Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-09-14
wHsS the Washington Union. some time since,

ute portion of their salaries 10 the advancement
Of the Democratic cause, the proposition was re-
ceivcd BY the press of the South. universally, with
Q sentiment Of severe indignation. With some Of
them, this indignation was real, with others it was
affected. \ proper regard for public opinion re-
quircd that the proposition of the Union should be
denounced-though there were, doubtless, many
Of these journalists who knew that it is unusu-
al thing for an assessment to be made upon Office
holders for the benefit of party--and many others
Of them who would not hesitate to rejoice
political victories which they had abundant reason
to believe were procured by the use of these very
subsidies.
The proposition, we say, was rcpudiated by the
press Of the South. Not so with the journals
North Of Mason and Dixon. Not n word Of CEN
sure have we seen in any Northern paper for the
obvious reason TINT it has been the practice, for
years, in every Northern State. TO employ money
in the conduct of canvass. II is very certain
for history proves it, no less than common sense
that the more you dcmocratisc n government the
wider you open the door to corruption The more
power you give to the people, the more corrupt
inevitably. will the people become The history
of New York politics. and the practices Of New
York politicians. have long been n scandal and
reproach to the Union. What first introduced the
practice Of bribery and corruption in New York
was the presence there of vast numbers Of igno-
rant voters-princiraly foreigners-whose suf
rage was markcablesommodity, to be purchased
by the highest bidder. The success that attended
the experiment of controlling elections in New
York by money, has led to the employment, Of the
same means elsewhere. Even the South has not
been free fron the disgraco. The Plaquemine
frauds in Louisiana in 1874 are notorious through
out the whole conntry--nnd. though the evidence
is not so complete. there is to believe that
money was Just as freely used 10 elect I'reckcn-
ridge to Congress the first time he was choscn.---
The practice commenced in the North. but is
speeding throughout the South The lato William
r. King, of Alabama said he hoped never to
the day when The tactic. of New York politicians
would be introduced into the South--bu', hnl he
lived until now, he would have seen that they had
been introduced in more places than one. Wash
ington city Is now the bead quarters of political
intrigue, instead Of Albany aud New York. Tho
money for controlling elections, in all parts of the
Union, is now distributed trcti the Federal Cnpi.
tol-and the assessment Of office holders, added to
the voluntary contributions Of wealthy members
of the party. constitute the capital with which tho
leaders operate, in buying up tho purchnseahlc
material of uur large cities,
We see very little Of tins sort Of thing in the
South, partly because our people nrn more virtu-
osu. and partly because there is no necessity for
it. Democracy is in its possession OF
power, in most Of the Southern States, that there
is no occasion for the ase of money. If thero
close contest in any Southern State. and tho
vote Of that State necessary to turn the scale
in Presidential election we would soon see what
the Washington Union meant by its aricle--and
we are very much afraid that some of those Dem
ocratic journalists who turn up their eyes in
horror at the unions proposition. would very
gratefully accept the results which would be pro
cured by the money Of the office holders tuscl
fish political virtne, in this country, instead Of be-
ing the rule, fear. is last getting u DO the
cep,iou. We commenced becoming politically
demoralised cotemporamously with the extension
Of the privileges of the people.
These protests against the sentiments Of the
Washington Union made, We suspect, princ-
pally by those who not much accustomed TO the
is SO we'll known there that contributions are OK
pected--not enforced, but generally furnished
from the ncumbeu,s of Office, with which to ope
rate in elections that it is scarcely ATTEMPTED to be
concealed. In the last Presidential election the
contest was supposed to hinge upon the vote Of
Pennsylvania, AS in truth it did For this reason
Pennsylvania was delugedwith political documents,
and traverscd hy eminent speakers from abroad
Where did the money come from which these doc
uments cost? Where did the none, come FROM
with which the expenses Of these political mission
aries were paid? The article in the Washington
Union furnishes the reply. We have no absolute
evidence Of the tact-but would not undertake
to affirm that money not employed i'll direct
bribery in Pennsylvania during the last canvass.
Where did this money come from?
The confession Of the Union-for it amounts to
upon democracy in the abstract. What is Demo,-
racye 1t is a recognition of the capacity Of the
people to govern themselves. But the doctrine t.
the Union is that they not capable of sclfgoy-
ernment-that the magic mid of money is to be
invoked to enable them to appreciate properly
their duties as political citizens. According to a
fair deduction from the Unions proposition, it is
not safe to leave the people to themselves to bo
be guided by their own judgments or their own
instincts. They must not in the exercise of their
free volition illustrate the virtues and glories O.
abstract democracy. The persuasive adjunct O.
money must be employed to enable them TO see
clearly their duties as voters Is not this, though
coming from the National organ Of Democracy at