The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1860-10-11

The following is from Buchanan's celebra-
ted Duquesne letter, November a9d, 1853:

cing years, In referring 10 anether growing anu
dangerous evil. In the last age, although
our fathers, like ourselves, were divided into
political parties, which often had severe con-
flcts with each other, yet we never heard uu-
til recent period Of the employment Of mon
ey to carry elections. Should this practice in
crease until the voters and their representa-
tives in the state and national legislatures
shall become infected, the fountain of free
government will then Be poisoned at its source,
and we must end, as history proves, in mill
tary despotsm a democratic republic, all
agree, cannot survive long unless sustained
by public virtue. When this is corrupted,
and the people become venal, there is
canker at the root of the tree OF liberty, which
must cause it to wither and die"
Such was the language of the very person
whose own election was securd by fraudulent
naturalization papers and free use of 'mon-
ey to carry elections" This letter. written
six months after the infamous English bill was
forced through Congress by means of direct
and shameful bribery, remin Is us ofa gentle
man who in his dealings with country store
keeper, always had much to say about his
own honesty. One day "honesty' went in
to the store to make purchase, and while
the merchants back was turned, stole cod
fish and hid it under his coat. Receiving his
goods, he hand ID the merchant his pay, and
again remarked that it was always pleasure
to him to act the part of an honest man.
But some how the coi-fsh slipped down from
under his coat and exposed its tail, which at
tractcd the attention of the merchant "llon-
esty" finally started to so home, when the
former yelled out at the top of his voice: 81
say honesty, the next time you core to my
store You must either steal shorter cod fish
or wear longer coat T. Now this is just the
fix of James Buchanan. He commenced pra.
ting about the dishonesty of others, when the
stolen cod fish was under his own coat tail;
and notwithstanding the Douglasites repudi-
ate Old Bucks policy of administering the
government they have not one word to say
against his corrupt actions as reveal d by the
Coyole committee. Not a word of censure OF
them has been allowed to escape from any OF
the democratic national or state conventions.
They wrangled, fought and divided about who
should succeed -. B." in dispensing army
navy and other fat contracts to partizans; but
not doubt was raised among them as to the
improperly of the reeking corruptions which
had debauched their party and disgraced the
nation in the. eyes of the world. Among the
"great principles" discussed. those of econo-
my and strict accountability were not classed
So of the stump speeches Of Douglas, John
son and their adherents. We have nothing
from them of a necessity for purer admin
istration Of the government. They complain
of having been deprived Of their share OF the
spols; but find no fault that the public mon
ey has been squandered for party purposes
1t now remains for the people to say, wheth.
er they will be satisfied 70 continue power il
the hands of party which has thus abused
it, and which offers not the least assurance o
anything better. If The people have no high
er interest in the matter than can be served
by ch nging the pack of Buchanan cormorants
for the more voracious and not less unsrupu
lous Douglas horde, the object is hardly
worth contest. But if they desire an entire
change and an honest administration intro.
duced they must dismiss both of those fac
tons and put in their places men of a differen
stripe.