The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-25


from that of the leading articles of our phloso-
phic contemporary. The article on the Fry case
4 would serve as q text book.
The SOUTHERN DEMOCRATIC PRESS AND THE
| ApMINIsTRATIoN.-A very interesting quarrel
! is now raging among the more active democrat
ic organs Of Virginia. While the French mis-
sion hung suspended between earth and heaven,
by some invisible agency, like Mahomet's cof-
fin, the Richmond Enquirer was outspoken on
the free soil antecedents Of General Dix, and
promised to show him up to the world in the
darkest colors of the Buffalo platform. The
same journal, on some other questions, betrayed,
from time to time, symptoms of premeditated
mutiny; but, presto! as soon as the French
mission is turned over to Judge Mason, Of Vir-
ginia, the Enquirer is appeased. Next it
comes out strongly in support Of the Cabinet
spois coalition at Washington; aud now it has
gone step further, in assuming the post OF
whipper-in of all its party contemporaries who
are disposed to fall back upon first principles
in the very teeth of the Cabinet.
Thus the Enquirer takes the Norfolk .Neacs
roundly to task for uttering such democratic
| opinions as the following -
Unfortunately for the success of General Perces
| administration, he has in his Cabinet
graceless knages as ever figured in the political
| arena. They are not statesmen, but mean, in
| triguing politicians, whose lives have been spent
among the cesspools OF corruption and intrigue,
! and among whom Office ana patriotism are synony
| nous terms With such men TO mslead his upright
and patriotic judgment, 10 wooder great and awful
| blHnders have been committed 10 appointments to
| Office By the cunning influence Of such counsel the
unhOly and infamous coalition was formed by which
| truce to the warfare on free soilism struck;
and the political pirates and cutthroas Of New York
under the lead of Prince John, have become the re-
cpiens Of federal patronage while such patriots
Dickinson aud Bronson have been threatened with
accommodation by the Washington Union, the
selfcOnstituted guardian Of democracy.
This, from Virginia democratic organ, is
certainly plain language; it is no splitting of
hairs upon nice constitutional distractions, but
it is downright bloody rebellion The Enquirer
very naturally repudiates such independent
support" of the Cabinet, as nothing more than
81 the disguise in which a ranking and en-
venomed hostility conceals its treacherous pur-
pose." Look sharp. But, unfortunately, the
Richmond Cabinet organ is between two fires
The Examiner, sprightly democratic journal,
Of the same city, appears to be as sincerely dis
satisfied with the Cabinet, the kitchen Cabinet,
and their proceedings at Washington, as the
Norfolk deserter. Says the Examiner
The free soil or abolition fanaticism, which was so
sgnally rebuked by the election of Mr.. Pierce, is
taking encouragement and new life. 1t is rising
from the slough Of despond, and under the auspices
Of the Secretary Of the Treasury, is finding its way
into high places OF honor and trust It will not do
to say that DicBinsons party and Van Burens party
alike unworthy of trust and confidence upon the
subject Of slavery. 1t is unjust to the true friends Of
the South and the constitution is uasafe and in
furious to the South to inculcate such an opinion
through the medium Of the press.
Such examples OF plain democratic defiance
OF the Cabinet are not, however, characteristic
of the party press in the South. They are but
exceptions to the submissiveness, the laziness,
and the spells principles Of the great majority.
Look, for instance at the Richmond Enquirer,
and it's melancholy decline of late years to the
position Of a second hand fugleman Of the
kitchen Cabinet. Time was when it held the
place of" Warwick, the king maker" and gave
tone and shape to the movements of the stall
worth democracy throughout the Union.
Then there is the Charleston Mercury,
which for years past has occupied the high dis
tinction of fearless Independent, vigilant and
intelligent champion Of States rights and the
domestic institutions of the South against all
enemies and hostile coalitions, whether in the
South, or in the North or at Washington But
here too, the suspicion rises that the political
axiom of Horace Walpole is affirmed, T.. e.
THAT every man has his price" The Mercury,
Notwithstanding the free soil coalition decreed
by the Cabinet, falls back from the nltimatun OF
armed rebellion against the compromise mea-
sures into the arms of John Van Buren,. There
is perhaps, no danger to Southern institutions
from Northern fanatics and demagogues as
long as the old watch dogs of the South are
quiet, though they be silenced with marrow
bone from the Treasury.
But. Notwithstanding the selfcomplacency of
these old drowsy sentinels of State rights, the
dangers to Southern institutions are still the
same. There is no safety in consentng to a
democratic national coalition with the build
ers of the Buffalo platform-no safety Sin
the cohesive power of the public plumber"
And Mr.. Calhoun was right in the idea that the
only safety to the South was in something like
the balance, or at least an equilibrium, Of
power in the federal Senate. While, therefore,
we find such Southern champions as the Rich
mond Enquirer and Charleston Mercury
opening the gates OF Troy to the wooden horse
of the abolition Greeks, it is some relief to turn
to the earnest remonstrances of those younger
chieftains who are coming forward to meet the
enemy at the threshold.
This is but the beginning In the course OF
short time, all this effete party journalism
must give way to something more in keeping
with the spirit, the necessities, and the progress
of the age
Christmas Celebrations.
This day is given over 10 children, toys and merry
making Notwithstanding ia the Sabbath, the faces Of
the little proges Of St. Nicholas ling and merry
the gifts found In their stockings as II the annver