Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-01-05
"COnfidemtiRl Fund"

Z -
ut is currently reported-and not denied in any
quarter, but rather admitted by the Washington
Un''on-that Senator SouLE intends proposing tc
place 0,OO0,0 900 in the hands of Gen. PIERCE, td
be used by him during the recess of Congress as
he may see fit. The excuse for this proposition
10 the precarious condition of our foreign relations
mere pretext for increasing the patronage and
power ofthe incoming Administration. During
all the difficulties which beset the administration
of Mr. FILLMORE no appropriation of the kind
was made or asked for; and Gen. PIERCE will
hardly encounter greater troubles, unless they
of his own seeking He should be left with the
same means and held to the same responsibility
If he acquits himself as well the country will be
satisfied.
''This proposition" says the Richmond Times,
''to strengthen Executive power in this country
would come most appropriately from MIR. Soule
That gentleman is French Democrat and the
principles of the political school in which he was
educated are now pretty well understood. They
are practically illustrated in the imperial govern
ment of Louis Napoleon-a government resting on
single individual. French Democracy is the
government of all through the medium of one man
The elect of the nation is held to be its represen-
tatve, and his acts are regarded as the acts fthe
people themselves. According to this theory the
stronger you make the Executive, the more Dem
ocratic you make the government. We are not al
all surprised, therefore, that the distinguished
| French Democrat from Louisiana should propose
| IN tho off q discretion
the new President.
owe are only surprised that he should limit
himself to that modest amount. 1t would be still!
more Democratic to place the whole treasury al
the disposal of Gen. Pierce, with full permission
to help himself ad lbitum. Where is the objec-
ton The people have testified their confidence
in the man, as the Washington Union argues in
its defence of Mr.. Soule's scheme He is their a
gent and his acts are their acts. If, therefore
the public money should be squandered by the
President in bribery and corruption, the people are
| the original authors of the deed, and they have
the undoubted right to do as they please with then
own money.
"This would be the reasoning of "a modern
French Democrat of the Louis Napoleon school
and we presume that similar ideas are floating il
the brain of Mr. Soule and his Democratic assoc
ates in Congress"
o. The New Hampshire Patriot, Gen. Pierce'S
home organ, is out in an article on removals from
office, which indicates that the President cleo
holds different doctrine from that once advocat,
by the Senator. This change of opinion was an
ticpated, but the bad taste and virulence of the
concluding paragraph of the article alluded to, was
not expected after all we have heard of the Gene
RAILS good qualities. 1t is sadly out of tune, says
the Baltimore .9naericar, Wi h the SORROW he pour
ed forth in his eulogium Ct Daniel Webster, wht
ayas the Chief miaister Of Government whose con
duct he 50 needlessly viliiiles.
After disposng of the office-holders, the Patriot
continues:
"But the new administration will have duty
to perform to the country in this respect, which
is of higher moment and lar more difficult to per
form. OF this, and Of the general subject Of re-
movas and appointments, we shall have some
thing more 10 say hereafter. We will only now
remark that the official corruption, negligence
and imbecility SO visible and prevalent during
the reign of our present rulers, must be reformed
and the authors hanished from the place they
have disgraced The people demand, the very
existence of the Government requires; that the
Augean stables shall be cleansed. Corruption,
limb cility and infdelity must give place to integ
rity, energy and fidelity, evennif the removal Of
every office holder in the country is required to
effect it. The people expect this; they elected
Gen. Pierce to accomplish it and we have every
reason to believe that it will not be his fault II
their reasonable expectations, in this behalf, are
not fully realized"