The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-08-10
Office Seeking.

Tt appears that the scramble for such offices In
the gin Of the government as still remain undis
posed OF continues with undated fcrvor. tn" APP
piicapts are generally Of robust constitutions
strong physical development, some OF them able TO
earn SIS day by mauling rails, OF assisting in
harvesting; and OTHERS might make fortune by
going 20 the West and becoming squatter soye-
reigns.
There are plenty of openings In this country for
people who possess strength and health. There
arc many mechanical empIoymenis in which there
exists a vast need of intelligent labor. There are
ships which need sober, hardy fellows to navigate
them, and such is the urgency of this requirement
that they are often willing to take ''laud.mcn' 50
called, that is green fellows, who know nothing 81
navigation, and who are too lazy and good for no.
thing to bc fit Tor any occupation on shore These
landnbbers find berth in many iore'.'Stir'
can enlist on board men Of war, or can JOIN the
dragons who are always wanting i've hundred
Abe-bodied Young meu and never able TO Eet them
Such life a. this composed Of salt pork. nutritve
beans bad butter, stirring adventures, hairbreadth
Escapes ami now and then. a ball and chain, often
makes mon out of people who had no idea what
amount Of work was in them till hard times de.
yeloped their resources.
Seriously, ii is matter Of profound ast0nish-
nent that there should be such general rush for
Office, when consider the miserable stipend
which Office holders in general receive; ihsir
drudgery and dependence no chance to become
rich, none to acquire reputation: established
rule Of promotion; no reward for merit no chauce
for talent, however bright, to show itself in the
dull routine Of official business In our own gov.
eTnment in all others, favor, fear and affection.
not worth, not fitness, carry the point. A man re-
commended by powerful influences, succeeds, aud
men Of capacity, who have not such influences
fail. Boys are sometimes appointed aud promoted
over the heads Of old, experienced men. The for
funate competitor, however finds in the end that
the great prize he fancied he had drawn is blank
worse than blank, life Of i'll rcquited tolls, Of
bringing aud serviiity of kicks and cuffs; that, in
a month he had bartcred a freemaus birthrrht for
a mess of miserable pottago.
Unhapply this republican country is curse' l,y
false pride which stigmatzcs mammal labor as d.
grading, as involving loss Of caste, II unworthy
a gentleman. Such notion is unjust enough ven
in England, where there is a recognized a,j-tacra
Cy. but here it ia ridiculous as unjust. Why
should it not be respectable to use thc saw and
the hammer as to drive quill in the War. Nav,
or Treasury Department? when our c"untrymcn
British literature and tradition that all labor j.
degrading, and that one third of manual labor uch
rs clerking it in Washington. is more honorable
than other kinds Of manual labor, such driving
nails, or holding the plough. we shall Cease to be
hold such hot scramble for official spells every
four years fills the streets of our American Rom"
with gangs of lazzaroni more impudent and impor-
tunate than those that infest the Eternal City.