Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-03-04
RICHMOND WING.
SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 4, 1854.
TO coRaksroNDKNrs.
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c,u .na aI,I,,r, Mersen,ries

Q6ieidlism occupies the same position in thu
Republic, that the priesthood does in Italy, ana
, the standing army does in the monanches o
Europe. II consists OF men, who produce moth
ing themselves and devour the products OF Other
people. Il acts upon public opinion in the
same way that a standing army does unity o
purpose and oneness Of feeling peryade the whole
corps The only difference between the two IS that
while the military mcrcenaries defend the country in
time Of danger the civil merccnaric always and eter~
nsy prey upon the substance Of the people.
The same data, which determine the number OF
soldiers which country can support, will also serve
20 ascertain the number Of civil officials Economists
and historians have busted themselves in working
this problem Gibbon gives it as the result of the
calculations Of the abest writers the subject that
no State without being exhausted, can miintan
above hundredth part of its members in arms and
ieness" 1t is fair to deduce that the same rule will
hold with regard to civil merccnares-for the reason
in the one case is equally applicable to the Other
They produce nothing and consume the substance Of
those who do toll.
1t is the constant tendency Of monarchies to pu2'
the numbers Of the military to the extreme point OF
endu, ance-the capacity of the people to pay taxes
feed these iders fixing the sum total Of the stand
ing Army. The same tendency exists in this country
with respect to oliice-holders
"a hundred thousand well disciplined soldiers will
command with despotc sway ten millions OF subjects.
and body Of ten OF fifteen thousand guards will
strike terror into the most numerous pOpulace that
ever crowded the streets of an immense capital" The
same principle by which this small band Of drilled
mercenares is enabled to exert this authority over
great and poPulous country applies it'll equal force
to the drilled cohorts Of civil officials. They both
act in concert-and they have a common object-the
aggrandzement OF themselves at the expense of the
toiling millions. Indeed, the civil officials are more
dangerous than the military-for their influence is
not confined to their own ranks-a large number OF
outsiders upholding and striving to augment their
privileges in the hope that they too may become re.
cipients Of the public bounty.
We have made no calculation of the number in
Virginia who at this time, gain their livelihood d.
rectly indirectly from the public treasury
and are consequently interested in large appropria
tons and heavy taxes. Taking all engaged in public
works, 10000 would not be cxtravagant estimate
OF these the triumvrae (he Board of Public Works
claim to be the legitimate commanders. If Gibbons
estimate be correct that hundred thousand soldiers
sufficient to keep in subsection ten millions of poo
pie; these 100000 under the command of three skilu
Generals all the time at work increasing their nun
bers, with no opposition, and with almost unlimited
control Of the public money, will prove more ti.an
match for the million OF ax-rddcn people in Vir.
ginia. IL the indefinite millions for the Coyincton
road had been granted the triumvratc, there
would not have remained for possibility Of escape
The letters would have been rivettcd upon us in spe
OF all resistance. As il is, the danger is great
From six TO eight millions of State stock will pass into
their hands during the next two years-they have
n standing force Of twenty thousand now, and claim
the right TO increase that force at their peasure-
when they shall have done So who may then boast Of
being independent Of them? Under what circum
stances will the next Legislature mcct-with per.
haps half its members having sois, nephews, cous.
ins and kinsmen holding fat offices at the discretion
Of the tripe-headcd monster? Will the Leyisla-
ture itself be free agent?
If the present Legislature would redeem the past,
save its successors from dsagraceul yoke, and de-
liver the people from army Of depredators, il
would sgnalzc this last day of its session. by excr-
csng its constitutional prerogativc of aboshing this
Board Of Public Works. The deed may be done
now-two years hence it may be forever too late.