The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-03-28

grain In bulk 81 I'd.
The Administration Organ-Curiou Hlsto-
~ and Breakdown Of the Washington
Union.
Mr.. Buchanan, upon reconsideration of the
subject, it appears has concluded to try the ex-
pertinent of administering the government with
out Washington organ, and accordingly we
learn that Mr.. Appleton will shortly retire from
the editorial chair of the Union newspaper to the
snug and easy desk Of Collector Of the Customs
for the port OF Portland in Maine and that here
after, the Usion like most other newspapers will
be lett to shift tor itself.
This is good news; for this incipient move
ment is the first decided step to great reform in
the matter of the enormous amount of spoils and
plumber of the public printing at Washington 1t
is understood that the continued i'll health of Mr..
Appleton has been the cause Of this sudden col
lapse of the organ; but there have been other
causes at work, which doubtless have had q
greater influence over the mind of Mr.. Buchanan
in this business than the mere personal dsincli-
nations of his chosen editor. We suspect tn.
the President has very lately discovered
that the transfer of the Union establishmei 1
to Mr.. Appleton was all sham; that,
as charged by the Cincinnati Enquirer, the paper
still continued the property of a mixed commits
sion Of party Spectators in the spells, who had
accepted Mr.. Appleton as their catspaw with
which to rake their chestnuts from the fire. This
terrible exposure from the Enquirer, and its ac-
companying threats, and similar articles from
other democratic papers, may have suggested to
the sagacious Mr. Appleton the probability of such
a democratic squabble for the printing of the
next Congress as might result in leaving the Or
gan high and dry. In this birdseye view of the
subject the retreat OF Mr. Appleton into the Col
choice.
From other sources nearer at hand than our
aforesaid Cincinnati democratic contemporary, we
have heard that the Washington Union is the
property of set of spectators and spoils jo| I
bers-d democratic, black republican and Know
Nothing. We understand that Mr.. Wendell, its
principal owner, was elected Printer of the House
for the last Congress, by joint stock combination
for interests, which included the election of
Mr.. Banks as Speaker 1t has been stated
TO us that, for the prospective profits of
the House printing, certain liberal advances of
cash in behalf Of Mr.. Banks and the plu-
rality rule, were required, were agreed to- and
were made. We have also understood that in
this "happy accord" between democrats, black
republicans and Know Nothings, Tnmlow Weed,
o. B. Matteson, Horace Greeley and James
Watson Webb were among tie principals of the
high contracting parties. The exact particulars
remain to be disclosed; but We have every rea-
ION to believe that both Mr. Appleton aud Mr..
Buchanan have discovered, in good season to
sheer off, that the possessory rights Of the Union
newspaper establishment are such as to render 1t
inexpeoient to extend to the paper any longer
the confidential, delicate and dangerous relations
due to Cabinet organ.
But the decision to which it is said Mr..
Buchanan has arrived, vz.:-that he does not
need and does not intend TO have an an orgau-
is the main point. 1t is one Of the best reforms
that could be made in behalf of an independent
administration. The day OF central organs aad
central party juntas has ceased, and the day OF
an independent newspaper press and an indepen-
dent public opinion has taken its place. AT tnis
day, through the lightning communication OF the
telegraph before the pettiioggiDg aud prosy
opinions of the organ upon any great public
act or measure turning up In Washing
ton can reach its subscribers the SUB
ject is discussed ana understood through
the length and breadth Of the land.
At best, therefore, an administration organ,
par e1cellence, like the elephant 10 the country
gardener, is but sinecure aud a superfuity-ex-
pensive and troublesome.
In London, and even in Paris the government
organ has dwindled down into mere advertising
sheet of government proclamations. When the
British Cabinet desire 10 appeal TO the pablo
opinion of England through newspaper channel,
they do not 20 to the London Gazette, but to the
Time, or the Morning Post, or some other paper
read, known and recognized among the thinking
body OF the people. So In Paris, the NoHteur
does not serve the purposes of Louis Napoleon on
all occasions: but often, in the most important
matters, his views find voice through some such
popular medium a. the Constitutional or the
Presse With the Americans, as q thinking read
ing and intelligent people upon government AT.
fairs government organ at this enlightened day
is nothing but government excrescence. They
do not read IT, do not need ii, do not want it, nor
does an honest and well meaning administration
require any such puchaseable but expensive and
useless pulling and blowing as that OF the Union
under poor Pierce.
Amen to this decision Of Mr.. Buchanan TO dis
miss the organ, and TO do without such an instru-
ment We may now entertain the hope that at
an carly occasion during the next Congress the
two houses will proceed TO separate the public
printing from the party press, henceforth and
forever, in the establishment Of national Office
for the public printing, engraving and binding.