Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-04-11

/
Wholly in disregard Of every consideration o
economy. The Coal Agency At Philsdslphia VA
given 10 politician who knew nothing about coal
end neglected the Office entirely, though drawing
n enormous salary-and tho contract for fur
nishing the Navy with live-oak was awarded 10 Z
man who had contributed sixteen thousand dol
lars, 1t one time. to help to elect Mr.. Buchanan,
| and Of whom this was the only Recommendation.
Other dealers were ready to furnish, and actually
offered 10 furnish the timber ut much lower rates.
The sixteen thousand dollars that were 'contribu.
ted" to Mr.. Buchanan's election probably cost the
7Ieasury not less than fifty thousand dollars in
the way Of an extravagnnt contract. So 1t will
be seen that instead Of the Democracy paying
their own clca,ionccring and bribery expenses.
they manage to get back. out Of the Treasury, all
that they spend in electioncering. and more be-
sides. As tho money in the Treasury belongs to
the people in common, it appears that the Wings
have to help to pay III" expense Of their own de-
feat The Democracy spend money to beat the
Opposition. and then steal the money that belongs
to the Opposition to reimburse themselves for tho
outlay Who would not belong to such party ?
Or. rather, who would?
In the regular order of our developments we
como next to the political patronage" as it is
CHILLED, in the different Navy Yards. II appears
that ut the Navy Ya-d ut New York there are
over two thousand men employed just before
an election the number is largely increased
These men n put there and are kept there. not so
much 10 work. as Ia rotc IN elections! No one
not even the commouest workman--can get en-
Ia na,,
The men are recommended for employ by
the Democratic mrmhars Of Congress from Now
York city. anI the number. by nm understood ar.
rnngenenl. j. equally distributed between them.
Thus, ak huni - mrn are snd to belong to one
Member-six hundred to ano,hcr-and so on
through the list. And. in truth. these men do be.
long to these M"n'er-. They attend and vote
for their ''t - 'r.nry elections. at nomina-
ting con,ro'j,',. AMI u, n.r = Ia. IN consider
alton of az ot.g ,'r'h in '.c Nty Ynrd-where
they do n,'aal. ,.a ais soil lid for doing it
Tiny bee IN tle u .en.' II s,e different mem
hers OF Congress, and when the election comos on
generally carry them triumi 'han,ly through the
contest.
OF cohrs". no man Of any self.rcspect would thus
sell him,c!, body and soul, t. another mnn-nnd
the consequence is the Yard is filled with worth.
less, idle aud 1i-suulc and drunken characters of
every description, who arc well paid, om afMc
Treasury. for very little cork but a great deal
of rofe. II some Of the Master workmen threaten
to turn out, or actually turn out one of these
worthless fellows, what is the consequence? Tho
man complains To the member Of Congress, tho
member of Congress complains 10 the Department,
aud the master workman. unless he reinstntc tho
man, is himsff iWnc2 out. Thus master work
man is punished TOR being honest. aud rewarded
collected in the interest OF the great, the glorious.
the immaculate, aud the hcascn-lcscended Dem
ocratic party of the country.
Generally, however. the Master Wurkmen re
no better than the men, They nrc all tarrcd with
the sane stick. They are all appointed on po-
litical grounds alone. and kept in the Navy Yards
so as to do rs much voting possible when tho
day Of election comes.
Two of the Democratic members from New
Lecompton question. the Master Workmcn. whose
appointment, they had procured werc discharged
from employment
Ono Mcmber-ll,n. John Cochrnnc--thou.ht
that there was not sufficient number of his
friends employed, aud he wrote to the Master
Workman these words: II rW have my proper
ton Of men under you. If you do not give thcm
I'eH lodge caarycs against yon.' Here was
case where a Master Workman was threatened
with dismissal for not employing such men rs
Cochranc chose to designate. The Master Work.
man was not allowed to chose good workmcn ;
but only such idle ,agub"nd> as Mr.. Cochrane
recommended, aud who could 10 made useful in
elections.
Observe. also, that Mr.. Cochrane threatened to
lodge charges" Nnw. il there werc any we'll
founded charges, it was Mr.. Cochrane's duty to
lodge them anyway, or rise compound n swindle
upon the Government. 1r there were none, then
it was a threat ,o,urn cut nm honest man for do
ing his duty. and protecting the interests and the
! Treasury ot the Government.
| In the Report Of the Committee is published q
letter from the Secretary Of the Navy to the Com
mander of the Navy Yard C, mmodore Kcarny)
requesting him to pursue flair and liberal
Course" towards the different members of Congress,
that is, dis'rbnte the appointments equally
among them Th'nk of II member Of the Cabinet
descending to such dirty work as this! Think Of
detailing officer of the highest rank in the Uni
ted States Navy to see to it that tho common la
borers in til, Yard were all Of the right politics
and were equally distributed" among the differ
ent members Of Congress!
As matter ef course thu workmen employed
were worthless and ne.Gcjcut. Good workmeD
and men of pride and sensibility, would not ge
into the Yarls TO beloag to members Of Congress-
| and do their poticnl bddinr The meanea, kind