidates
Of certain very wealthy and respectable bankers
and business men. Such rumors we are sorry
to see. If true, they would denote condition
Of public morals at which the honest yeomanry
Of the country might we'll blush If untrue,
they would denote, on the part Of those who
start and circulate them, distrust Of our
most distinguished public men and our most
eminent men of business
That day, should it ever come, which heaven
forefend, will be black day and an evil day
when private wealth shall become the govern.
ing power in the councils and legislation of the
country. 1t would erect an imperium IN i'm.
perio. 1t would place the men elected by the
people, as their rulers and Legislators, under the
control of few rich men. 1t would make
gold the governing power. 1t would neutralize
the popular voice. 1t would annul the popular
will. 1t would corrupt our most eminent poll
ticians. 1t would ruin public and private
morals. 1t would transfer the powers Of gov
eminent, from the hands Of the many, into an
aristocracy of few. 1t would erect gold into
the king-the Judiciary and the legislature.
cradle subsection of public, to private men, are
so manifest that it is needless to allude further
TO them.
The rumors to which we refer, do great in
justice to those candidates for the speakersbip,
who are represented as the candidates Of this,
or that wealthy banker. Men, who are promi-
nent enough to be run for that high and dis.
tinguished position, would scorn to win their
way, BY gold by bribery, by corruption. 1t
IS libel on Congress, TO Say---for such it is in
substance-that the many virtuous, incorrupti.
bic patriots in that body, can be bought up by
bankers, to vote for pets, favorites, or instru-
ments, at so much a head. It is an insult TO
respectable private citizens, to represent them
before the country, rs attempting to control
elections and legislation, by means Of their
money. Merchant princes have made peace
and war in the different countries Of Europe
| They have sometimes arrested, sometimes d.
rected Legislation, by means Of their wealth.
They have managed kings and kingdoms-but
we are proud to say that in this our favored
country, private wealth, with all its influences,
has never yet dared to aspire To rule in the
councils of the nation-and that our rulers and
legislators have never been base and bad enough
to prostitute themselves and their offices for
gold.
We dislike to see such rumors as we speak
Of in respectable public journals. They can
have no good effect. One bad effect they Ger
tainly have, and that is to familiarize the pub
lie mind with pictures Of depravity, corruption