Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-09-30
From tie Freeman's journal Aur. 10

of General Pierce to the Presidenev forms ore
of the most remarkable episodes in the politi-
! cal history of the Union. The iSea that his
nomination by the Baltimore Convention was
the spontaneous act of the delegation, is. we be-
I heve one of the veriest hunbugs ever promuIga.
ted in this country. To a large number of the
leading men of that body, the selection of Gen
erai Pierce was, no doubt a foregone conclusion.
| that had been reached long before the mass of
the delegates had been named But so perfect
! ly was the network woven and so profoundly
was the secret kept by the men to whom it was
confded, that, when the mine was at length
y sprang upon the party, the old leaders were
completely paralyzed. In no country, and un-
der no circumstances, was there ever an orrani-
cation more perfect in all its parts than that
formed for the nomination and election of Gen.
Pierce to the Presidency. As piece of mere
| political intrigue, it challenges the subtlest
schemes of old Machiaveli himself
| The overthrow of the Democratic party in
1915 broke It into such minute fragments that
nothing short of refusion of the old material
could save it from crumbng to dust. But be-
fore scheme so extensive as that could be at
tempted, 1t became necessary to experiment
awhile upon the malgamating properties of the
constituent parts 1t is hardly necessary to say
that the experiment was precursor of COM
ptttt ShCctSS. y : ttifIV as the month OF March.
1852, we were. as it happened, shown letters
from prominet politicians in this State, (who
have since obtained their rewardl LAYING down
to some extent the programme of the new or
ganizaton. At that time we looked upon these
letters idle speculations, and cast Them aside,
as the contemplate efforts Of faction whom
we supposed was already sunk 70 the lowest
depths OF political oblivion. That clique was
the Van Buren, wing Of the Democratic party.
The leading point in the programme was TO
sound the ground and ascertain where the deep
est water lay. The progressive tendency of the
country pointed with unerring certainty tc The
great west, and to the claims of Messrs. Cass
and Douglas. But, first of all, it became nee
essary TO subject to the fiery ordeal certain in
dividuals who. up to that time, had never stood
the test OF white heat in the political fur
mace.
This delicate operation was confined to one
Captain ROBERT SC0OT, of Virginia, whose let
ters to the various Presidential candidates viii
be remembered, and who has since been rewar-
ded with the Rio Consulate. 1t is not little
singular that he drew the fire of every man ex-
cept one, whose very obscurity was at that time
the ambuscade behind which the battery was
entrenched. That man was GEN. PIERCE. To
Mr. GEORGE SAUNDERS was given the interest
ing task OF uProoting the snags in the western
waters, and OF killing the Little Giant" Our
readers are familiar with the manner in which
he did this, by the magic words, 'Old Fory
and Young America and they will perceive,
too, how well his conduct has been appreciated
by the git of the consulship to London. Sena-
tor Soule, Henry A. Wise of Virginia Mr.
| Breckenridge of Kentucky. and Gen. Davis of
Mississippi, were charged with the care of the
secessionists, the fllibusters and the South
generally, The first name has the mission to
Spain-the second Will, in all probability. be
the next speaker; the third is the confidential
man in the House Of Representatives; and the
fourth has a seat in the Cabinet.
The condition of New York was such that all
hope of Presidential candidate from this
State was prepOsterous; and in this first of the
"Sage Of Lindenwald," Mr.. Marcy acquiesced.
but upon the distinct understanding that he was
to be present at the distribution the "spoils."
No one, it is presumed, will assert that he has
nOtbeen. The claims Of PENNSYLVANIA were to
be adjusted on the basis of Mr.. Buchanan's hay-
ing clear chance for the nomination BY the
votes Of General Pieces friends. These he re-
ceived constantly, until his name was fnaly
withdrawn as hopeless. This proved by the
strenuous efforts of Mr.. Slidell in his behalf
and by the handsome compliment rendered
them both by the administration. Ohio. hay-
ing no candidate, was con6ded to the watchful
care of Mr.. Medary and to the eloquent plead
in@s of John Van Buren. The overwelmino
majority she gave illustrates the powerful infu-
ence to which she was subjected. The wires
in the eastern States were controlled bv Mr..
Cushing, and the manner in which he worked
them shows how well he deserves the Attorney
Generalshp.
We have thus far endevored to sketch brief
outline Of the system upon which was founded
one of the most powerful political schemes ever
attempted either in this or any other country
As piece Of intrigue, it is worthy of the palm
lest DAYS of old Mr.. Van Buren,. Such "sale"
of Presidential candidates was never heard tell
of before. 1t is easy now to be seen how the
election Of Gen. Pierce was accomplished, and
to account for the singular policy which has
thus far marked his administration. For our
own part, we believe that he has been unable to
act otherwise than he has done, and that he has
only redeemed the pledges that were the price
of his tiumpA.
From the very Offset of the Freesoil move
ment in this State, we have questioned the SIN
cerity of Mr. Van Buren's adherence to that
principle All his political anteeedents are in
opposition to IT, and the readiness with which he
endorsed the Baltimore platform offs is prima-
fdcie evidence of weakness of his faith in the
ism of Freeso But, independent of this, it
was SINE qua non with MS cOadl utOrS in the
game that he should recant. This, of course,
left Gen, Pierce free to express whatever senti-
ments he thought proper in his inaugural, and
viii explain further the apparent inconsisten-
cles of his policy. The struggle of the party
was for the spos, and it succeeded.
The design of Mr.. Van Buren was to change
he venue of the political trial from the west to
he east-and be accomplished it.
The foregoing affords matter for a careful
study to those not fully initiated into the policy
Of this Administration. If it suggested further
inquiry as to relations Martin Van Buren, now
holds with the powers that be, or as to why ne
las gone abroad at this particular time, or what
this has with the foreign pohcy OF
Gen. Pierces government, we can only, lor 10
Law. recommend those interested to wait patlen-
ly for the development of another chapter IN
his strange, eventful history"
An eminent modern writer beautifully says,
THE foundation Of domestic happiness is faith
n the virtue of woman-the foundation Of po-
Itical happiness is confidence in the integrity
f man--the foundation of all happiness, tenn
,oraI and eternal, is reliance on the goodness of
iod.