Year: 1862

upon 7'eIegr0phic Mems, &c.


WASHINGTON, Aug %.


A political life is full of trouble, humiliatons
and diSappointments. A man must needs, before
getting an office here in Washington, dance at
tendance for weeks at the door of the depart
ments; he humbly implores the aid of this or
that great man; he is the humble servant, the
faithful dog, of any one who can afford him the
least assistance; and if, after all his humatOns,
kneengs. and entreaties, bone in the shape of
a thousand dollar clerkshp is thrown him, he is
the happicst man in existence. He Immediately
sends for his family. goes to keeping house on a
grand scale, spends fifteen hundred year. which
deficit he manages to balance by keeping some
boarders, and owing for what may be lacking.
-Four years, viewed at the start, seems an age;
there is a chance then that he may receive a re-
appointment, and so on ad infnitum, until our
clerk fondly yields himself to the dream that his
troubles for this life at least, are over And
thus burying himself in the blissful delusion,
time rolls along and he is happy.


Such a case, with exactly such attendant cir
cumstances as have mentioned, may not repre-
sent all the thousands of clerks who labor in the
various departments. but it is fair statement as
to large majority This was plainly and most
painfully showDin the late operations at the Cen
sus Bureau. where the completion of the labor
necessitated the discharge of about one hundred
of the employees The notice fell like thunder
clap upon all, although, months ago, they had
been forewarned to prepare for such a result.
Each one, however, while believing it possible
that his neighbor might be removed, had
never imagined that such blow would fall upon
himself.


They have crowded the office of the Chief
Clerk ever since, representing that, in their re-
spective cases, there are particular and impera-
tive xvhv ohOuld mot ha dis mic |.
they have saved nothing-they have no business,
they have families dependent upon them; they
have these and a thousand other reasons for ma
king their cases exceptionable. And then the
Chief is besieg,d by the wives and daughters of
the unfortunates; they plead in tears that the hus
band and father may be retaned-his cerkship
is their only resource, and without it they must
starye.


This is one phase of political life, which shows
that these gentlemen who get up Governmentap-
pointments are not all as happy and envied may
generally be supposed.


The Government still adheres to its absurd re-
strictions upon new spapers. with the exception of
the Star published here. As the Star is a small
exceedingly Iifeless and stupid Sheet whose edi-
tor is generally suspected Of beng Secession
ist, il is difficult to imagine why it is allowed to
do what is denied to every other one outside of
Washington. One may write all he chooses for



not telegraph it, which sapienr regulation effects
nothing more than placing the news few hours,
or perhaps day or so, later before the public. 1t
is difficult to understand what is to DE gained by
withholding important events from the people of
the loyal States for the space say of six hours.
Such wisdom il is difficult to fathom.


The fact is, that about all chat is expected from
the people in this war is, that they should furnish
men and money to do the fghting-beyond this
they have no interest. tt none of their busi-
ness whether battle is going on. or whether any
body is defeated, or who is killed and wounded.
All they need to do is to keep cool, enlist when
asked 70 do so, pay the bills when called upon,
and ask no impertnent questions.


am foolish enough to believe that this is the
peoples own war. and that they have right to
demand that their starred and plumed servants,
who are conducting it for them. shall account to
them at every step of their progress. The heart
of the loyal North is In the conflict, and they can
bear to hear Of defeat; its only effect will be to
nerve them to the task before them and make
them more willing to make any and all needful
sacrifices. 1t is much better at any time to tell
them frankly the truth, they will better bear the
announcement that the enemy retreated in good
order, than they viii afterward the intelligence