Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-12-24
From the Lafayette (Louisana) Statesman
What has President Fillmore
done.

done.
| The official term of the present admnistra.
tion has nsaa&y cApired. The people will soon
be called upon dgain to choose chief execu
tive Of the nation. We must, therefore, in.
quire what has the leader of the party in pow
er done to signalize his executive career.
We can point with peculiar pride, if not with
exultation, to the results of democratic rule
Each democratic presidential term for the last
twelve years is marked by events which make
eras in our political history. The country
during Jacksons, Van Burcns, and Folks ad
mlnlstration, made extraordinary advancement
in wealth, power, and political consideration
amongst the nations of the world. The local
policy OF these administrations was also mark
ell by important measures, whose influence
will be felt in future years. Under Gen. Jack
son, banks ceased to be omnipotant, and aris-
tocratic corporations fell, to rise no more to
Cypress the people with their former tyrannic
power High protective tariffs disappeared,
and freedom of trade was ushered in through
the instrumentality of Van Buren, and Polk
The United States under democratic rule OBJ.
tanned new territory equal to all her former
national domain. and discovered the seat of
mineral wealth excelling in richness all the
world had before imagined. States were born
in day. The rude wilderness was organized
into prosperous Territories. The world was
startled by the blaze of our military achieve
ments. Despots ceased to sheer at our weak.
ness. and Kingdoms began to feel our power
We need not attempt to particularize what
democratic Presidents have done it is craven
in the history Of the country-it is written in
the hearts of our people.
But, We ask, what has President Fillmore
done? What are the ededs of the present whig
administration which will illustrate our annals?
IL is with modification that We answer, we can
point to no illustrious achievement; we can cite
nothing in the management of our foreign pol
icy-nothing in the guidance of our domestic
affairs-but what is the subject of chagrin rath-
er than pride II has quarrelled with the
French consul OH a matter of etiquette; it has
bullied Portugal for the settlement of pecuniary
claims, and then submitted many of them to
the decision of a hostile, bastard republican
a
trian empire, and uttered philippe against
French Interference between us and Spain; it
has tamely suffered Mexico to violate its faith,
confscate American property and rights and
with phlegmatic unconcern witnessed Ameri-
can citizens butchered by a colonial tyrant
and the American flag jnsulted by the guns Of
his snail paced steamers.
AT home, Providence only saved it from in :
voving the country in civil war. It has orr
glnatcd no measure to increase our prosperity
or add to our power. 1t cannot even claim to
have Gained the waves of sectional strife which
threatened to ingulf the nation in the vortex of
ruin. Democracy came to the rescue, and its
sire g arms were necessary to pilot it into
safety. Again it may be asked, what has the
administration done? 1t has done much-much
that it were better had never been done. When
Hungary wrestled for freedom with the ggan-
tic despots of Russia and Austria, it sent an
unofficial messenger to inquire into the stabl-
ity of the new republic sprnging up from the
ashes of thrones, instead of giving prompt en-
couragement TO nerve fainting hearts and save
desperate fortunes. When Cuba spurned the
despotism of decreipt, intolerant, bigoted Spain,
and cried for succor in this land of liberty and
hope, it issued prociamations denouncing those
who, with their lives in their hands, rushed to
rescue. They were rnassacred under the ban
of our republican President. They were deni-
ed the common rights of humanity by his Off
cial representative. Others drag out a living
death in foreign mines without executive re-
monstrance or interposition. Where is that
sympathy with the oppressed which even mon
arches of the Old World showed us in the
days of our birth struggle? Where is that jeal-
ousy of national honor which signalized the
ancient republics, aud even our early history?
Is the assertion II am an American" any pro-
lection even against the outrages Of the most
imbecile monarchy, the most impotent repub-
lie, or an island colossal government? Our
power is known and acknowledged, but our
passive endurance is no less notorious. Better,
far better, had it been for President Fillmore
had he made our national character respected,
and obtained redress for our national grievarl-
cies.
THE CENTRAL RAILROAD LOAN TO BE TAKEN BY
THE RoTHscHlLDs!-We are informed by a gen
tleman just from Chicago, that A. Hyatt Smith,
who arrived in Chicago Thursday last. brings
II L =