Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-09-03
rHE NEXT CONGRESS-.

The Detroit Free Press holds the following Just
and appropriate language in relation to the state of
parties in the next Congress- and the responsibilities
which will devolve upon the Democratic party
Large majorities, as the Free Press observes, are
not always desirable in legislative bodies They
tend to create factions and divisons-they are not
easily welded, and besides they afford scope for the
workings of selfish and ambitious men. There is
but one way to ensure harmony and concentration
of strength far officers of the House concern
ed and that is, to make nominations and require
members to support them, and hold them to a rigid
accountability if they refuse to do So The Free
Press says:
'THE THrRTY-TH1RD CONGRESS- The democratic
majority in the next Congress will be large. The
Senate will be composed of SO democrats, 81 whigs
and free soers with three vacancies yet to be filed
To the House there already chosen 142 democrats
66 whgs and free sellers. Elections yet to be
held in four States whence the democratic majority
will be increased.
These certainly aCorking majorities -majorities
that give the democratic party the entire control of
the legislation of the country. 1t follows that the
country will hold the democratic party responsible
for every measure that may be adopted by Congress-
and for every failure to pass such laws the exigen-
cies of the public service and the wants of the peo-
pie demand. And is right that this should be so.
We hold to the doctrine of strict accountability of
political parties When the people repose confidence
in party, that party must at all times stand ready
good account, experience has demonstrated how
ready the people to hurl from power and trans
fer their confidence to other hands One of the chief
causes of the immense majority given to General
Pierce in the late contest the fact that the whig
administration had proven recreant to the trust re-
posed in it.
The public treasure was wasted upon partisan IA
vorites- pecuation and fraud pervaded every depart
ment of the public service-the executive govern
ment proved to be mbecile and careless of national
interests-the American abroad was sinking
into contempt and failed to command the respect
that the power of the country justly entities it to
among the nations of the earth 1t was to correct
snch abuses and shortcomings as these that Gen.
Pierce was elevated to power; and should the demo-
cratic party through its representatives in Congress
fail to the Just expectations of the people in
this regard-should not the promises made through
the democratic press during the presidential canvass
and in the inaugural address of President Pierce on
the 4th OF March last be faithfully fulfilled nothing
less can be expected than that at the end of four
years. the men and the party who have been guilty
of violating pledges and disappointing the popular
expectation will be discarded
A delicate trust rests with the administration 1t
is its duty so to frame all its that they
will thoroughly command the public appreciation. 1t
not though we should be sorry to pre-
dict that such would be the case-that ambitious and
aspiring men, members of either house, may become
fractous and that fraction may seek to ruffle the
smooth current of the democratic waters Large
ymaorties in Legislative bodies always de-
slrable they sometimes weaken rather than strength
en- a pOltlcal organization. We do not now serious
ly apprehend any difficulty of this sort, though it
cannot be anticipated that, among so many conflict
ing elements developed in the democratic party
of some of the States local discussions can be kept
entirely out of the democratic counses of the nation
al capital To greater less extent it must be
pected that sectional anmostes will be introduced
into congressional discussions.
But the success of the administration is very much
dependent upon its own action. Let the President
pursue the bold and fearless course of conduct
that has distinguished him thus far-let all the mea
seriousness the democratic will heartily ap-
prove-let him abide by the principles of the Balti
more platform, and by those enunciated in the inau
gura address-let him require that all public officers
shall honestly and faithfully discharge their duties
let his conduct of the foreign policy be such as
will make the moral power of the American Union
felt in every quarter of the habitabe globe in short
let the spirit OF American progress be infused into all
his recommendations and into all his acts, and his
administration cannot fail to succeed. Even though
the spirit of faction should its unseemly head in
Congress- though the democratic majority should
be divided upon some questions of national import
ance, yet so long the President pursues the
tenor of HIS way-so long as he performs duty
to his country-he can look with unbounded con-
hdence to THE PEOPLE for countenance and support.
The ensuing session of Congress, from the great
number of important questions that will be brought
before it. will be most interesting Casting
aside all misgivings in respect to party divisions
shall look to its action for results that will mark the
period eventful one in American history