Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-05-07

CoSGREsslosAL SATR4PT, OR PATTY DEs-
PoTIsN.-To the Inquirer The ambitious
Congressman, who conceived the idea Of con
trolling all the minor appointments in his dis
trict, has doubtless received the thanks Of all
his fellow members, but we assure him and
bis less ambitious colleagues that he deserves
and is receiving the curses Of all the honest
people. A more infamous piece Of party
despotisnl has never been conceived, or hav-
ing been conceived, has never been inaugu-
rated in this country. 1t could only be the
conception Of brain capable Of the most
reckless and unserupulous intrigues where
with to enable him to fortify himself against
the masses Of the people. No honest and
faithful Representative, who is willing to sub,
NIT his actions in the National Legislature to
the masses. confident of the honesty of his 10
teutions, and with abiding faith in his coustif.
uents, wuold desire such arbitrary power.
If the opponents Of the Republican party
had designed to introduce a system Of Con.
gressional interference with the rights of the
people for the purpose of bringing about the
dissolution Of the Republican party, they
could not have hit upon more effective plan
for the destruction of their great rival than
this system of Congressional satrapy. And
have no hesitation in saying that it is the duty
Of the Republican party to resist this species
of political despotism wherever found and in
whatever shape it presents itself The Re
publican party has distinguished itself from
all other parties since the days of the Revo.
luton for its pure Repubhcanism, and shall
it, the most Democratic Of all parties, submit
to a party despotism as absolute as the will
Of the Autocrat Of all the Russias? The peo-
pie can alone aud must correct this tendency
TO party Capitalization.
With the present system no man, however
worthy or deserving he may be, can secure an
appointment to the most trifliug Post Ofice,
Assessorship, Collectorship, Whiskey Iuspec-
torship, Marshalship, &c, &c, unless he re
ceives the recommendation of the Congress.
sional Satrap. And no man is appointed un
less he is willing ito do him reverence. 80
He that is worthy and deserving if unwilling
to fall down and worship the golden calf,
must stand aside and make room for some
one who viii yield the Satrap obedience and
when the time comes bring about his poftics
salvation. Here and there may be an excep-
ton to this rule but in the main it is correct
A gentleman may stand in the way of the Ss-
trap and to remove the obstruction he may be
appointed to an Office of honor and profit
without debasing himself, but this is the only
exception.
The people have a right to say who shal
be their inferior as well as their uperior ser
wants. What Republican has ever voted foi
member Of Congress with the distinct under
standing that he was to be the party Cover
nor of the district electing him' What righl
has he to say over and above the people who
elected hiu, who shall serve them in less re
sponsiole positions? He is a mere servant
aud sometimes bad one; what right has
he to set himself up as a master over the pso
pie who have invested him with ''little
brief authority?
As an illustration of this system Severa
persons are applicants for some triaing ap
pontment in avillsge fifty, sixty, or seventy
miles from the Sa'rap Oae of them at least
is ''houest and capable" and he receives tn,
voice ofthe people, but he does not fully
come up 20 the Congressional qualification
he is not willing to debase himself by
swearing eternal fealty to the Satrap, there
fore, the voice of the people must be disre
garded and some political trickster, or chron
ic Office seeker, who has been on all sides O
all questions, and ready to do the dirty worl
Of any person, is selected. The people ar,
outraged, the party is brought into disreput,
publican party the watchwords of Liberty
throughout the world are made to suffer.
/ have been led to speak thus plainly to MI
Republican friends 10 regard to the politica
iniquity which is perpetrated by uuscrupulous
Congressman, who have usurped all the pow
ers which the people have heretofore exer.
cjsed, for the purpose of putting them on thei
guard. These suggestions are general, in tn,
future I may be led to particularize. Til,
pin sticking business, withoutaay reiereuc,
to the will Of the people, must be brought tc
a close or the people muss exercise the powei
which s vested in them and reject their dos
potc servants. ]. r. DraBoREow.
Bedford, May 4th, 1869