Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-07-11
Modern Democracy VS.. Jenersonian De.


WASHINGTON CrTY, D. O., May 10Th, 1856.
Modern Democracy VS.. Jefersonian De-
mocracy.
The original Trainer of the Democratic creed
and party in the United States, Thomas JEFF
ferson, announced as maxim upon which he
should act as President Of the United States,
that no Federal office-holder should, in any
way, interfere with political controversies, upon
pain of dismissal from public office. He recog-
Missed their right to cast their suffrages in &C
cordance with their own political opinions, but
would not permit any man to hold Office under
his administration, who would attempt to enter
the political arena, and WELD the influence Of
his public position, even against the opponents
of his administration. This was right and
proper in itself, and honorable to that great
man and wise statesman, who was both in
principle and in practice Democrat.
Adopting this salutary maxim, which Jeffer-
son had originated, General Jackson, on reach
ing the Presidency, announced that the pa
tronage of the government should not be
brought into conflict with the freedom of cleo
TONS" This was the pure, unadulterated
Democratic doctrine of times that are past
This was the principle upon which this Federal
District was set apart--cut off from State con-
trol--its citizens DISTINGUISHED as to National
politics, and the power of Congress made ex-
elusive here 1t was deemed important to the
purity of the administration of the government
that those agents, ministerial officers, heads Of
departments and Of bureaus, with all their sub
ordinates in every branch of the local admins
tration of the General Government should be
free from those political excitements which
State elections naturally produce.
1t was supposed that here within these "ten
miles square," the important duties which de-
volve upon the ministerial officers, in execu-
ting the laws Of Congress, would be impair
tally, devotedly, earnestly, and faithfully per-
formed, exempt from the bias, the prejudice,
or the Partially which political contests create
in the bosoms of men. Such was the hope
and the design Of the trainers of our govern
ment, and such were the views which guided
the earlier Presidents down to the administra-
ton of jackson. Without disparaging the old
Hero, who came into power an honest and I'M
sophisticated patriot, we may admit that the
lees pure and less patriotic spirits who won
his confidence and betrayed il, commenced
that change Of policy which has transformed
the employees of the Executive Departments
Of the government into "train bands of the
President--mere hirelings of spoilsmenl
With some honorable exceptions of men,
who, at the hazard of losing the very means
of supplying their families with bread, have
refused to bow to this miserable and shameless
policy, which has transformed the departments
clerks and other government employees in this
city, are an organized and disciplined corps,
detailed at the command of their superiors, in
such squads as occasion requires, to carry on
the humiliating work of perpetuating this pre-
sent dynasty, its administrators, executors and
assigns This is the result of the influences
Of modern Democracy, under which, scarcely
a man is tolerated, who will not work night
and day, at all times and under all circumstan-
ces, to continue in power, that set of poll
ticians, who have brought the country to the
brink of anarchy, ruin and disgrace.
Be it known to the country that the office
holders resident in Washington city, and feed
ing out of the government crib, have formed
CLUBS, corresponding in names with the States
from which they came hither-such as, the
Pennsylvania buchanan and Breckinrid0e
Ctu6"-the Virginia, &C., &C., Club the
" Kentucky, &C., &C., Club" and 50 on, to the
number Of twenty or thirty separate State
Clubs, that they have tdred themselves to
the amount of ten, fifty, or one hundred dol
lars each, and have other1ise been supplied
with material aid, that they meet regular
ly at rooms appointed for that purpose, that
they have purchased, and are otherwise sup
piled with documents for the campaign, that
they are sending these documents broadcast
over the country, and that they avow their
purpose to control the coming Presidential
election
To illustrate, as well the objects of these
Clubs as the modes of operation, we select for
the present occasion the Clu6 named tho "Vir-