Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-06-09
j. B.,
"The Old Gray Haired Public Functionary.'


1.-THE Old Gray y-Haired Public Functionary."
TuE commercial department of The Iade-
pendent is not exactly the place to discuss pol
itical Subjects and yet we shall not refrain from
touching any subject or any question which has
to do with the secular welfare any prosperity of
the nation. \
During no period in the history of this ma
ton has the standard of public morals fallen so
low as during the administration Of James Bu-
chanan. To find an honest spot on which to
plant your feet in any quarter would be almost
impossible. 10 plumber the public crib, to bribe
the press, to prevent free speech, to frown down
and silence, if possible, every noble effort for
the real good of the people, to invest with
power the most corrupt, unprincipled men, to
reward those who have been willing to bow the
knee to slavery, to attempt to rob the nation of
its free territory against the known wishes, pro-
tests, and solemn waiings of large majority
Of those most deeply interested, to run the ma
ton into debt some sixty or seventy millions Of
dollars by downright extravaganza, cheating,
and robbery-these are some of the trifling
matters which have been the chief business of
J. b. and of the present Administration. Does
any sane man say that all this wickedness has
nothing to do with the financial prosperity of
the country? Can people really prosper in
temporal things when the flood gates of iniquity
are with such hands thus opened upon them
We think not. Can it be expected that pure
minded, honest, untemptable men will multiply
in such demoralizing atmosphere We think
not Can it be wondered at, in view of such
examples, that our banks. insurance companies,
trust institutions, and other corporations, are
defrauded and robbed by their officers and
clerks? We think not. When the seeds of
wickedness and corruption are from high places
thuo IA broodcast G tho land n other
harvest than crime be looked for? We think
not. Can it be expected that our young men
will not be tempted to take the short cut to
wealth and position, when the wages of that
path are offered them by the rulers and chief
men of the nation? We think not 1t is high
time that we should come 10 pause, and hold
up to the gaze Of the community the principal
actors in this unprincipled drama, and we charge
you, James Buchanan President Of these Uni
ted States, as either directly the author of the
wickedness to which we have alluded, with all
the collateral evils and consequences which have
followed, or as indirectly approving it by refu-
sing to denounce and stop IT, We charge YOU
with corrupting as no other man ever has, the
morals of the nation by using your Executive
power in upholding men and approving N cas-
ures which have been shame and disgrace TO
u.s. We charge your Administration with being
the aiders und abettors of all sorts of land
speculations, bribery, and fraud; of squander-
ing the public money to promote your own pc
cuniary and political purposes. We charge you,
by your example, as being the chief cause and
promoter of many of the great evils and burdens
which are disturbing and retardng our COM
mercial and financial prosperity. Are these
things true, and if so, are they of no conse-
quence? Is it not time to break silence !?
What the people want now is better men and
/ hot hoo Il
of the Government, a man who will willingly
do no wrong, violate no golden rule of moral
ity, countenance no bribery, a man who loves
freedom, who hates oppression, who will use
his official position for the moral uplifting of
the nation-such man is what the people want,
and they will have him.
Poor, generous Fowler, the late postmaster
of this great metropolis, man who would do
almost anything to serve his master ]. B. at
Washington, how sadly has he fallen. A fugi-
tive and a vagabond he now is. Should he thus
suffer, and those more guilty but less careless
escape? No wonder that "the old gray-hared
public functionary" at Washington protests
against any examination of his course, for he
well knows it has been corrupt "The king can
do no wrong" seems to have been his motto.
The newspapers of late are full of defalca-
tions, frauds, and other wrong-doings of men
| III piiCcS Vi lluSl hluOsL every Neth ollIps
some new and startling development Now the
special object of this writing is to call attention
to the cause of these evils. When the trouble
can be "located," when the defaulter or the
thief is caught, how full of denunciation men
are. "Send him to prison at once" is the cry
on all sides. But what shall we do with those
rulers, politicians and their followers who stand
up boldly and teach such lawlessnessP Shall
they go unpunishedp What shall we say of
those men or newspapers which teach that every
principle of justice and humanity is to be vio-
lated, and that we must obey human enactments
wnen they are condemned by that law which
commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves.
No mans money or character or life is safe
where such an infarnal doctrine is taught. To
do wrong nerer, to do right al,cayS, should be
the teaching. To disobey wicked law may
cost yon fiery furnace, den of lions, political
Instruction. or even the wrath of The journal
of Commerce, but never mind. Doright though
the heavens fall.
A CABINET OFFICER DECLARES FOR DoUG-
LAS The gallant Virginian, Mr.. Floyd, the
present able and popular Secretary of War;
openly espouses the cause of the "Little Giant"
and declares that his nomination is demanded
by the clearly expressed voice of the American
people. When such noble Southern patriots
as Floyd, of Virginia, Stephens, of Georgia,
Orr, of South Carolina, Forsyth, Winston, and
others, of Alabama, put on the Douglas armor,