Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-03-23
For m cy's Letter to the "Pr css."
WASHINGTON, March 18th, 18

WASHINGTON, March 18th, 1853.
left Philadelphia on Wednesday on a
hurried visit to some friends here, and
will return, God willing, on this evenings
train, carrying with me this hurried let
ter, whicn must take the place of my usual
word in the "Press" of tomorrow. What a
difference between March 1857 and March
1858! dwell upon it with surprise and
grief. One year ago the country was full
of content, and at peace with itself. The
hearts of al, our people beat responsively
to noble inaugural, ard the hands Of
men of all parties were uplifted to support
and to strengthen our venerable Presi-
dent. The Democrats were united and
joyous, and gazed hopefully into a tran
quill and victorious future. The Repub-
icans were dismayed, and new political
combinations were abandoned before the
prospect of a wise and patriotic policy
Mr.. Seward, in the Senate; Mr.. Stanton,
IN the House, Mr.. Greeley, in the "Tri
bune," instead of preparing new weapons
Of attack upon the Administration, were
turning thoughts to those substantial ques
tions upon which all men agree in this
happy country. Even the Americans, few
in number, could see no profit in faction.
and were quietly reconsidering their
plans. The extreme South, so apt to
chafe into passion, was as calm as
summers morning. Conservatism, in it's
very best sense, had taken possession of the
Government. An experienced President,
sure and sagacious Cabinet, ready SEN
ate in session, and still more willing
House preparing for its new term-these
constituted the sterling superstructure of
an enduring condition of national pros
perity. ...
And what change has one year pro-
duced? can hardly believe my senses
that l am writing from the capital of my
country, and that my old friend-he, to
whom l have borne almost flial relations
from my boyhood-he to whom L have
confided my few hopes and fears-he for
whom l dared the flowns of foes, and for
whom, during four long years in the lower
house of Congress, the patronage in my
gift was fearlessly bestowed, and he knows
how gladly and how spontaneously, too;
can hardly believe my senses, that this is
the City of Washington, and that James
Buchanan is President.
What is the aspect now? One wide
Reign of Terror. A test is erected here,
like some horrid instrument of torture,
upon which Democrats are tried and exc
cuted for their opinions. The work of de-
capitaton has ceased against lifetime foes,
and is now waged against old and cher
ished friends. Men are removed and ca
Illuminated, not for being opposed to Dem
ocratic principles, but for being too much
in favor of them. The humblest clerk,
with his little family, who struggles along
on his thousand dollarsa year, must hide
his sentiments, or leave his place. For
the bold and upright Democrat who dares
to think aloud, there is short shift. If
he has an Office, he must be ready for
the ominous cartel Of dismissal on the in
slant.
If he is an Independent citizen, he is
excluded from the Departments and from
the White House like a common leper.-
An army of spies are on the alert, hunting
for victims. Woe to unguarded gentleman
who, in the presence of one of those eager
caves -droppers, let's fall free opinion!-
1t is at once caught up and carried, with
no lack of exaggeration, to the ear of power.
If there is on this round globe a race
more despised in civilized society than
any other, it is the race of inIforneers.-
The noblest invective of the noblest of
Irish orators has made them Immortality
infamous. These mercenaries now hold
high service in Washington. 1 could
name several of them from our own State,
but forbear for the honor of Pennsylva-
MIA. They glory in their Shameless trade.
Broken in fortune. reckless of their own
fame, laughing at conscience in others and
rejecting it for themselves, they swarm
here anxious to earn their guilty wages.
The most of these creatures, happily, are
the men who have pursued and prose-
cuted the President with the same venom
which they now display toward those