Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-06
FOR THE AMERICAN ORGAN
Question of Privilege.

Mr.. EDIToR: 1t viii be seen that the editor of
one of our evening papers, not content with pub
fishing and duly applauding each of the various
regulations Of the DEPARTMENT. whether affecting
men or things, has gone into the enforcement of
the same, so far as to supervise the conduct Of
clerks.
He has himself seen clerks walking about the
streets, and without (of course) knowing their bust
ness the occasion or cause Of such absence, as
sumes that Il is for nogood purpose, and very kind
ly advises heads Of bureaus TO watch them more
closely, lest the public service should be scan
dalzed
The writer ofthis, not being personally aggrieved
by the article in question, would not be considered
as taking exception to it, In making its appear
apce the occasion of embodying some general views
on matters affecting this large, respectable, and
important class OF citizens already conceived.
The theory Of public men being public servants
has, in the case of clerks, reached the point OF
making them common property. From many causes,
readily conceived and aptly enough illustrated by
the article in question, making large class respon-
sible for the deinquencies of the few, the clerks
may be confessed 70 have lost caste very much in
these latter years IL may be said, emphaticaly,
there are none so poor as TO do them reverence
Carped at, kicked at, kicked out, watched, spied
upon reported, they bear ii all with such rare for
titude and meekhess as should lay up for them
In some other climea "far more exceeding and
eternal weight" OF honors than they viii ever en-
Joy in clerkdom.
There are none 80 familiar with the fantastic
tricksp that attend always "ttle brief authority"
Too poor in spirit or in pocket TO run any risk in
the discussion or formation Of any plan or eombi
nation, as other classes Of men do for selfprotec-
ton they stand like flock Of tmid sheep, ready
TO scatter and run at the grow Of every surly po-
ltical mastif
There Is hardly profession, business, or trade
from the medical down 10 wood-sawing, that has
not some common cause for advancing its interests
and protecting its rights. But the poor Clerks
cut and torn alternately by the fear Of power and
ptiful ealousies and rivalries Of each other par4
ticulariy where little additional salary Is concern
ed, stand out as the only class seemingly wanting
or bercft of the common instincts Of humanity.
There is probably not q man in the corps who
has the hardihood to take in'tiatory steps in the
matter OF elevating It's condition. though there be
nothing in Il which would not be sustained by an
enlightened public opinion. Such move would
reflect on no particular party, and would be APP
proved by all
The clerks in Washington seem entirely uncon-
scious OF their strength Combining in their ranks
the best talent and morals they could, by concert
Of action, and union Of feeling, exercise all the
power necessary to make the corps what II should
be. An unanimous strike in any one Department
would paralyze the operation Of the government
at any time.
Military and naval court martials afford protec-
ton to those branches Of the public service The
humblest citizen Is entitled to trial by jury Of his
peers The poor clerk, alone, Is decapitsted with
out notice, and often without any other cause than
free and honest thought, and generally goes down
"unkneled, unoofined, and unknown" The brute
animal mourns and bellows in rage on smelling the
blood Of one Of its knd--the clerk rushes for
promotion over the dead body of his brother.
1t is not, then, 80 strange, perhaps, that people
who enjoy fresh air should wonder that clerks have
any business outside Of their stalls, deny TO them
the privileges of citizens and Of men. The ire
mendous pay they get may be considered BY some,
full compensation for merging into the clerk the
general attributes Of manhood.
These are the irrepressible emotions of clerk
on the occasion. They relieve the mind, II their
expression does no good. The fallen angel himself
made some show Of regaining his lost estate.
Awake, arise, or be forever fallen"
o. II. ID.