The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-17


tion has built a firm platform for the opposition
The programme of the Cabinet is before US in
their acts, their appointments, their maniies-
toes, and their entire policy. What is that pro-
gramme? On what platform do they stand?
We know where the party stood during the
canvass of 1852. By whatever means, or with
whatever understanding, General Pierce was
nominated by the Baltimore Convention, no
one can mistake the ground on which he was
presented to the people and elected. The tone
OF The press, which was faithful index Of pub
lie sentiment, was as plain as MONDAY. He was
brought forward as the Compromise candidate,
and it was by the strength of the Union senti-
ment, and that only, that he triumphed over
General Scott, one Of the greatest captains and
noblest patriots this country ever produced.
The most obtuse mind could not fail to perceive
that he stood pledged to the support Of the
Compromise, and against free soilism and free
soilers.
Now that the first seal is opened and the
Presidents policy has begun to be developed,
the momentous inquiry is again suggested:
where does the administration party stand?
Not on the platform which served them during
the canvass, for that has been publicly repudi-
ated, and the Baltimore Convention, by the con-
fession Of its own leaders, is declared to have
been monstrous, outrageous, and mpudent
swindle on public sentiment. We must seek
them elsewhere. We find them admitting to
their arms traitors OF every dye, appointing free
solers to office, and attempting to subvert the
independence of the States by interfering in
their elections. We find them everywhere tax
ing part with the open foes Of the Union, and
singing p@ans over the defeats Of the fathers OF
the Compromise. We find one member violat-
ing courtesy and trampling on the indepen-
dence Of public officers, in order to secure
share ofCustom House spoils for the free sellers;
while his colleague is so anxious to strengthen
the Southern rights party in Mississippi that he
does not hesitate to brand the Massachusetts,
coalitions he himself originated-as
traitorous and disloyal. We find the whole
Cabinet directing their organ to revile the Com
promise; and increasing their favOrs to its edi-
tor in proportion to his faithlessness to the
country. Finally, We find the President and the
whole administration insisting on the promo
ton Of man like Forney to an Office of-honor
and trust.
This is the platform on which General Pierce
and his party now stand. They openly avow
that the Baltimore Convention was cheat and
juggle on the honest democracy Of the United
States 1t is impossible to continue to draw
line between the President and his Cabinet;
the former is now fully identified with the
juggle, and the administration is unit We
can only hope that they will stick together,
and, locked fast in each others embrace, will
be precipitated by public sentiment into the
obscurity Of private life. 1t is related of an old
Governor Of this State-honest Governor Yates
who was nominated and elected by juggle
similar to that which placed General Pierce
in the Presidential chair, though on
smaller scale, that on relinquishing his Office
he exclaimed-"I went into power as Governor
OF New York by the unanimous vote Of the
citizens and went out by an equally unani-
nous sentence" The President will do well to
treasure up the sentiment for future use.
His administration of the government of this
country has never been surpassed, if it has ever
been equaled in errors, impolicy, and folly.
His appointments, both foreign and domestic,
have been abominable; it is hard to say which
have been the worst The course pursued by
his Cabinet would have called powerful oppo.
sition into existence among the most apathetc
people in the world. The brilliant views and
promises of his Inaugural have dwindled down
o nothing in his message to Congress; no fea-
nrcs are common to both but schoolboy rhc-
'oric, and the bullying nourishes Of a country
awyer His government seems to care for no
hing but enjoying a monopoly of the spolls,
md perpetuating the power they arc abusing, by
he same means as they used to obtain ia
uccession Of tricks and juggles.
This is the fruit Of the Baltimore Conven-
ion. This is the legacy of that august body to
Which we entrusted the most important politi-
al duty than can devolve upon American citi-
ems. Is it not time, then, to trace conventions
0 their origin, and to inquire whether it would
ot be wise to throw them into the same lumber
DOM as the old caucuses?
Their whole history shows them to have
cen, in general, assemblies of bands OF conspr-
tors who met for the sole purpose of grasping
ne spoils and were, at all times, ready to cheat
he public II that were necessary to gain their
bjcct The Baltimore Convention succeeded.
cheated the people and the conspirators d.
ided the spells. II, instead of the democrats,
he wings had succeeded in carrying in their
anddatc, the result would have been the
amc. Why should we perpetuate such dis
raceful system? Would it not be far better to
se up together and abolish conventions, as,
twenty-five years ago, we abolished the caucus
ystem, than to continue to maintain a state of
Kings which fosters corruption among our pub.
c men, and plunges the country into all the
errors Of misgovernmcnt There are at this
lomcnt in the United States eight, ten, or if
zen distinguished men, all of whom have claims