The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-06-09
MR.. BUCHANAN's FAVORITES.

gan of this city, which appears to enjoy pc
culiarly valuable and reconcile sources of in
formation in regard to the Presidents most
trusted favorites, furnishes us with the follow
ing lively and piquant sketches. After ad-
verting to Benefits support of Fremont for the
Presidency, and his sudden conversion to Blu
chanan after the election, the States proceeds
He reminded US of an occurrence some
years ago. in North Carolina. 1t was one of
the wicked pastimes of the poor white folks,
as they were called by the slaves and the ne
groes in old Rip Van Wrinkle, to fight cocks at
Easter. lean, tall, cross-eyed Unlocking fellow,
much like Bennett, as described by BldcklcOOd,
except that he had hare-hp, and the accent
consequent upon such detormity, proposed a
wager of five dollars with slave, that a cele-
brated cock known as high comb which was
just in the act of being pitted against another
called 'low comb would be the victor. The
slave quickly took him up, and, covering his
money, told him he might hold the stakes.
High comb at first seemed to be more than a
match for his adversary, which so ovepoyed
his hacker, that he could not control his self
possession, but, jumping up and clapping his
hands, he shouted Hurra for the high comb
cock Hurra for the high-comb cock Hurra
for the high-comb cock / knew how it would
be | knew how it would bel In a short
time low comb began to rise, and to show UNI
mistakabe signs that he was to win the battle.
AS soon as this was manifest to hare lip,
he commenced in tone scarcely audible, pro-
excessively raising his voice to the highest pitch,
Hurra for the low-comb cockl Hurra for the
low-cOmb cock! Hurra for the low-comb cock !!
told you so. / told you the low comb would
whip!' Well, but, massa, bet on the low
comb cock exclaimed Scipio You bet on
the low comb what a liar Well, we'll have
no fuss. Here, here, here-there, there, there
you take back your money, and I'll keep mine /;
and if ever | bet with another niger, may be
ID Bennett could not restrain his Joy as
dong as high comb was rising and low comb
seemed to be sinking in the last Presidential
canvass; but the moment he discovered that
low comb was rising, and high comb sinking,
he unscrupulously claimed the former as his
favorite.
And now for the BLACK LETTERED LIST, or
list of the prOteges of Mr.. James Gordon Ben
nett, who, as such, have been specially en-
ployed by Democratic Administration
No. !. Mr.. Wykoff, Cbe0dIier G Ipd,estrie,
bearer of dispatches to s.. Petersburgh, at eight
dollars per day, and travelling expenses de-
frayed; subsequently appointed bearer Of dis
pdJCucS W Culildy WHlJDcF he Is ABOUT 10 pro-
coed, at the same rate of compensation. This
person has been the confidential pimp and
scavenger of the Bennett family ever since he
came out of the pententiary of Sardinia per
forming all manner fservices for his empIoyeeS,
from majOr-dOmO down to cuiSiHier. AS the
inflated courier, Or more properly speaking,
ldcquaiS, of Fanny Elssler, he reluctantly con-
scented to act the part Of grOomsman at the eel
ebratiOn of Benefits nuptials: but, becoming
indignant at the enormous black mail levy of
Jack ketch upon the celebrated daRSeuse, he
suspended his relations with the Bennetts in
high disgust-a long correspondence ensuing
on both sides, which went far to establish the
fact, that if both had been locked up for score
of years in Blackwell, even-handed Justice would
not have been the sufferer. After Wykoff" 5
notorious degradation, deserted by every friend
but dastardy petite maare of whom we shall
speak presently, be recanted, the Bemnetts
seemingly relented and an entcite cordialc, of
fensive and defensive, ensued, the legitimate
workings of which are to be found in his init
mate connection with the Government
"No. 2. Mr.. Grund.-Francis j. Grund, the
basest Hessian of them all not exactly a
NecGiier d hldustrfe, but something, ifpossible,
tenfold wOrse-a beast in human form, who,
provided his neck is not submitted to "a halter,
UOI HIS DbtN 10 IL uit1tDu. Is ever READY 10 act
on any side, or on all sides, Just rs interest may
suggest, for the highest attainable price. An
Austrian Jew of halfway Christian conversion.
he is in morals and in politics. as he is in religion,
neither one thing nor another, and yet all things
to all men. This fellow, as we are advised from
abroad, has been for more than a twelvemonth
a secret agent Of the Administration in Europe
upon salary of ten dollars per day and travel
ling expenses betrayed, acting as correspondent
for the Herald, and also for the Union for a
time. Whatever other services he has been
performing for the country we do not pretend
to state.
"NO. 3. Mr. Fleuret-A ChcUaIier d. Htdust,1,
of the rarest professional accomplishments
former dealer in HdSORs concentiORneL i the
ami Ueyitdbie of Wykoff, but to what country
belonging no one with whom we have conversed
knOweth. This person was the .tocOri pdrticu
lair de la tdmHIe Bennett, and was pensiOneC
by the Administration, THROUGH THE SOLE IN
FLUENCE OF THAT FAMILY, upon an annuity o
two thousand dollars, in the bestowal of tn,
Bordeaux consulate.
| "No. 1. Mr.. Thrasher-a hireling sube,lio
of the HerdId-sent to Mexico as bearer of dis
patches, and compensated at the rate of eigh
dollars per day, and travelling expenses de
frayed.
"No. 5. Mr. Rainey-a CheUalier d Lid1sstyi
of the shabby genteel order, not quite so q uicl
at tricks and shifting as his more notorious
cOntiere, but a willing-minded vender of al
kinds of chdriataRerieS, which he peddled il
Ohio, Louisiana, and elsewhere. The precise
relation in which he stood to the Bennett con
Germ cannot be easily defined, but he was in full
communion with Wykof and those of his ilk
| This person was sent to Liberia as supercarg,
of the captured Africans, at compensation
we suppose, considering the rate at which Wy
koff has been paid for his services, of ten dol
lars pay and travelling expenses.
| GLOW much further the black lettered lis
may be extended, we cannot at this time say
but we shall inquire. Enough is exhibited
however, to cause every patriot to blush for hi
country, and solemnly resolve that its condition
| shall be bettered"