Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-02-08
The Pests of the RrnuhlIe.

ton OF the superior advantages OF tndiridudt over
State enterprises. Reason and experience both con-
cur in the positions assumed by that paper Oieiat
ism is slow-ogeidlism is stupd-oDieidlism is anti
progressive cDcidlism is cSravagant-c 5fcidlsm is
corrupt. This is the testimony Of England and it is
the testimony Of every State in this Confcderacy,
which has made trial OF official agents in the manage
ment Of public works. As it has been, so it will be-
There is nothing redccmng in the nature Of ofiiciasm
it is from its very constitution lazy, grasping and
selfish. Living upon the fruits ofo thcrs-producing
nothing itself, it will strive to profit much
possible by the abors of others the least possible
expenditure Of its labor. Its great misfortune
to mankind that they cannot have Government
without horde OF officers preying upon the substance
of the land; and that Government is justly esteemed
the wseIt the best the most conducive TO the gene
raj happiness which toleracs the smallest number oil
these ,oracious improbable consumers of other peo-
Piles industry. What is the peculiar curse of the
Governments fthc old worlds It'll the innumcrable
host OF official dlerS devouing the substance Of the
tong peasant and the aborious artisan The great Oh
ject Of ambition IS to become OF the official or titled
class privilege TO feed without labor upon the fruits
of others toll. Connection with Government or OIL
caity is everything, and Government is regarded as
the dispenser of every blessing. An American, when
he first reaches England, is perhaps more impressed
with the numbers and prominence of the official class
than with any other thing that meets his gaze
Wh,n he relches France, he finds the numbers and
the brutal insclence ofthe description of persons
ten fold augmented. As he advances to the smiling
plains of Italy, town and country with fat and
greedy priests, who, with through tickets for Paradise,
claim the privilege for the love Of God to appropriate
by the way all their ncighbors' goods
We had hattered ourselves that on this side Of the
Atlantic we hal, in separating ON England lid our.
selves of all these privileged plunderers of honest in
dustry Each man to be the maker Of his own
fortune-and TO enjoy without mocstaon, the fruits
OF his own labor. Government was to cease to be
robber, and instead of organising bands of idle and
greedy officials to prey upon any, was to be shield
and protection to all. How much and how sadly we
have been disappointed in this expectation, we have
only to cast eye to the Federal Metropolis at the
incoming of President And as is done in
Rome, so must it be done in the Provinces. The vi
cious examples of the Capitol initiated and aggra-
waited in the remote corners of the Empire Every
where the officials are multipying-or striving to
multiply and ill the earth. Increase Of numbers and
increase of salaries the only objects for which
they labor 1t is r,markabe, that they never yield
an inch OF ground Acting in concert and moving in
solid column, they forever advancing We hav C
no recollection ofever having heard of ali office being
abolished unless led to the creation of two ohers)
or salary reduced. Progrc ssion in numbers and in
stipend-the only progress they KNOWS the fixed
and immutable law Of their being They will be to
this country, when they attain their growth. what
the gems ddrHes to France and the Priests to aly
Would to Heaven, there were not one upon the Con-
tinent of America or if they be an indispensable
evil that they were reduced to starving wages.
This may be avery unpopular oval in a country
where onc-half of the population is supposed to be
looking forward to office, e. to livelihood out of
the earnings of the people, and where n scheme is
now on foot for augmenting the ranks in our
midst thousand fold. J he day is not far dis
tant, we fear, when such an ayowal will OK,
cite Kisses in the Capitol of Virginia, and raise
mob in the streets of Richmond In three
years from this time, should the Cerberian monster
with its thousands and tens Of thousands subs. be-
come firmly established in the seat of authority in
this Commonwealth, the Richmond Wing, or even
the ndomitabe soul Of Cato if it existed in this age
might shrink appalled, from the expression of such
sentiment We, therefore, in anticipation of
such state Of public feeling the more readily seize
the opportunity of utterng the opinion now, when we
may do It, II not with impunity, mt least with com.
paratve safety;-and that future ages NAV know
what we would have said, when the evil comes upon
us, IL we had still enjoyed the privilege of speech
t55 Col. Benton reported to have said to friend
while conversing on the Nebraska question: "Dougla,
sir politically Dead SIR If he fail to carry his bill the
South will kick him in the rear sir and if he does carry it
the North will beat his brains out sir" Old Balloon ey
IDENTIFY has no love for the Little Giant; but there is
good deal OF truth in his remarks There are who
whatever view they may take of the merits Of this Ne
braska bill, look upon Senator Douglas course as bid
Tor the Presidency and consider that he il now pavnf
his trump cards in the game. lie is known to be pol
can Of unbounded ambition, and they arc so uncharta
Die as 10 attach to his motives the hope Of riding into III,
Presidency upon the Nebraska bill In that view N,
aspiring Senator has mistaken his policy He shou,,
have kept as quiet possible between this and 1856
encirced himself in Obscrty and come out new maj
for the nomination Of his party for the mex. Presidency
His own fate in 1882 as well as that Of Cass Buchanan
Houston &c, and the of obscure politician
New Hampshire, ought to have taught him lesson in In
ttguing for the Presidential chair No prominent, advo
cate OF the Compromise could get the nomination Of III
late National Democratic Convention No prominent ad
yocs,o the Nebraska bill will get the nomination #
1856. twill be part Of their policy TO lay tho orignr
Nebraska Bill men on the Shelf for the sake Of hsrmon
ring the ag ends ofthe party The Great Missourian hs
pretty we'll foretold the fate Of the Little Giant.
tB Statements from Washington are made, that III
friends Of the Nebraska bill in the Senate, are deter
mined TO press II through both Houses Of Congress
soon as possible. The outside pressure is beginning
be felt aud tho apprehension s gaining ground, II at
the vote on the bill is delayed until the Northern member
hear from home, It's defeat Is certain In some Of III
states the move at Washington has been anticipated an
meetings have been speedily held nsructipg their Rep
resenstives TO oppose the bill Tho Administration vi
have TO keep eye s aies and draw the rens igh
u Is true that II goes for the Nebraska bill or thei
will be some boiling. Federal patronage may have
powerful influence, but the popular voice against the
miuistration this may have wonderful ee
10 destroying the loyalty Of s supporters in Congress-
! IL Is hiuted that the Administration would bolt ais
should IL turn out that the popular current is against
bill. Hence the Of the friends Of the bill pu,
ing il with all possible haste They know there Is da
. ger in delay.
9 tn The Steamer Texas, from Mexico 10 New orIean
with dates to the 9Th ult brings no later news fro
President Walkers Filbusterng expedition than the