The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-07-20

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mission which was founded id error. vital and
disastrous TO its popularity and efficiency as a
government in proportion as its leading princi-
pie Of action became developed The mistake
it made, and which is the prime cause of all
its trouble, for it might have been weak and
frivolous without being very offensive, was
that its mission elect was to govern the demo
cratic party merely, not the country at large
In spirit confessiDg nothing national, but be
ing entirely partisan, one consequence has beer
an astounding development of the comprehen-
sion and acceptaon of the old democratic
shbboleth patronage and plumber" TIE
treasury has been and is bleeding at thousand
wounds, and the purses of the prime plumber.
ers are tapped in turn by a second rank of para.
sites, who thus make them the agencies o.
their depicting operations Principles being
thrown overheard and plumber being substi-
tuted as the cohesive power Of keeping the
parts Of party together, the natural result is
now demonstrated only those who can
be fed from the public crib cling to the unfor-
tunate administration, and their number is ne
cessarily lamentaby small as a proportion Of
the whole people 1t neglected the old but
telling item Of democratic trickery; the taking
up ofsome point of demagoguenical clap-trap
and by much discussion, vocirerous, repeti
ton and enunciation, magnifying it into great
principle the substratum Of plausible
platform Consequently, it stands now apar-
" without principle "-'naary principle
10 bless itself withal
The administration is unlucky-so much so
as TO be even entitled to some pity-in being
detected and exposed at once il all Of its Iittle
or great disreputable doings. It's denouncers
have not alone the dry task Of properly abu-
sing it for what it does not do, but have con
slant opportunity of resting telling hits upon
what it does do. If one of its members makes
grab at the crib, he has hardly returned his
fist to his own pocket with his gains, before the
circumstance is telegraphed over the whole
country. Ifone dabbles little in breadstuffs,
he at once receives all the benefit Of an extern
sve publicity. The other day the admins
tration hurry -burdy-the organ-the Con
stitution was short Of funds, contribution
was levied in Washington city for its benefit,
and within twenty four hours the following dis
patch was travelling through the country over
the telegraph wires, and has appeared in hun
dreds of papers:
''Peremptory orders have been issued requiring
public officers to subscribe the Constitutions under
the penalty of removal"
The Constitution, of course, came out in
a bitterly indignant leader, denying that1t was
in want Of means, and proclaiming that it was
the recipient of the grateful and munifcent
support Of thousands of true democrats through
out the whole country. While denying that
any compulsion had been brought to bear on
public officers, however, itnaiyely acknowledg-
ed that large deputation had been sent round
among them, requesting that they would sub
scribe to the paper, thus afording them an OPP
portunity, which they were glad to improve,
Of patronising the only genuine democratic
publication in Washington. There was ma.
exercised-none at all; no md&
than when highwayman levels bis fire arms
and says, your money or yourlife." Subscribe
to the Constitution" or off goes your head!
The startling developments" Of this extor-
ton which we find in the Washington papers,
show that the name of each official was copied
from tie blue book to list OF subscribers to
the Constitution, the intended victim signih-
cantly pointed to bis name, and then the pur-
pose was suggested. In the general post.ofice
department, the lists were carried around by
the heads of the several divisions of the de-
and in the state department by.the
disbursing clerk Of that department. Many
Of the plundered asked if the subscription levy
was compulsory, and were answered with
very significant wink and nod which gave them
a clear understanding as 10 which was the
most discreet course to pursue-forfeit their
situations or submit to thdeontemptibe robbie
ry committed through the agency Of those who
could control their fortunes In the state de-
but one clerk challenged the oppres-
sors to do their worstby obstinately refusing to
tstand and deliver" and in the postofice de-
partment there was scarcely an exception
Many of them afterwards offered their years
subscription to the valuable journal, in behalf
Of which the levy was made, at discounts of
several hundred per cent, some of them try
ng to sell out for half dollar, and others put
ing in clear quit claim by giving away their
when they could. prevail upon
any body to be inflicted with the donation Of
The Constitution for one year. Some Of the
clerks excused themselves by saying that they
were already subscribers to the weekly, but
there was no escape, The answer being, "that
will not do, you must also take the daily"
A letter from hon. r. G. Winthrop, of Mas
has been published, cordially en-
dorsing the resolutions recently adopted by the
whig general committee of New York, declar-
ing it inexpedient, at this time, further to dis
cuss or agitate the question of slavery, and
recommending the public mind to turn its at
tention to such questions as are presented in