The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-03-29
The Northwestern G0ths and Vandals
at the Capitol.

New York Herald Washington CORES pondence.
But the election and Inauguration of
cod Abe Lincoln" representative man,
has changed all this. The mass of these
Republican ofice-seekers are rail spIitters,
great rawboned, strapping fellows, each
with his carpet bag and shawl, and each in
such hurry TO get bis Office, that be makes
bis application before he lays down his car,
pet bag. Take specimen as described to
us by clerk of the treasury department,
the other day. Said he, These Western
Yahoos would astonish old CULVER. They
are as impudent as the devil, and as igno-
rant of all notions ofpoiteness and etiquette
as jackass. One of them, sir, called at
my desk the other day.. He asked if be
could set down his carpet bag behind my
desk for q day or so, for he thought my
place would suit him. what sort of
place is it you want, my friend?' Why,
sir, enc of them places that they call, l
think, si-na-cure, where they don't have
much to do, and git good pay We'll, my
friend. this place would not suit you, for 1
have to work six hours every day. Then,
MIR. Clerk, kin you tell me where I'll find
one of them places, and how am to 90
about Citing it? | don't suppose they'll
keep fellow here waitin' more'n day or
two, anyhow; but if 1 could see the Secre.
tary, | reckon be would give me something
right away, to pay expenses you know.
We've got Old Abe and his men in the big
places, and, by hockey! they must shell out
the little ones And so my visitor, carpet
bag 10 hand, started off to look up his Ell
na.cure.'"
This is not an extraordinary case. These
enthusiastic Northwestern Wide Awakes,
carpet-bag in hand, pour into the several
departments in shoals, and naively inquire
of this or that clerk what sort of place be
has, how long be works, what kind of work
be has to do, how much pay, and how
new man goes about getting such place.
Then these visitors, carpet-bag in hand, in
the trst convenient corner takes out their
bread and cheese, eat snack, and then,
carpet-bag in hand, march off to some other
department, or to the White House itself,
to see what "Old Abe" can do. And thus,
after marching about two or three days,
carpet-bag in hand, the irrepressible Office.
seeker OF the new regime, out of money,
except his railway fare, and out of patience,
having filed his papers, marches of, carpet
bag in hand, for the railway station, home
ward bound, meeting on bis way others of
the same kidney, carpet-bag in hand, just
coming in to run the same gauntlet.
Now, with the streets of Washington and
the departments swarming with these carpet
bags, and with the outgoing and incoming
Northern trains filed with these carpet
bags, what is to be the upshot OF this north.
ern invasion of ofice-beggars with their
carpet bags? 1t is easy to tell. The upshot
will be the tearing of this Republican party
to pieces; for if it is so demoralized by this
mania for the spoils on the very outset as
to excite the disgust OF all sensible people,
it will surely eat itself up before the end of
the year. This would be small matter;
but, unfortunately, when the virus of the
spoils and pluuder has poisoned even the
lusty farmers of the West, who have every
thing within the reach of honest industry at
home, the Inference follows that tbs spoils
have Slapped the foundations of our political
fabric, and that nothing can save our popu-
lar institutions from going to the dogs.
The box of Pandora has been emptied into
these carpet bags.