Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-10-02
Black Mail Tariff.

| Black Mail Tariff.
1t has again come to pass, under this sham
Democratic administration, that tariff OF
forced contributions has been imposed upon
the clerks and employees of the Departments,
for the purpose of amassing fund to defray
| the expenses of flooding the country with lying
documents, and otherwise promoting the cause
of Old Squatter Sovereign" Some months
| ago, when a similar but less general requsi-
ton was made upon the officials and subordi-
mates in the Treasury Department, we took
occasion to notice the circumstance and to
denounce its tyranny, not doubling that the
| general adherence and disgust which such
conduct could not fail to create when made
known to the country, would prevent any flu
ture effort to take from the pockets of the en-
ployes of the administration the hard earnings
of their labors. We were then met with the
answer, that the contributions were voluntary !;
that each man gave whatever he pleased, or
nothing if he was disinclined to pay tribute,
and the government official mouthpiece, called
the Washington Union, had the impudencc
and effrontery to pass compliments upon the
originator of the scheme!
There were low murmurings in the distance,
and halfsmothered mutterings among the suf-
ferers in this city, but public attention was not
then easily awakened, there was no general
excitement existing, growing out of any gene
raj political contest, and the administration
was far stronger then than now. Things have
changed the people have opened their eyes
to behold the general political proAigacy of this
been discarded by its political friends-its
lease of power has almost expired-it has near
ly reached the last stage of unpopularity
though it may SAVIOR of cruelty now to " kick
it " in its descent, it is unfortunately a com
mon fault in mankind, thus to manifest its con-
tempt for the poor and wretched. Hence we
hear now on every hand, loud curses heaped
even by the subordinates upon the prime
movers in this last scheme of plunder--they
are no longer afraid to speak out their senti-
ments to their friends, and give vent to that
wrath which, under other circumstances, would
be kept smothered, and it is not our purpose
to discourage this ebullition ofhonest indigna-
ton.
Let the facts be laid before the country, and
let this present local condemnation of high
handed outrage upon the rights and feelings of
our metropolitan community, spread to every
section of the Union, and let erery true Amer-
lean feel and act as if the shameful despotism
practised upon the citizens of Washington had
been visited upon HIMSELF
Be it then known, land we hold ourself re-
sponsible for the truth Of the statement) that
few weeks since, meeting of sundry leading
friends of Mr.. Buchanan, holding high posi-
tons under this administration, was held at
the room of one of said friends, high in Office,
in the Treasury building, at which meeting it
was made known, by information communica-
ted by certain other Federal dignitaries of this
city, that funds were required to meet the ext
gencies of the pending crisis, and thereupon
an officer of the Treasury offered resolution
to the following effect, to-wit:
That the Heads of Bureaus should be ere
CURED" to subscribe $50 each-those receiv-
ing salaries of 81, 800 or $4,000 should sub
scribe $40 each-those receiving salaries of
81, 600 should subscribe $15 each--those re-
ceiving salaries of 81 ,400 should subscribe
$12 90 each-and those receiving $1,000
should subscribe so each, and so on.
This resolution was amended by substitu-
ting the word SOLICITED" for the word ere
CURED" and in this shape it passed unani-
mously. We haze the names Of the dignita-
Ties then present! These sums were to be
paid out Of the salaries for the month Of Sep
TENDER.
In accordance with this resolution, the va
rious parties subject to this "Black-mail
tariff" were waited upon at the end of the
month, and solicited to subscribe the
amount assessed upon them, and in all cases
the solicitation was responded to- affirmative
ly, and thus about $4,000 were subscribed
Tin the Treasury Department alone) to the
campaign ruuo, - p.0'iao for tho pressing
wants Of the "great Democratic partyl" 1t