Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-13
Administration Threats.

immolation. Those who have read the first
few numbers Of the american Organ, are al
ready informed Of the fact, that for some years
next before the establishment of this journal,
Its editor had devoted himself assiduously to
professional pursuits, and had withdrawn from
the political arena. The measures of the adj
ministration above adverted to, had therefore
escaped his observation.
We received on yesterday, the following let
ter, from an acquaintance in Portsmouth, Vir-
ginia,, who IL mechanic enclosing us slip
from the Portsmouth Globe of May 31st, 1854,
including nm advertisement published in the
Washington Star, on the 9th Of May, 1854,
which document dcyelopes the bold and auda-
cious attempt Of tho administration, to prerent
the many yard mechanics at different naval
stations, from exercising their rights as Ameri-
can citizens, and uniting in the great Ameri-
can movement We here present the letter,
and in doing SO we have to state, that the wri-
tor is noble sample Of an honest, indepen-
dent, free American mechanic, who defies the
power, and scorns the dictation Of Forneyism
'.ToR THE AMERICAN ORGAN
(which of the petty kings Of earth,
Can boast guard like ours =
Portsmouth, VA, April 10, 1855.
"MR EDrroR: Notwithstanding the many threat
enings made here by the so-called Democratic
party Tor rather some of its leaders, to take the
"bread and butter" from those who felt dis
posed to join the American party Sam" the in
vincible Sam" who "asks no favors and shrinks
from no responsibility" has, in the midst Of all
these threats elected the American ticket by large
majorities, thereby showing that we are still
/" In the land the free
And the home Of the brave
Enclosed you will find one of the threats, taken
from the Portsmouth Globe, Democratic paper,
published in this town May 81, 1884. Please give
Il n place in the American Organ, 40 the American
people may see the so-called Democracy in its true
light An AMERICAN MECHANIC
1t win be observed that this letter bears date
but three days ago, and it speaks Of the recent
election of Mayor and other city officers in
Portsmouth, Virginia, at which, the American
party gave majority Of one hundred and fifty
one votes, where a year ago, the administra-
ton party had majority of about four han
dred, and the very spot, where hundreds of
mechanics reside, who are employed by the
government at the Gosport Navy Yard The
manly and independent course of those Amer
lean mechanics, in the face Of the published
threats, and private EARNINGS Of the tools Of
the administration, Is worthy Of all praise and
oommendation, whilst the miserable, pitiful,
contemplate and tyrannical measures practised
by the administration, to oyerawe such men,
deserves and will receive, the condemnation
and rebuke Of every honest American.
But let us examine into these measures.
1t appears that the Washington Star, one of
the recognised mouth pieces of Forney and
Pierce, contained in its columns, an advertise
ment in May, 1854, just before the city cleo
ton in Warrington, as follows, to wit:
"To rHx woRKISexES AT THE NAVY Yard
The Washington correspondent OF the Baltimore
Sun, In that journal of this morning, says:
- Secretary Dobbin is daily besought to revoke
his decison In regard TO the building OF one Of the
new frigates at our navy yard. The best skill In
naval architecture, ample materials, speed and
economy are guaranteed, provided such change
can be effected as viii take the order to one Of the
large citiea"
influential men, on account OF the progress Of the
Know-Nothiug spirit among the workingmen at
the navy yard. A hint to the wise is sufficient.
May 27-lr
So then, the measure adopted, and the mode
Of operation was, that the Washington cores
pendent of the Baltimore Sun should notify the
mechanics at the Washington navy yard, that
Secretary Dobbin thought Of reUOkino his de-
cision to build one Of the figates here, and to
have It done at some other yard, which revoca-
ton would take from the mechanics here a job
OF several months work-and this paragraph,
lest It might not DO seen in the Baltimore Sun,
was published in the Star, with an addendum,
purporting, that this contemplated change was
the result Of the progress Of Rnor nottingham
amongst the porbmen at the nary yard, and
TO this addendum was superadded, Qest the
mechanics should not otherwise comprehend
It'd "a hint 10 the rise is sufficient"
This notification was inserted in the Star as
an advertisement, and marked to be inserted
once, and we doubt not was paid for by the
government, or some Of its agents. This was
certainly playing pretty strong game; but it
did not prevent the mechanics from poting as
they pleased at the Mayors election, in June,
1851
Well, so much for the movement in Wash
ington. We then find the same advertisement
and tho same warning TO the wise" in the
Portsmouth, Virginia, Globe, published Slst
May, 1854, only four days after its appearance
In the Starr The lind friend Of the Gosport
and Portsmouth mechanics, in publishing the
notice in tho Portsmouth Globe, prefacss it as
follows:
"MR. Error; We cut the following advertise
ment from the Washington Star II means all that
appears on Its face, and kittis more
In order that it might the moro surely attract
the attention of the mechanics of that locality,
Mr.. Know Something who sent 1t to the
Globe, takes occasion to wsrrf them that "it
means all that appears on its face, and a little
m0reW
Mr.. "Know Something continues and says:
Yes, and ws know that strenuous efforts are
being made by influential men on account off the pro
Rress Of the Known othing spirit among the work.
in0-nan Of tho (}oeport NAVY Yard To vithdravv