The daily union., 1852-08-18
The Issue before the People.

Since the whg party resorted to the policy OF taking
ts presidential candidates from among the generals OF the
regular army avowedy on the ground of mere military
availability, and without the preenee of any regard
to qualifications for the highest civil trusts il was TO be
expected that every form Of whg abuse n the executive
government should flourish with unprecedented power
And the fact has outrun the natural expectation
The true question, therefore, before the people is
shall these abuses in the public administration be perpeu-
ated by perpetuation OF whig rule'
Restricted in its operations and cramped in its schemes
as the whig policy has been for the past four years
by want Of power in Congress, there has been within
that period fortunately little vicious whg legislation for
the country to lament repair The democratic legsa
tive policy still stands substantially as Mr. Pok's ad.
mnisation left it That does so stand, and that the
country prospers under it in spite Of whg maadmnisra
ton, is commanding testimony to the wisdom OF the
principles on which it is based.
The character OF wbg rule must therefore be mainly
looked for in its regulation Of the public expenditures
and the conduct Of our foreign relations. Over these
two departments OF public affairs the administration for
the time being necessarily exercises controlling inhu.
ence.
In thus connexon, two facts stand out prominent
in the public eye, both of them without precedent The
first is, tha, friend OF the whig policy can point ou,
substantial benefit advantage in our relations with
foreign powers which the last four years have secured
us On the contrary, the record OF whg diplomacy du-
ring that period shows government continually de-
eaed and outgeneraled sometimes outraged and insult
ed-always the loser. The second fact is that during
the period, while the administration has failed to un.
derake great public enterprise for the public good
i has yet spent more money annually 10 carry on the gov
enmen in time OF profound peace, than MIR Polk's ad-
mnisraion spent yearly in the acquisition by war OF
our vast and incidentally valuable Mexican posses
sons
There have been four chief points in the American d.
plomacy OF the last four years They ae-the negoa-
tions in regard to Central America and in Mexico the
proceedings ofthe administration to Cuba the reported
reputation OF the rendered cesson Of the Sandwich
Islands; and the pending difficulty as to the fisheries
Simply this list OF public acts is sufficient con-
demnation OF them We hazard nothing in saving that in
single Of these has the public business been
managed 10 the public satisfaction. Every one of these
cases is iUnr Issue at this moment against the policy
Of the whig party; for it should always be remembered
that in all these matters the policy OF the administration
has been the mmemora policy Of the wings az party
The blunders have not been so much mistakes OF ind
vduas as on the contrary, errors necessarily resulting
from mistaken prtisan principles
The has been 10 great extent the same in the
fiscal administration OF the At the root Of
all the abuses we bave in this department lies the
fundamental wbig mistake Of loose construction OF the
constitutional powers Of the government and OF the stat
ues enacted to carry them out This s the root OF the
evil. II belongs 10 wing administration, Lavish and