True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-04-29
The Office Beggars in Washington
MI Buchanan's App continents.

The Hotels of Washington, with the
exception of tile ill.faled " National"
are swarming with that innumelable
caravan" of hungry politicians who every
four years make their pilgrimage 10 the
White House. Every grade and stripe
of social condition are here represented,
from the plethorc oflice-holder of many
years standing, seeking to arrest the
terrible rule Of rotation, which now
threatens 10 cut him off from the refsesh-
ing slices of an ovelfowing treasury,
TO the staggering leader Of the bullies
and shoit boys OF the great cities claim,
ing inordinate recompense for the rough
work he has done at the polls. On The
whole however, if we may Judge from
the appearance of our visitors, it is pret-
ly safe 10 conclude that office seeking is
not the most reputable calling at pres
ent pursued by American citizens, nor
that office seekers represent the average
moral and intellectual culture of the
American people. If the principle were
adopted that the office should seek the
man, and not the man the office, not nra-
ny of these gentlemen temporarily resi-
ding in our city would realize their ex-
pectatons.
But it is not so much the personal,
as the political character of the appli-
cants, which most deserves attention.
The appointments made already are few,
but they are enough to warrant signif-
icant conclusion as to the subserviencs of
the new Administration. Mr.. Buchanan
came 10 Washington with the announce
ment of one irreversible and universal
ule," viz Rotation in office. This the
South was not accustomed to, and they
refused to allow it to 60 into operation.
every WELL" said Mr.. Buchanan, "iust
as you please, gentlemen let the South
ern incumbents remain, let the rule be
confined to Northern appointments; we
will have one rule for the North, and
another for the South" Accordingly,
Gen. CaSs' friend The Postmaster of
Detroit, is removed, while the friends of
the Tennessee member of the Cabinet
are re-appointcd.
The South however are not contented
with this. One further concession is de-
manded. Eminent services to Slavery
by Northern men must be rewarded, or.
rather the services Of those whose course
heretofore is guaranty for absequous-
ness in future, and who therefore have
claim not only on gratitude-so peculiar
to Southern politicians-which consists
of lively sense Of benefits 10 come
Again the new President yields, and
Watson Freeman, the Boston official
who was most fficient in consigning
Anthony Burns to the Slavery from
which he had escaped, is again loaded
with the honors of United States Mar
shal. aI.. ti. b"
Such is the prelude to the new Admin
straion-hardly a variation Of the
Pierce dynasty of weakness, vacillation.
and unconditional aquiescence in the de-
mands Of the 0ligarchy. ,H '9J sa sir
1t is impossible to augur a favorable
result from commencement SO omin-
Gus. The dissatisfaction and party di-
visions necessarily attendant npon the
most fair and just distribution Of the pub.
lie offices will be immensely augmented
by The policy thus inaugurated by Mr..
Buchanan-a policy which conjoined
the emba, rassments 10 which the resig-
nation of Governor Geary has given rise,
portends a complete generalization Of
the party now enjoying the dubious priv
ilege Of quarrelling over the spoils of a
Presidential conquest. The adhorents
of Mr.. Buchanan may yet find that their
success is, after all, the worst sort Of
tdefeat, and that they aye banquetting on
he apples of Sedan. National Era. IS
Ex.PREsIDENT Van Buren is sojourn7
ing in New York city. rs ~