The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-09-26
speeial Dl.paleA 3 he Bazimere Sal.
Southern OfIiceholders.

Southern 0fiiceholders.
New Reconstruction for the Nouth--Politi.
cal Otiiceholders 10 be Weeded 0ut--A
Strike at the Carpet Baggers and Scalawags
Significant Expressions from the White
House.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20.-The Post
master General and Secretary Of the
Treasury, under whom the vast bulk Of
the federal Offices in the Southern States
are held, have determined to dismiss any
person holding Office against whom any
charges Of incapacity or doubtful official
responsibility may be made with sufficient
Substantiution in the way Of facts, and
upon competent authority 1t is admitted
by both these officers that large number
Of persons entirely unfit by social status or
education have worked their way into these
positions. II is now proposed TO make 80
much Of concession to the respectable
element Of Southern society as to weed
these miserable creatures out as fast as
they can DO reached. The late troubles in
the South have brought not few of these
characters to the surface, and it is not
wondered that there was so much dissatis
faction expressed. Without rejecting upon
the character of tho former Postmaster
General and Secretary of the Treasury
it is quite evident that they were grossly
deceived, and il healthier state Of feeling
is to be encouraged in the South, il IS
admitted that the federal patronage must
be in the hands of only superior men. 1t
is possible that this sentiment win soon
prevail in every one of the executive
departments Of the government. This
importation Of federal officeholders from
other States than those in which they are
appointed has long been looked upon as a
glaring mistake and steps will be taken to
remedy the evil. Now that there are
indications Of a cessation Of the hostile
spirit recently exhibited in portions Of the
Southern States, the causes Of the troubles
are beginning to be nalyzed and comment
ed upon. The President, it appears, in
the light of recent events has not improved
his opinions Of the political guerrillas who
invest the South aud fill tho Southern
Offices, national and State. M
Pending the uprising in New Orleans
he was constantly beset by carpet baggers,
who poured in here from the South and
invested the presidential Office with highly
elaborated tales Of blood, murder and
unchecked devastation. 1t IL learned that
the President remarked Of these worthless,
speaking Of Senators aud Representatives,
that whenever there was a shot fred or
any sort Of a disturbance Of the peace these
people at once congregated at Washington,
instead Of remaining among their constit-
uents and using their efforts to preserve
order, and to bring the refractory element
back to quiet peace This is phase Of
their official functions which they do not
appreciate, and prelerring whole skin to
the glory of heroic lnartyrdom their appear
ance at Washington is generally the fore
runner Of another outburst of irrepressible
popular indignation,
The Sun, of Tuesday, in commenting on
the above dispatch says
1t is gratifying to hear from Washing
ton such a statement as that made in our
special dispatch from that city yesterday,
that some of the heads of departments
have at last awakened to the fact, which
has always been obvious enough to the rest
of mankind, that large number Of persons
unfit in every way for their positions have
worked themselves into federal Offices in
the South, and that it is now proposed to
make so much Of concession to the re-
spectacle element Of Southern society (why
should not it have been done from the
first p as 10 weed out such persons as fast
as possible. Such an extraordinary exer-
else of magnanimity in a government as
the protection Of its honest subjects in the
conquered provinces from being so despoiled
by its officials Of the rewards Of their
industry as to cut off all hope of recupera-
ton deserves honorable mention. The
Postmaster General and Secretary of the
Treasury, it appears, have determined to
dismiss any of their officials in the South
ern States who are proved to be incapable
and Of doubtful official responsibility.
This il CONCESSION" for which all con-
eerned should be duly grateful. There
are even hopes held out that all the depart
ments will consider it proper thing TO
put the federal patronage in the South in
the hands of honest men. For this highly
improved state of sentiment in the Wash
ington departments the country should feel
as proud as it can, and its gratitude must
be raised to a pitch of exultation when it
learns that the President himself has not
good opinion Of the thieves and maraud-
ers who fill the Southern national and State
Offices, and is specially displeased with the
cowardice they show, whenever shot is
fred, in deserving their field Of plumber
and flying to Washington or the North.
These are high moral sentiments, which all
righteous and patriotic citizens will rejoice
to SEQ entertained by their governors Mt
the federal metropolis.
The head Of tho Kellogg government of
Louisiana, aud some subordinates, at the
latest advices, had been found and rein
stated in the places they had deserted
Others Of them still appear to have been
''non-comeatibus in swampo." 1t is not to
be supposed that men in authority, with
consciousness Of right, would take to their
heels upon the first alarm like burglars
hearing the approaching footsteps of the
police. 1.-THE wicked aeeth when no man
pursueth, their own conscience conjuring
up shadows that take an awful aspect Of
reality and strike terror to their souls. 1t
is related that recently some South Caro-
lima officials, hearing that a "white league"
had been organized in their neighborhood
and was in motion, exhibited the most
ludicrcus fright, one Of them seeking
refuge in lunatic asylum, and another
desiring to be put in the penitentiary and