that a Democrat could scarcely be found in an office which a Whig
could be found to take."
This is ominous, for the 564 Whigs to be turned over to the charity of
the new collector. Alas! the Democrats are hungry—hard shells and
soft shells—and charity begins at home. In the course of the coming
month we may anticipate a large emigration from the custom-house to
California and Australia. What a blessing to ejected office-holders
that they can fall back upon the gold mines! Such is the beautiful
working of our beneficent institutions! What a magnificent country!
As a proof of the excitement which these changes produce, I remember perfectly there being ten to one more fuss and telegraphing between Washington and New York, as to who should be collector at the latter port, than would exist between London and Paris if a revolution was in full swing at the latter. To this absurd system may no doubt be partly attributed the frequent irregularities of their inland postage; but it is an evil which, as far as I can judge from observation and conversation, will continue till, with an increasing population and increase of business, necessity re-establishes the old and better order of things. Political partisanship is so strong that nothing but imperative necessity can alter it.