The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-11-24


sonous and deliterious exhalations rising
from slough of tagnant putrefaction
and death, stroll through the country,
from one end of it to the other, armed
with slung-shot, bowieknives, brickbats
and bludgeons, attempt TO overawe and
control the political conventions of the
people, infamize the community, and
bring down the morals Of our citizens
to the low dead level Of profanity and
drunkenness requisite now in Wash
ington to conform TO the fashionable
Standard in vogue at the White House.
Had Gen. Pierce sustained himself and
his own administration, and had he ad-
ninistered the government in accor-
dance with his inaugural, he would not
now have 10 complain, that those who
contributed the extent of their ability
-as claim to have done, myseIf-to
place him in the high position which
he SO imperfectly adorns, have assumed
ar attitude of open hostility to his ad-
mnistration. His administration then
would have sustained ITSELF as Gen.
Jackson's did and millions of intelli-
gent American citizens, who now look
upon him and his administration with
loathing and contempt, would have
rallied around his standard and sustain
ed him gloriously through every emer-
gency, and rejoiced at his success. But
after his manifested treachery towards
the national democracy throughout the
Unien, and his persistent, though futile,
attempts 10 abolitionize the democratic
party, and conform its action to the
principles laid down in the Buffalo plat
form; while protesting, himself, to
stand on that of Baltimore, which his
fIeesoI friends and short-boy awit-
nessesn have spit upon, both Gen. Pierce
and his administration are likely to 90
down to posterity under the Just con-
tempt and scorn of all who entertain a
decent regard for common honesty and
fair dealing. Wings were always op-
posed TO freesoil fillibusteroes and barn
burner bulIies, and so were the nation
al democrats; hence ii is that Gen.
Pierce having sold out, caved in and
turned freesoiIer, now of necessity.
owing 10 his change of principles and
position, finds both wings and democrats
in direct antagonism and in open hos
tility to the new political attitude and
character he has unfortunately assumed.
However unpleasant this new attitude
os hostility to the democracy. which
Gen. Pierce has assumed towards it,
since his election to the presidency,
may be to his feelings. the seductive
height of his position will hardly afford
sufficient attraction TO carry the nation
al democratic party over TO him and
his freesoil friends; therefore, should
he desire 10 change the posture of af-
fairs so as to bring his administration
out of a hostile attitude towards those
who are now, and always have been,
in full communion with the national
democracy, his course is perfectly clear
before him: he has only to come out
from the freesoil party, and penitently
return TO that from which he has de-
serted, and proved himself recreant to
its time honored. principles, by en-
bracing those of political infdeIs and
bowieknife assassins. 5 There has been
no desertion, on the part of the ma
tional democracy, of the principles on
which Gen. Pierce declared his admin
istration to be founded, on taking
charge of the government. The only
deserter ia the camp is the General
himself, who, instead Of being the hon.
ored and acknowledged leader of a
great, patriotic and powerful party, is
now only the nominal head of a cabal
"a sort of Punch and Judy conductor
of freesoil performances, with wire
in his back, by which he is twitched
backwards and forwards, and made to
kick up of his heels here and dance
there, TO just such kind of music as the
organ-grinders of his cabinet take a
fancy TO sing in his deluded ears. 1t
is at any time a dangerous experiment
TO desert friends and undertake to buy
ones enemies; but at Gen. PleTce's
time of life, with fixed social habits SO
Objectionable and pernicious as his, it
cannot prove otherwise than every way
disastrous and fatal to him. This ca
lamity to Gen. Pierce and his admins
tration was early foreseen TO be the in
evitable result of his insane conduct,
and he was abundantly admonished Of
his danger; but he has chosen of his
own free will and yolition to take live
Goals into his bosom and handle pitch,
and he must expect to get burned and
soiled by the experiment. While the
true friends of Gen. Pierce look with
sorrow on his downward course and
present position, they have for them
selves, their families, and their country,
high responsibilities and important d.
ties to perform, which preclude the pos
sibility of their indulging the slightest
sympathy with his reprehensible con.
duct, or with that of the freesoil COM
panions he has chosen to accompany
him along his inglorious Presidential
career.
We of the North, after fighting glo-
riously under the lead of the gallant
and intrepid Dickinson, the great BAT
tie of the constitutional compromises,
on which rest the stability of the Union,
in favor of the State rights of the South
and their peculiar domestic institutions,
will not now snpinely sit down and bow