American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-10-23

tempsof Mr.. Clay to subsidize the Press
Of the United States,
But why bring this by:gone matter
up at this time? What purpose have
you in view? We will tell you, reader.
We notice in the Union sundry gov
ernmcnt advertisements, some of them
very long, which arc ordered into three
other papers in this city, t,co others in
Boston, too in the city Of New York,
Mree in Philadelphia, besides a great
many otlrcrs in different cities and sec
tions OF the country. The an cunt eff
money thus paid to Editors,- some,
and even many Of them, for no benefit
that advertising in their papers is to
tho government, or to the public, but
simply and solely to pay them for past,
and to secure future scrviccs-to "take
caro- Of their friends, ITO feed and
fattcn the faithful, and thus cncoura 60
others to be faithful too, is very large;
including the Public Printing, Binding,
Engraving, printing of Blanks, &c.,
&c, it cannot be less than $1,50O,0 900
a year, and may be considerably more.
And all this made totgU in favor of the
party, to pay partisan Editors, and
partisan presses, or to silence or neu-
tralzc opposition. 1t is a corruption
tund-the money Of the people, used
to hunabug, cajolc, bamboozle, throw
dust in the eyes of, cheat, and wheedlc
the people themselves.
Advertisements for proposals for car
rymg the mails at the North, South,
and West, making thirty or forty news
paper columns each, are given to a pa
per in this city, which is probably nov-
er seen by five men, likely to become
bidders for mail contracts; having no
country circulation whatever. The
advertisement is printed in extra sheets
at the Union office, and furnished at
so much per thousand to the favored
paper, and by that sent round and drop
ped at the doors, week after week, of
Its city subscribers, by whom they are
thrown aside for waste paper unopened.
And for such an advertisement thus
circulated, the government pays the
purchased up Editor, from twelve to
fifteen thousand dollars!
What is this but the grossest, most
bald, and most Infamous corruption
And this is in character and of price
with what is taking place every day
here in this city, bearing the honored
name Of Washington Would General
Pierce, Mr., Buchanan, or any one of
the members Of either Of their Cabi.
nets conduct their own private affairs
IN this shameless manner? BY no
means. But it is the public money
they thus put into the pockets of "their
friends "-their toadies rathcr,-and as
they fear not being called to account
for it by the country, and as this is but
carrying out the proclamation that TO
the victors belong the spoils' or plunder,
their conscences are easy. Such prac-
tees in the British Government would
soon cause ''Her Majesty's Ministers"
to be hurled from their seats, covered
with shame and disgrace; but in this
great, free, model Republic" where
the rulers arc the servants of, and re-
sponslble to the people, it passes, not
not only unccnsurcd, but so far appro.
we'd that every dollar thus corruptly
expended strengthens the party in
power! 0, shame, where is thy blush
o, people, whore is your boosted vigi-
lance, jealousy, and power! Your ru-
lers your SERVANTS! No, they are your
masters, and utterly dcspisc, contcmn,
and defy you.
The Nint.--Therc was dcDOsitcd at