Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-03

wing party, or by one error Of the cabinet, into
opposition to the States rights President for
whom they rolled up a majority of fifteen thou
sand votes. Yet the administration may rest
satisfied that if the slavery agitation be re-
newed, it must show no sympathy with the free
sellers of New York, if it wishes to retain the
confidence of the democracy of Virginia. OPP
pose the administration when it does wrong
stand by it when it does r~ight--never falter in
your defence of Dickinson and the southland
the people will never desert the Sentinel. In
the good work before you, a hearty God speed
is sent you from the mountains of the
THE OLD DOMINION.
October n, 1853.
From the Richmond Examiner Of November /.
The Administration and the Democracy Of
the South.
The unaffected pleasure which the nomina-
ton and election Of Gen. Pierce gave to the
democratic party of the south is fresh in the
minds of the country. Their feeling of triumph
at party success was subordinate to that of
confidence in the faith and truth to the south
which were to characterize the course of the
administration in all matters connected with
the slavery agitation. The wing party itself
found consolation for their defeat in the certain
repose which they believed the country would
enjoy upon the subject of slavery, which, in the
opinion Of all men, was the paramount question
of the republic. The slavery question was the
controlling element in the deliberations of the
Baltimore convention, and more pre-eminently
still the controlling question in the presidential
election. General Scott was beaten only be-
cause he was vehemently suspected of a pro-
clivity towards the ~freesoil agitators of the non
slaveholding States. The leprous faint ofSew-
ardism drove the people from his support and
they turned gladly and confidently to his rival,
in whose election they foresaw a total extinc-
ton of that fanaticism which threatened the
disruption of the Union. This especial trust,
committed to Franklin Pierce, was the most
important ever confded to any man since JET.
ferson filed the presidential chair. The verdict
of guilty had been solemnly pronounced upon
agitators by an overwhelming voice of the
American people, and Mr.. Pierce was COM
missioned to do execution upon their body.
The people require this service at his hands.
1t is due to the country, to the Constitution,
and the integrity of the Union-and last of all,
it is due to those who placed Mr.. Pierce in
power. We must assert our candid belief that
Mr.. Pierce is disposed to fulfil this duty, to
perform this trust; although we must at the
same time as frankly say that the recent action
of the administration in the political affairs of
New York cannot be reconciled with the feel
ings and expectations which governed the coun,
try in electing him. The democratic party is
at oil times ready to support its administration
in the legitimate line of its action. The howls
of disappointed ofice-seekers are always de-
spised and condemned by the body of the peo-
Pile. The administration has, as it is entitled
to, the fullest latitude to follow fancies and ca
prices. They may confer their offices upon
| tho raally dasaryinn pr fhaca n ha 1tcoorI-
ed, as they often are, hunkeyism be preferred
to fitness, subserviency to capacity, and mean
ness to merit-yet the people will sustain an
administration which ~sustains their political
principles, and upholds the honor of the coun.
try. The people will never consent to become
participators in quarrels growing out of rivalries
or disappointments amongst the famished crew
which infest Washington in search Of appoint
ments-who in the season of hope sing hosan-
mas to the secretaries-and in the hour of dis
appointment curse them with the vehemence of
Billingsgate. These clamorers are unworthy
Of notice and far below contempt. If the New
York quarrel was only over the distribution of
office amongst such cattle, the country could
remain perfectly Indifferent to the whole SUBJ
ject. For some time we thought such to be
the nature of the quarrel, but the case has as.
sumed a much more serious aspect; besides
that, the administration has seen fit to descend
from the lofty and dignifed position of national
control to mingle in the local q~uarrels of a
single State.
The powers of the executive, which, if used
at all in party strife, should only be directed
against political adversaries striving to pull
down its authority, has been turned from their
legitimate purposes, and brought to bear with
crushing force upon men of our own party and
&c fha,. Eox-~ a-S E-a~ H. ILL
have been legitimate and proper if they were
exerted indiseriminately upon ~agitators for the
purpose of e~ffecting quiet and peace; but the
power has been used with a one-sided purpose
Of favoritism, and in such a manner as to in.
crease the clamor anddiscord an hundred fold.
Such a course of policy would at all times ar
rest attention; but under the peculiar circum.
stances attending this case it becomes one Of
startling interest. The power has been exer-
cised upon that wing Of the democratic party
which, led by d. s. Dickinson, bravely and eff
~fectively opposed Martin Van Buren, and the
traitorous gang who, in 1848, went to Buffalo
and identified themselves with the abolitionists
and freesoilers. Martin Van Buren, took then
a stand towards the south so despicable, his
conduct and that OF his faction was looked
on as so atrocious, that no earthly power of
publication can redeem him from infamy.-
This is the fixed sentiment of the country; and
the administration of Mr.. Pierce is in imminent
danger Of destroying the high character with
which it was heralded forth to the nation last
March-of falling precipitately into the depths
of odium to which Mr.. Van Buren, has sunk
by even the appearance of an alliance SO often.
sive. So long as the Dickinson men in N. Y.
could consent to keep up an association with
that faction for the purpose of its reformation,
the south could tolerate the administrations eff
fort in the same direction; but when the consti.
t%utional men of New York quit the faction, it is
high time for the administration to do so. tits
wholly impossible for it to redeem the Van Blu
rem faction-when given up by Dickinson and
his colleagues-from the neither depths Of po-
ltioal infamy to which the unanimous voice Of
the whole south had consigned them. The
south, In common with the democratic party of
the whole Union, was perfectly contented to
look upon the Baltimore platform, the united
support of the democratic nominees, and the
hnal victory Of 1852, as a general act of am
nagA.. II sss