The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-11-24

/ Issue ITOm tuis omCc to-mOituW-
Public O1nccs Closed.
| We are authorized 10 announce that all the depart
mens and other public Offices of the government will be
closed on this Thanksgiving Day.
The Administration and Free soilism.
| The first charge made against President Pierce upon
the Of his cabinet was, that in the forma
lion OF his political family he had violated the great prn-
cipe OF conservatism which be was elevated to pow
er. The wing editors and politicians ring the changes
on this charge in every STATE in which elections
pending. furnished the only staple of political CAPITAL
and constituted the leading issue between wings and
democrats The wings became suddenly the ardent
and camorous friends OF the rights OF the South and la
bored with eloquent zeal 10 impress the popular mind
with the conviction that The Union endangered by
OF the nfdey Of the President and his cabinet
TO the principles on which the presidential election had
turned. These newlyconverted advocates Of southern
constitutional rights were shocked at the idea Of recog
nisng national democrats any whose antecedents had
been affected with sosn, forgetting in the midst OF
their born love OF the Union their efforts
to install into power the great High Priest of political
abolionsm by means OF the election 10 the pres-
dency Of candidate who had been VIGOROUSLY the
chosen champion OF this great apostle Of higher
/ law free-soilism. The history OF partisan contests
scarcely ever witnessed SO bare-iaced exhibition OF
political dupcily The results in the several successive
elections have been such inspire the advocates Of
democracy with increased confidence in the intelligence
and patriotism OF the voting masses. With one solitary
exception and that made the conspicuous from It's
very isolation, the wing ashailaDls of the administration
have taken nothing by their charges but defeat and DIS
asier
The rationale OF the several late democratic lriumphs
may be prohiably studied at this particular time The
general issues involved in all of the elections brough
into prominent condensation the soundness OF the policy
OF the administration in regard 10 the slavery agitation
The wings, with singular Inconsistency, insisted
that the administration ought 10 be opposed because il
was giving countenance and encouragement 10 free.
soilism in the appointment of officers. The democrats
me, the issue upoR the distinct ground iha, was neither
wise nor just 10 exclude from executive patronage
democrats who now honestly and faithfully ad-
herring the creed Of the party; that
based upon by gone differences could resu, in nothing
but The revival OF bygone discussions that The Bal,i-
Convention had authoritative example in re
cognsng present fidelity to the creed az the true est OF
orthodoxy and that Presiden, Perce's policy was no
more than the practical illustration OF The policy in
dica,ed in his nomination, and signay endorsed in
recognised by The disn,ere.ied Masses and the whx
charge OF Free coil tendency Ia the administration was
overwhelmingly repeled and rebuked The personal and
political character OF the President furnished to his
friends powerful argument against his assaants The
nomination had sought him in his retire meni-he bad
not sougb, the nomination. He was under no special
obligations TO one section OF the party another for
his All The former sections had been fused
IL. a - Il
process OF union and qualification he was elevated 10 the
presidency He was, therefore, in position to act with
disinerestcdness and impaality in the adoption of hi.
policy to patronage. His own nationality and orlho
doxy had stood the ordeal Of the severes scrutiny and
all OF all parties conceded him nm unimpeschable
record His personal integrity, his high toned honor his
wam-hearted impulses, secured an amount of popolar
confidence which few public men have enjoyed Agans,
an administration conducted by such helm.man, with
personal and political antecedens 80 unexceptonable
that partisan magny bad utterly failed to make an i'm
preston, il not to be expected that whg assault.
would be successful.
The result in every State except proved that the
same spr, which animated The convention at Baltimore
and the people in November. 1852, also animated the
democratic masses in 1853, and that the general policy
adopted and promulgated by the administration was cor
daily and rumphanly approved We have never main
tanned that this approval went the length Of endorsing
each individual appointment unexcep,onabIe No
such indscrimnaie endorsement ever expected or
commended for Ia the very nature OF things was im-
possible for the President avoid making some bad a.
pointmens The issue as to The individual ap.
poin,mens, but to the general policy which had gov
erned in the distribution OF the Offices That general
policy looked 10 the maintenance OF the union and
strength of The party by recognising all national
democrats who stood honestly and faithfully upon the
Baltimore creed. II was that policy which the democratic
ia every State except 80 cordially endorsed
They did not allow themselves to be drawn of by wbg
eamor upon questions to the fitness OF individuals for
office in few localities where bad appointments had been
made They expected some bad 10 creep into Office
ana hey expected them be eected they were
discovered They look to the motive Of the President in
'be execution OF h. policy they conhded largely in hi.
WISDOM his intelligence HI. devotion to democracy his
fidelity to the unon' his hrmness Of purpose and hi.