Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-24
Executive Revenge.

cation Of power than the dependent condition
of the federal officers, and the adulation which
they are compelled to pay as daily tribute.
Heads of bureaus, already forgotten in the
States from which they came promise majori-
ties with the same facility that a bankrupt will
money Looking upon the President as the
warrantor Of their salaries, they resent any
denial Of his supremacy or infallibility as
heresy damnable in itself, and only to be prop
erly punished by an communication from
the treasury. The subordinates have even
more at stake than their principals; they have
larger families and smaller means. Having left
their distant homes to "follow to the field
some warlike' political chieftain, they obtain
an offics, and then bring their "little Dacians"
to participate in scraping the public sugar
hogshead. So, when these .subordinatcs ven
ture to display little independence of opin-
ion, they place themselves and the numerous
mouths, which open like nest of young rob-
ms at the parental chirp, ina critical position.
fthe salary stops, so does tho market basket;
and then the unlucky subordinate finds AT
home justly indignant spouse, and chorus
in "sick persons and young children" who
unanimously upbraid him for his folly in hav
ing dared to maintain an opinion, when it was
more than he could do to support his family.
IF the unlucky subordinate, duly convicted of
an opinion not duly sanctioned by the press or
the department, shall be deprived of his office,
no Is like wrecked mariner hundreds of miles
from his home, with raimcnt by no means like
that OF the Israelites in the desert, which we
are told "waxed not DID, and with food be-
coming daily more pinched and scanty.
Such is the condition of the official who, de-
pendent upon his little salary, commits the
error Of differing from the regulation opinion.
It is in such cases, perhaps, that our Chief
Magistrate feels most his supremacy. A mes
senger or watchman has salary Of six hun
bred dollars on this he performs the modern
miracle of feeding and clothing number of
dependent children nieces, and perhaps an
extra aunt, or superannuated grandmother.
An outsider who knows no political principle,
except conformity with the Treasury opinion,
finds that the luckless messenger has become
an, American He forthwith devotes himself to
the defence of the President, us if that little
Prince was in danger of assassination. He in
forms upon this miserable messenger. He
communicates the signal salvation of the Re
public to some one in the Executive confidence.
That dignitary, startled into wrath by the te-
merity ofthose who plot treason in his very
household, summon the most august council
of the nation. The informer is honored with
an audience; he is Intercepted by the Attor-
ney General. He deposes and says: That
having long suspected the malfeasant Mug
gins of belonging to the midnight band, he
risked his precious health in pure fealty to
the Prince, by watching divers nights about
the doors Of the said Muggins, narrowly on
one OCCASION escaping being knocked on the
head by stone, as burglar; that, af-
tor much and dangerous spying, he sue
ceeded In tracing the malefactor to house
which deponent could not enter; that as he
understands, the Americans arc in the habit of
entering houses and closing the doors after
them, he is willing to swear to the alleged
offence. Wherefore he claims judgment of
decapitation against Muggins, and prays i'm
mediate confiscation OF his Office This is con-
elusive The Attorney General is instructed
to enter up sentence against Muggins, who
wakes up Nnext morning without his head,
whilst the informer is rewarded with his salary.
When these smaller officials arc thus re-
moved, they arc really entitled to the commits
Grafton and to the aid Of Congress. The Pres
ident has appointed them to office, with an
implied assurance Of compensation until some
Just cause of removal shall have arisen. To
crafty his vengeance, he has turned them into
the Avenue without shilling, or the means
Of making one. Flour is twelve dollars butch
ers' meat at impossible prices and railroad
fares an insurmountable obstacle to escape.
Here Is the revenge of an American President.
A great State repudiates his administration,
and denounces II in tones Of contempt He
takes few poor innocent messengers who
cries cannot be heard to tho next precinct, he
twists their necks, and, as they hutter in all
the agony Of unexpect humiliation, he re-
joices in the retaliation Alas, poor messen-
gers you are prisoners, decimated upon every
fresh victory Of your counuymen--your weep
ing wivos and starving children the hostages
which your magnanimous President holds for
the bold assaults Of your brothers in the field
He dares not strike down lofty offender
He would be held TO account by some remnant
OF public influence He might fear the press
He might dread personalities But you are
innocent and insignificant enemies you are
the les Of Domitian you may be impaled
without danger Of even sting.
We regret that we can offer you no comfort,
oxceptto share with you and yours the little
that we may ourselves possess. You have
been ostracized as Americans. You have our
sympathies, and may command our assistance.
But in this Duchy, in which the Federal Ex-
ecutive is Grown Prince, in this appanage of
the dominant party, in this political Elba, or
Isle Of Man, your fellowcitizens can give you
no aid Seated so near the centre of our POI
litical system that they do not partake of its