The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1858-10-27

While office-hoiders' organs are apologlsing
for the unusually large expenditures of the gov
eminent by representing the rapid growth of
the country, and the depreciation in the value
of money, would it not be well enough for
them to take notice Of the fact. that hundreds
Of idle men are retained in the post offices,
custom houses, and 1.-THE departments of gov
eminent at Washington, at the expense OF the
people? The Washington Union, in one OF its
laundering articles, without designing an ex-
position OF the practices of the administration,
characteristics a large proportion OF the govern
ment clerks in Washington City as miserable
scavengers who devote four or FIVE hours OF
Incidence al their desks" and declaresitt to be
ga notorious fact that more than half of the
patronage of the government is bestowed up
on such unworthy and untrustworthy men. .
| The Union knowing this to be the case. never
theless defends the charge OF extravaganza
preferred against the administration by the peo-
| pie, and endeavors to shield Mr. Buchanan from
popular censure, BY representing that the eoun-
| try has increased and large increase OF ex-
penditure must follow as matter Of course, and
that the value of money being less now than 1t
was few years ago, two dollars are not worth
any more now than one dollar was worth in the
early periods of the country's history. ,srv
The Washington States "a democratic jour
nal in brief article, gives the following fact:
eve are informed that near relative Of a
distinguished southern politician has held a
$1,000 clerkship in one of the government bu-
reaus for nearly three years, during which time
he has never done single days work in his
office, although he has regularly drawn his
500 at the end of every month. For about
three months last past, he has hired a substi-
tute at $50 per month; but during the residue
of the time he has received his salary regular
ly, without in any way rendering the slightest
equivalent therefor"
/ If this were only single instance OF the
kind, it would not deserve to be noticed very
gravely. But it is not the only instance. In
fluential politicians seek to put forward their
friends, and when there is no office vacant, one
is created for their benefit. Rowing commits
sions, such as that given to John Nugent, to
proceed, at the expense of the government, to
New Caledonia, to exhort the Americans IN
that region to behave themselves; and the mis-
sion of Francis Grund to Europe, to do some
thing nobody knows what, and other such mis-
sions devised for no other object. as far as the
people can Judge, than that Of rewarding the
services of political partisans of the president,
are all sources of unnecessary expenditure.
While the administration is thus adopting
new and extraordinary ways and means to ex-
haust the national treasury, it is in vain that
its supporters try to defend it, by saying that
the wants Of the country have increased, and
two dollars will not now 60 as far as one 80
years ago. Let few hundred of the lazy
clerks in the departments be discharged, let
the customhouses that are not collecting enough
money to pay their expenses be relieved of
three fourths or seven-eighths Of their officers;
John Nugent and all men acting under rowing
commissions be recalled, let the ttmiserable
scavengers" and s''the unworthy and the un-
trustworthy men, be removed from their
offices, and let reforms in these respects be
made in all the departments of government
After these steps are taken to relieve the coun-
try of the expense of supporting these worth
less drones, we shall not be disposed to COM
plain of the extravaganza and corruption of the
government, merely because it expends more
money now than il formerl y expended, but so
long as these abuses are allowed to continue
uncorrected, the administration might be just
ly censured, even if the expenditures were on
ly $4,000, 900, instead or three or four times
that amount. While there are SO many use
less and idle men paid by the administration
for doing nothing, the people will hold it to ac-
count for unnecessary and profigate exrendi-
tdres of the public money, without stopping
to enquire whether it pays them much or very
little. Nashville Banner
The Raymond Gazette publishes the speech
of governor Brown, and makes the following
comments:
We are not disposed at present to express
any opinion whatever as to the general tone
and matter of the speech, but cannot omit to
direct attention to the fact, that this speech
from governor Brown, and the reports which
come to hand in the newspapers of speeches
made at the north by Col. jefferson Davis,
demonstrate most conclusivel y-establish the
fact beyond the shadow of a doubt--that our
two democratic senators are as far apart as the
poles in their views upon several of the very
delicate questions which now exercise the
southern people. In 1850-'51, general Foote
and Col. Davis were Mississippis senator's
they differed in their views, but not more seri-
ously and radically than do governor Brown
and COL Davis, Notwithstanding the latter's
numberless apologize letters, at this time.
AT that period, however, Col. Davis was the
ultra; now Col. Davis is the conservative! For
his conservatism general Foote was Frustrated
was hunted down with blood thrstyness
without precedent and by this same Col. Davis
and admirers. Now we submit the question,
how will the people Of Mississippi decide be-
tyeen their present senators? Whose banner
is to trail in the dust? Who's to be declared
the true and faithful representative of the senti-
ment of Mississippi? Who's to be cast out with
unworthy" branded upon his forehead? Both
cannot be sustained--one or the other must fall
before the popular sentiment! The matter is
in the hands of the sovereign people of Missis-
sippi and as our intelligent readers form a con-
sttuent part of the sovereign people, they may
as well begin, without distinction of old party
ties, to ask themselves" under which king
Benzonian."
-.--.z.E -~~<~-~-~----,~>-~->~J-~~-~--
SOCIETY IsLANDs-It seems that the author
tiles in these little islands are quarreling among
themselves, and to settle matters, at last
accounts, the party in power offered consul
Owen, of the United States, to surrender the
islands of Tahaa and Raintea to our govern
ment, and handed him official letters to that