Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-08-14
The Administrator


cav and spend itself in the small work, of bcker-
ing and detraction, cannot deny to it eminent a
bity, honesty and industry in the discharge OF
all its duties to the people and the country. Oc-
casonallv, it is true, we hear in one quarter
! complaint that certain persons at the East and
South have not been permitted to violate all their
obligations as good citizens in the wild scheme OF
| Cuban Independence and annexation; and In an
| other that the administration has not restrained
| certain wild and rowing Indian tribes on the Mex
| lean frontier, from their hostile incursions into
Mexican territory. These things only show ,how-
ever, the desperate shifts TO which party men are
driven in their efforts to find something whereon
| to ground their complaints against Mr. Fillmore
and his administration. ''Slavery agitators' too,
| both at the North and at the South, have for
wholly opposite and contradictory reasons, found
great fault with the administration for its course
upon the Compromise measures. These com
plaints like plus and minus quantities in algebra,
serve to cancel each other.
The opposition are wofully at loss for some
thing to condemn. The blini and infuriated rage
with which it assaulted Gen'i Taylor has long
since spent itself. Mr. Fillmore has enjoyed CON-
paratve quiet. Opposition leaders and opposi-
ton editors find their occupation gone. Their
doleful obiurgations fall upon unwilling ears
Those terrible watchwords of party, with which
they were accustomed at their will to rouse an
indignant democracy 10 vigilance and action, have
lost their charm. The Masician's wand is brok-
en- The country stands in need of rest, and il is
well Perhaps the quiet is ominous of the storm
that is to burst upon next year.
There has never been time when the wing
prospects were brighter than at present, if the
wings only true to themselves and the coun-
try. We believe there never was an administra-
ton more POPULAR or which more deserved TO be
popular. than that of Mr. Fillmore. Its measures
and policy have been emncntly calculated to Sc
cure the appreciation of the moderate and reflect
ing portion of all parties. He must be unaltera-
bly, committed TO party who does not see in its
conduct and character the evidence of an admin
i.tration wholly devoted to the honor, happiness
and welfare of the country. The course marked
out BY Mr. Fillmore and his cabinet when first
called to their present position, they have wisely
and firmly pursued-the have adhered with un-
yielding integrity to all the compromises of the
Constitution; their whole policy has been mark
ed by entire freedom from narrow minded or sec
tonal prejudices, and by the most ardnous efforts
to restrain and keep down sectional encroach-
ments and arimosities.
II the wings are successful in the next PresI-
dental canvass, they will owe that success to the
respect which the administration of Mr. Fillmore
has commanded from all shades of public opin-
ion. as much as TO any thing else No wing can
be otherwise than proud in pointing TO il as an
illustration of all that they have ever said ma
tional administration ought to be. In compari-
son with that Immediately preceding it. what
contrast. The constitution has not been viola
ted TO procure the annexation Of foreign state.
nor 10 set on foot war of conquest upon weak
and unoffending neigh5or. The public mind has
not been set wild with visions of universal con-
quest. nor the passion for unlawful acquisition
fos,cred at the expense of all that contributes TO
maintain peace and quiet at home, and respect
and good will abroad. Agitation have had.
indeed--and the bitter waters of sectional and
party strife. have well nigh submerged the land !;
but these have been but the natural results of that
fruitful harvest of ills, sowed by the late admin
istration, and left 10 lis successors 10 rear. That
Mr. Fillmore has ,lealt with all the difficult and
delicate questions left TO him, wisely, honorably
|
shades of opinion must admit.
We hear. as it were at distance, the busy
notes of preparation for the comm. contest of
1882 Parties are striving for the vantage ground
and getting their ready for the action. The
democracy are particularly busy in reccncilins
differences. and promoting harmony In their dis
tracted ranks. At the South they have been rent
in sunder by seccssioniss and disun;onists, while
the wings are united as one man. AT the North
they are far more disorganized than the Wings,
with less prospect of coming together. In new
York. assuming TO have learned wisdom by their
defeat in 1913, they are preparing 10 sink all mi
nor considerations for the sake of harmony
Having been deprived of the sweets of office for
four years, they conclude that il is better to
ceed by an abandonment of principle, than to
forego the loayes aud fishes on the small pune
tilio of conscience. To read John Van Buren's
letter TO Tammany Hall, and hear him talk of the
necessity Of fraternal feeling among the dissev-
cred fragments Of democracy. one would natur-
ally suppose that the writer was ignorant there
had ever been such thing as free soilism or the
Buffalo platform.
Upon the minds of the wings we would wish
to impress no better lesson. than the necessity
discussing the merits, qualifications and prospects
of the prominent men named for their support, of
refraining from all elimination and recrimna,ion
among those who should act with one common
impulse for the common good. Whoever may he
the whig candidate for the presidency, there is
enough for us to do against a common enemy, 10
employ all our time and cnergy--and there is no
reason why either should be wasted in fruitess
warfare among ourselves. The question should
not be ''Does he belong 10 this or that wing or
clique ?" but all should be merged in the great
question as he an able and honest Wing willing
to do all for his country--who will labor for the
good of all, the rights of all. and who will be Just
to all?n
County Judges.
i