Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-05-13

memt and the general spirit of the people and
the times were favorable to new enterprises, ii
would be difficult to prevent the policy of pro-
greSSiUn in territorial expansion from running
into aggression. But time would develope the
real invention of the new administration; and
Mr.. b. would patiently wait that ordeal before
he would condemn its foreign policy.
President Pierce had been more explicit in
his lnaugeral upon the subject of the late Com
promise measures aud the Fugitive Slave Law.
The sentiments avowed by him, upon those
subjects were worthy Of all commeIdateSn.-
There were hat faSG other ects alltIssse5 by
Gen. Pierce ia his Inaugural--the Importance
of carefully observing the limitation of the Con
stituton in the exercise of all powers granted by
ii; and the principle which should govern him
in appointments to office, and in the distribution
Of patronage under his control Mr.. B. saw
nothing particularly Objectionable in the views
ofthe President, upon these two points The
Interpretation which might be given to them in
practice, might furnish grounds Of exception
From the practical application which had al
ready been made Of his doctrine upon the sub
ject Of the appointments to office, an augury
/ might be drawn of his future policy, and the
probable result of his administration in other
departments of the public service. Gen. Pierce,
had adopted the policy of surrounding himself
with the most discordant materials-the ex-
tremeS of the different factions which had COM
bined to raise him to power. This was haz-
ardOuS experiment 1t had failed as often as 1t
had been tried in the past history Of this and
every other government He had brought to-
gether, at his council board, the tree-soler of
the North and the ultraist of the South,-better
known in the party language of the day,
day. as the fre-eater of the SOuth,-and with
them a proportion of moderate or middle men,
equally opposed to both the others. Mr.. B. pre-
sented a ludicrous picture of the surprise and
embarrassment which must have attended the
first meeting of the heterogeneous elements of
the new Cabinet. He: was reminded of de-
scription which Mr. Burke had given in one of
his famous speeches, of a British Ministry SINH
larly composed. He amused the audience for
some time by the dialogue which he supposed
might have taken place between gentlemen so
strangely situated, upon being brought face to
face so unexpectedly, and in sketching the
speech which the President felt it his duty to
address them, at his first Cabinet Council. A
mong other things, said Mr. b. the President,
doubtless reminded them that he had brought
together, to aid him in the public adminstra-
ton. gentlemen who had long been estranged
from each other by mutual miSapprehension
to some extent of their respective principles
and sentiments, and he did not doubt that
more just appreciation of each others merits
would follow from their further Acquaintance
and Association as members Of his Cabinet.
After all, Mr.. Bell said, he must not be un-
d-=stzc4 vJss59afiilIiz1s 5iTe i,oiics OF Cseir
Pierce, in bringing into his Cabinet, or promo
ting to other public Offices or trusts, either the
freeSoiler of the North or the ire-eater Of the
10 hot b.,
ated by higher motive than to reward the lead
ers of the extreme factions which had united to
elevate him to the Presidency. He might hon
estly suppose that this was the best mode of
conciliating and composing sectional strife
that by promoting to office, and reposing trust
and confidence in the leaders of the extreme
and hitherto hostile factions of the North and
South, he would be able to win them and their
respective followers over to more moderate and
patriotic courses, and blend the dscordant ele-
ments of which the Democratic party has late
ly been composed into one sound and orthodox
faith-into one great Union-loving and Union
preserving party. If this was the motive of the
President, said Mr.. Bell he was entitled to his
respect, and the experiment would have his
prayers for Its success. But while he Mr.
Bell, could excuse-while he could be thus
charitable to the motives and policy Of Gen.
Pierce, in promoting free soilerS to places of
high public trust and inAuence,-the Demo
cratic Party in Tennessee, occupied position
which made it impossible that they eoald for
give, or extend equal indulgence to Gen.
Pierce. They were in a condition which de-
MED them the privilege of charitable con-
struction of Gen. Pierce's course. There were
many leaders Gf the Democracy in this State,
of high intelligence andability, for whom he Mr.
B entertained great respect, and for some of
whom he had sincere personal esteem-gen-
tlemen of proud and elevated character and
standing among their countrymen. Mr. b.
would not say that he commisserated their con-
diton. The sentiment he felt and would ex-
press was more respectful, and he must say
that he thought they were entitled to the deep
est sympathy from every generous hearted
Wing. They must neceSsarialiy be put to the
Severest trial in the struggle between their con-
sistency and self respect, and their allegiance
to their party, and to the administration of
Gen. Pierce. They were in this dilemma they
must either dsapprove his policy, or condemn
themselves. We have the democrtic party of
this State, in the Caudine Forks. We have
them hemed up in deiile from which there
is no escape. What were the facts which de-
fined their present position? Throughout the
SCNClC iiNstSS III leHHeSScc lDT Cldle OHiCeTS
and members of Congress in 1851, it cannot be
forgotten that the Democratic Party waged a
fierce and unsparing warfare against the
Wings for their alleged party connections with
free-soiers of the North. They were denoun-
ced as the allies of the Northern free-soilers.-
Some of the Democratic Journals and orators
went so far as to declare that the Wings of this
State were traitors to the South, for admitting
any party association and cooperation with
free-soilers, and, in sustaing an administration
which appointed them to Office. But that was
not all. In the late President Election the
Democratic Journals and orators, without ex-
ception, so far as he Mr.. B. knew pursued the
same course of bitter and unmeasured invec-
tive against the Wings. Of Tennessee, appeal
ing to every interest and prejudice by which it
was supposed the people might be reused and
excited against them, not because Gen. Scott
was believed to be unseund upon the sectional
. issue, but, because it was more than probable
that he would, if elected, elevate some of the
distinguished free-soilers, his supporters, to
places of trust and influence. This was more
than the patriotic Democracy of the State could
then endure. But, even Mr.. Fillmore, who with
bold and resolute determination, sustained the
compromise measures, and in doing so, felt it his
duty actually to remove Wing free-soiers, whom
he found in Office, thereby exposing himself to
to the resentment and relentness hatred of the
whole free-soil North; yet he could not escape
the reproaches and condemnation of the De-
mocracy Of Tennessee, He was unworthy Of