Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-03-04
THE FOURTH OF MARCH.

THE FOURTH OF MARCH.
To-day by the silent operation of the coDssi-
tuition and laws of our land, the sceptre of Execu-
tive power is transferred from the hands OF Mil
lard Fillmore to those of Franklin Pierce. With.
out murrhur and without a struggle. the chief
ruler of an Empire more extensive than that
which Cesar won at Pharsalia or Napoleon
lost at Waterloo, calmly dvests himself of the
robes of office and gives place to his chosen sue
The latter comes to take possession of
his capital, not clad in the panopy of war nor
backed by armed men, but in the simple guise OF
private citizen, armed only with the moral pow
er of public opinion, and bearing along with him
neither the symbols nor the substance of physical
force to assert his claim. May it ever be thus
Far distant be the day when an American Presi-
dent shall refuse to lay down the emblems of his
power at the bidding of the people, and when
rival cheftains shall play at sword-feuce for the
privilege of trading on the necks of this nation.
Mr.. Fillmore retires from the high and respon-
sible position which he has occupied for the last
three years and hall in the enjoyment of the
undminished respect and confidence of the poll
tical party with which heis identified. With the
exception of faction in his own State, to which
he had rendered himself obnoxious prior to his
elevation to the Presidency. the whole Wing
party of the Union cheerfully and gratefully &C
cords to the retiring Executive, the tribute of
approving judgment on his official career. When
we consider the popularity of Mr.. Filmore's
position, he having been raised to the Chief
Magistracy by operation of law. and not by
direct vote of the people, and bear in mind the
great number of difficult and embarrassing ques-
tiors both of domestic and foreign policy, with
which it has been his lot to deal during his Presi
dental service we must admit it to be no slight
achievement to have commanded he has done
every important question the steady and conss-
tent support of his own political friends Though
another distinguished Wing was preferred to
Mr.. Fillmore as the candidate of the party in
$50, yet the convention which made the nomina-
ton explicitly endorsed the policy of the acting
President as constituting the true Wing platform.
Unshaken loyalty to Wing principles has from
first to last characterised Mr.. Fillmore's conduct
in the administration of the Government.
In this respect his official career is in strong
contrast with that of another distinguished ind-
vidual who was elevated to the Vice Presidency
by Wing votes and became President by prov
idential dispensaton. The Wing party was not
quite as fortunate in John Tyler it has been in
Mr. Fillmore, and we have reason to be unfeignedly
thankful to the Wing Convention Of 1s4s which
gave US a mau whom faction could not intimidate
into betrayal of his trust nor fattery seduce
from his allegiance to the cause of Wing princi-
Piles.
Mr.. Fillmore has of course been exposed to
much abuse and detraction at the hands of por-
tion of his political adversaries. But he has the
consolation to know. if such circumstance
is calculated to afford him any qualification,
that several of the most distinguished cham
pions of the Democratic party have pub
licly declared their approval of his policy on
of the most important questions that
have engaged the attention of his administration.
For ourselves. however, we attach but little con-
sequence to Iaudations emanating from that
1t is not to be expected that Wing President
who discharges his duty to his own party, will
often become the subject of Democratic eulogies.
OF the new powers that about to assume
direction of public affairs at Washington we
shall have aught to say at present. We are
content to await the official programme of the
administration and the inaugural address OF its
chief before hazarding any speculations as to the
consequences that are to follow the political
change which this day will witness