The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-07-27
Brownson on Pierce.

relation to President Pierce and his ad-
ministration, from which we make the
following extracts
We had some years since. when he
was ill the Senate Of the United States,
the honor of General Pierces acquaint.
ance, and VIC have no need to say that
we had personally high regard for him.
His disposition was genial and affection
ate his manners frank cordial, and win
ming and we looked upon him as an
honest and straightforward politician, at
least as much so as in these times can be
reasonably expected Since then, he
has grown older as well as we, and he
has doubtless changed some, and We have
certainly changed much. Wewere then
in most respects ofhis political party and
on most political and economical qucs-
tions agreed with him. How far We agree
or do not agree with him now, we are
unable to say but certainly we shall
always think of him with affection, for
the sake Of old associations, and speak of
him with respect, for the sake of the
high Office he now fills.
We did not in the late election vote
against General Pierce, nor did we vote
for him. We did not like the party oppos
cd to him, and We lacked confidence in
the party of which he was the candidate.
Personally, and as journalist, we take
little part in politics, save so far as they
have bearing on tue great question Of
religion and morality There are mdi-
yiduals in both the Wing party and the
Democratic with whom we perfectly
svn2athizs, but the controlling body of
each party is infected with political doc
trincs which we regard as dnsound and
dangerous. There is no party in the
country which we find ourselves able to
approve. and whenever we vote we feel
that it is only choice between evils
Our great objection to the success OF
the Democratic party and the election of
General Pierce was the fear that it would
prove to be the success of Young Amer
lea and the Fillbustcrs These from
the moment of the nomination claimed
General Pierce as their candidate.
Throughout the whole Presidential can.
vass his election was advocated on the
ground of his being favorable to ''cxpan
sive democracy" to the acquisition Of
new territory from our neighbors, to tho
annexation of Cuba to the Union. and
to the encouragement of the party strug
Cling for liberty throughout the Ola
World, that is, the radicals, Red Rcpub
Leans, and assassins, everywhere con
spring against their legitimate sover
cigns SO argued in substance Douglas
Soule, Weller, Clemens, and the whole
, gang of inferior stump orators, unrobuk
, cd and uncontradicted by single Dem
ocratic journal, or prominent Democrat
, ic politician in the country. w,
therefore felt it our duty net to commit
!, ourselves in favor of General Pierce, l..
We should zee in the actual develop
mcnt of his policy justifable reasons 70
9 supporting his administration.
! AS We expected, General Pierce wa
elected by a small majority on the popu
! ular vote, and BY an overwhelming ma
jority in the electoral colleges. In du
time came his Inauguration and his In
augural Address, and our worst feari
were confirmed. The Inaugural Address
9 was a flimsv production, and hardly ros
j to the level of the Inaugural Address o
James X. Polk, and in doctrine and sol
q id sense fell even below that of Genera
= Harrison. 1t was declamatory, frothy
q and lacked dignity and condensation
. 1t was composed after the model of ;
! Fourth Of July Grafton, Astounding il
in unmeaning professions, and breathing
the spirit of demagogue of the frs
!. water. 1t proved very clearly to u
1 that the Fillibusters and Young Amer
a ca had got their President, and that'cx
pansivc democracy" was solomnly inaug
/ urated as the avowcd policy of the gov
! crnment. We tried to be pleased wit
it, but could not succeed Its avowe
policy, SO far as it avowed any peculia
/ policy, was on almost every point objec
> tionable, and precisely the policy gu
, only formidable commercial aud manu-
: featuring rival, VIC mean Great Britain
$ must wish us to pursue, and which II,
: American statesman DESTROYS of gaining
: the commercial and manufacturing pre-
!, eminence for his OVID country could for
, moment recommend. The essentia
! points of It's policy are free trade, in
suits to Spain and Mexico, and sympath,
with the European revoiutionists. Wha
else could Great Britain ask of us
Restrictive policy by our government
I would help ruin her, for we are her larg
' est customers, and she must have on
| cotton. Unfricndly relations between
, us and Spain, compelling her to seek pro
lection Of England against our threaten
, ed acquisition of Cuba, would enabl
I the English government to keep up it
. influence in Spanish affairs and tn,
dread of our aggressions Oh her territor,
f would keep Mexico alienated from us
and give to our great rival the monopol,
Of her trade. A far as we can under
r stand the subject, the Presidents pro
9 posed policy, unintentionally on his part
we doubt not, would make us the tool o
, England, and prolong our colonial Deepen
I dencc, which, Notwithstanding oul
boasts, we have never yet wholly shaker
/ off.
The principal appointments by the
{ President seem to las to confirm our fear,
as to his policy. The ablest members o.
his Cabinet are Expansive Democrats
and Annexationists. His first choice o
Minister for the important mission t.
Central America was the very objection
) able Mr Slidell, tie owner of the Pam
pero, which landed Lopez and his pratt
cal crew in Cuba. The Minister select