The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1858-11-03


An amusing warfare is going on among the
national democracy of New York, regarding
the appropriation Of the forced tax levied on
the office-holders. The party having split into
It's original factions Of '.hards, or conservative
democrats, and '1softs, !" the old freesoil cham
pions of Van Buren,, are now fighting over the
spells Of Office. The ..softs'' are again in full
power, having control Of The State organisation
and Of Tammany hall; but majority Of the
customhouse officers in New York belong to
the "hard" wing In view Of this state Of af-
fairs--knowing that the funds raised by the
forced tax will be expended solely to aid the
soft candidates and the propagation Of free
soil dogsnas, and aim at the ultimate advance
ment Of Stephen A. Douglas-the Daily News
1.-THE only recognised hard and administra-
ton organ in the city calls upon all democratic
Office holders of its own faction to refuse the
payment Of the tax. Here is is pronuncia-
mento: ..W
.PoLITIcAL TAX ON CUsToMHousE OFFICERS
The annual or semi annual political tax on
cnstomhouse officers is as usual about to be en-
forced, or rather attempted to be, by the Tam
many hall managers. Every officer Of the gov
eminent is in daay bound as is epery democrat
who can afford it, to pay something towards
the expenses of party organization, &c, pro-
yided he is satisfied that it will be used for the
true interests of the party; if not, he should
withhold it, let who may apply. A majority of
II &c hall boI
laid themselves open to grave suspicious IN re-
ference to political matters, and contributions
of money received by that interest is more like
" to be used for the advancement of certain
friends Of Douglas than for the interests of the
party at large, or for Strengthening the hands
of the administration. We do not wish to in
huence any one in reference to his contributions
I.or the parties to whom it shall be paid-but
that committee which represents the largest
portion of the democracy is certainly the one,
in our opinion, which is entitled to all contri
buttons from the democracy, whether office
holders Or Otherwise N. Y. Daily News
The News contends the taxmoney ought to
be paid over to ''local organizations, so that
ii may be employed in aid Of local 'hard" can
didatcs, and not to buy up freesoiI and abo!i
ton votes for the "sofL'' nominees. Instead
Of condemnng and denouncing the forced tax
levied on office holders by order of the mana
gers Of the democratic party at Washington, it
submssively bows to the ukase, and like faith
full mental openly justifes the new claw" OBJ
jectng only to the medium of its application;
not to the means by which the money is raised
nor to the purpose to which it is to be applied.
The s'softs" having control of the State orga-
nizaton and of Tammany hall, will use the
money to advance the interests of Douglas and
freesoiisn, not of Buchanan and his office hol-
ders; therefore, under such circumstances, it
would not be treason to refuse to pay the levy.
The News goes even further than the origina-
tors of the claw for it declares that not only
the office-holders but every democrat is in duty
bouaad' to pay something ''towards the expen-
SEES of the party organization, &c" 1t thus ap-
pears that the public officers are to be taxed,
Or rather portion of their salaries is to be re-
purpose of electioneering against the people,
and creating a special fund to perpetuate their
own tenure Of ofice--in reality laying the foun-
daton of privileged class of Office holders for
life. According to the tone of the News, this
tax is levied not even for the exclusive benefit
of a party in power, but for the advantage and
advancement of one of the cliques Or treesoi
factions Of that party. AT this rate of demo
cratic advancement and progress" owmany
steps more in degeneracy and corruption must
our poor country take TO reach that condition
of the Roman empire, when protligate soldie-
~ sold the imperial crown and sceptre to the
highest bidder?
/, Of course, the ''soft" organs are in a-violent
passion on account of the News recommending
a refusal to pay the tax over TO Tammany hall;
and the Washington Union, fearing that if the
right to devote the tax to ''local organizations
was recognised it might lose its portion of the
special fund, pitches into the News in the fol-
towing style:
The N York Daily News is ignorant, mar
row minded, iliberal and exacting, without
intellect, honor or public confidence, they as
hume to speak as if by authority, and to issue
hecrees precisely as if they possessed the pow
er to enforce Them
The Union will not allow its ''olficial' dgni-
~ to be encroachedon, and repudaes the idea
Of any organ save itself having the right "to
speak by authority" and issue democratic ode
crees.' The News replies thus:
The Union is as malicious as it is coarse
and vulgar in the above extract from it's col
umns, which could have emanated from no true
friend of the administration. This is not the
first time that sheet without circulation, infu-
enee or power, has stepped out of its way to
void its spleen upon u.s.
Very polite and complimentary. 1.-THE peo-
pie are TO believe all thathe democratic Jour.
mails say of one another, none can wonder at
the intrigue and corruption SO rampant in the
democratic camp.
STEAMER BuRNT-The fine steamboat Ben
Franklin, from Memphis for New Orleans, with
a cargo Of 5000 bales of cotton, was totally de-
Sfrnyol hv fire. IN tho r,ornin,r Of tha mir