Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-08-18
DEFERRED ARTICLES.
Brownson on Pierce.

The July number of Brownsons Quarterly
Review has plan spoken article 10 relation to
President Pierce and his administration, from
which we make the following extracts:
We had some years since, when he was IN
the Senate Of the United States, the honor of
General Pierce's acquaintance, and we have no
need ~ say that we had personally high re-
gard for him. lis disposition genial and
afecuonate; his manners irsnk, cordial, and WIN
ning; and we look upon han an honest and
straightforward politician, at least as much so as
IN these times can be reasonably expected.
Since then, he has grown older well we,
and he has doubtless changed some, and we have
certainly changed much. We were then IN
most respects OF his political party and on most
political and economical questions agreed with
Alm. How we agree or do not agree with him
now, we are unable TO say; but certainly we
shall always think of hun with affection, Tor the
sake OF old associations, and speak OF hun with
respect, for the sake OF the high office be now
fills
We did not in the late election vote against
General Pierce, nor did we vote Tor him. We
DAD not like the party opposed to him. and we
lacked confidence IN the party of which he was
the candidate.
Our great objection to the success of the
Democratic party aud the election OF General
Pierce was The fear that II would prove 10 be the
success OF lonng America and the FllMbuslers.
These from the moment OF the nomination clant.-
ed General Pierce as their candidate. Through
out the whole Presidential canvass ms election
was advocated on the ground OF las beng favor
a5le 10 expansive democracy, 10 the acquisition
Of new territory from our neighho & TO the an.
nexa ion Of Cuba 10 the Union, aud TO the en-
couragement OF the party struggling for liberty
throughout the Old W ord, that IS, the radicals
Red Republicans, and assasslns, everywhere
consplrng against their legitimate soyerelpns
So argued IN substance Douglas, Soule, Weller
Clemens, and the whole gang OF inferior stump
orators unrebuked aad uncontradlcled by a
single Democratic journal, prominent Demo
cratic politician III the counIy. We therefore
felt It our duty not TO commit ourselves IN favor
Of General Pierce, ull we should see III the act
ual development of his policy lustihable reasons
tor supporting hls administration
As we expected, general Pierce was elected
by small majority on the popular vote, and
by an overwhelming majority IN the electoral
colleges. In due time came his Inauguration
and hls Inaugural Address, and our worst fears
we're confirmed. The Inaugural Address was
fimsy production, and hardly rose TO the level OF
the Inaugural Address OF james X. Polk and in
doctrine ana solid sense fell even below that OF
General Harrison. 1t was declamatory, irothy
and lacSed dignity and condensatiOn.-lt was
composed after the model OF d Fourth Of July
Grafton, Astounding IN unmeanng professions
and breathing the spirit OF demagogue of the
first water. Il proved very clearly 10 u that the
Flllbusters and Young America had got their
President and that expansive democracy WAS
soemnly inaugurated the ayowed policy of
the government We tried TO be pleased with
IT. but could not succeed. Its avowed policy,
50 far as II ayowed any peculiar policy, was on
almost every point objectionable, and precisely
the policy our only formidable commercial aud
manufacturing rival, we mean Great britain,
must wish US To pursue, and which no American
statesman DESTROYS OF gaining the commercial
and manufacturing prominence for his own
country could for moment recommend. The
essential points OF It's policy are free trade, in
suits TO Spain and Mexico, and sympathy with
the European revolutonists. What else could
Great Britain ask of US ? restrictive policy
by our government would help ruin her, for we
are her largest customers, and she must have
our cotton. Uniriendly relations between US
and Spain, compelling her to seek protection of
England against our threatened acquisition Of
Cuba, would enable the English government to
keep Up It's influence in Spanish affairs and the
dread OF our aggression on her territory would
keep Mexico aIenated from u.s. and give 10 our
great rival the monopoly Of her trade. As far
as we can understand the subject, the Presi
dents proposed policy, unintentonally on his
part, we doubt not, would make us the tool of
England. and prolong our colonial dependence,
which, notwithstanding our boasts, We have
never yet wholly shakenotf.
The principal appointments by the President
seem 10 US 10 confirm our fears 10 his policy.
The abIest members of his Cabinet arc Expan-
slve Democrats, aud Annexationists His first
choice Of Minister for the important mission to
Central America was the very objectionable Mr..
Sldell, the owner Of the Pampefo, which landed
Lopez and his praticai crew in Cuba. The
Minister selected for the very delicate Spanish
mission is Pierre Soule, radical, revolution
list banshed from France for his revolutionary
practices, the confdant of the American Fill
busters aud the leaders Of the revolutionary par
,,yn both Spain and Cuba, and who seems to
nave been selected solely on the ground OF his
peculiar fitness to pick quarrel with the Span
lsn government, and to gain MS pretext for
selzlng and holding possession of the Queen Of
uie Antilles. Even in domestic matters, where
we had no dlstrust of him, his appointments on
y excite our apprehensIons. Ills Cabinet con-
alhs at least one Woody head, and complaints
are heard that to have been an active Free SOIL
democrat Is no bar to executive favor"