The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-12-29

are not IL IUNES Vi sss "'S'sN- -
paper OF the Importance OF q PRESIDENTS
Message. BY the crude observations OF
few partisan editors, who receiving Their
enc from the national organ Of their party,
scarcely do themselves the justice to think
upon the subject. With the exception OF
few old Hunkcrs, scarcely paper can be
found in our widespread Union, that does
no, unite in condemnation OF the Message
which President Pierce has recently placed
before Congress, for-excuse the sarcasm
of the remark--their guidance in national
affairs. lis notorious want OF sincerity ana
earnestness has laid it open to criticism ana
!, is receiving il from the candid press, Sc
yerely and Justly. Having made the above
remarks. We now subs,antiate them by quo
,ations from the leading papers Of the
Tnion.
The Philadelphia Balletin, an influential
Democratic paper says
II is weak imitation of Gibbon; the re-
semblance consisting merely in certain turns
ofexpression, without practice OF Giboons
witness of thought. Quite one third, II
not more, Of the words might be struck out,
without altering the sense. 4 Webster
would. indeed, have written out the entire
ideas in one fourth the space, that Is II
Webster could have possibly beaten out
IDEAS into such intellectual tintoil.
Next as to the matter. This is thought
enthusiastically diluted as We have said. In
: 49, D-a-slans h.a atpd
that, when he makes up his mind to speak
like man, he can think far more clearly
as we'll as express himself more terseiy.
Bnt in this message he has stndiousiy en-
deas ored to avoid committing himself. Like
Talltyrand, he seems to believe that IAN
nuare was made to conceal thought. tie
consequently drenches US with words. lie
balances affirmatives and negatives as deN-
,erously as Chinese Juggler poises straw
upon his nose He winks at the Comprom-
ise. and then winks in turn at the Seces-
sionists. He is everything to everybody
The New York Commercial, very candid
paper. says:
Its principal feature is swami of posi-
tirsaess.' and we may add that il is little
too rhetorical toward the close. The doc
ument gives no information and indicates
no settled principles of policy. II Is, how
ever, not without ability, perhaps we ought
rather to say adroitness, of which its skiiful
non- comittalism on the compromise question
Is an illustration.
The New York ErPress commends the
Message upon the whole, but complains OF
wan, of frankness, and charges the Presi-
dent with having changed his views on the
compromise measures.
The New York 1imss says:
The Message is not calculated to create
a sensation,-but rather to give satisfaction.
Its difficult TO find anything in il upon which
anv political party can take issue. II strikes
Us, indeed, as the least partisan Message
which has been sent to Congress for many
years This feature OF il furnishes addition
al evidence of the fact We have often noted,
that the lines Of division between political
parties are just at present not to be traced
fthe Federal Government had no patronage,
the Administration as things stand now,
would meet with little opposition. The
Message, upon all specific points. is exceed
ingly cautious and non-commit.al. In its
ceneralites, its leanings are decidedly TO
the restrictive, observative school of 1898.
The New York IriJuns says that though
tie style OF the Message might have been
that of Fourth of July orations, it is still
very fair, and will by no means discredit the
author With many of its recommends
ti0ns, the Tribune comedies, from Others it
dissents in toto, and also utters the uniyer-
sal complaint OF a want Of candor and frank
ness:
We wish he would say frankly whether
he is for the Pacific Railroad or against IT,
As it i, he talks about and about the ques-
ton, and seems disposed TO stop every prac-
ticable pass Of the Rocky Mountains with
@the Resolutions of 'es," and so prevent the
construction of thu great National Road
IF there is d crevice left through which that
Road may be run, we wish the President had
plainly indicated it.
Mr.. Pierce is too easily ntimldated By
his mistaken view OF 1.-THE immense respon-
siblity which the present magnitude Of the
republic, &c, &c, "devolves upon me-
1t does no such thing, even after the bad
grammar OF the sentence is corrected.
Many d poor man works harder to earn five
dollars per week, for the support Of his FAM
lily, than Mr.. Pierce need exert himself To
fulfil all the responsibility properly devolved
upon him By bis office. IF he will take care
TO do nothing else than his duty, he can do
that easily, even though .the wisdom and
patriotism Of the two Houses of Congress"
should stand as near zero as they generally
do.
The Washington correspondent Of the
New York Tribune says: THE Message
falls dead. A Ieaden dizziness has settled on
Congress-
The New York Courier and Enquirer is
severe, aud not far from the truth:
The Presidents Message is document
which MAJ repay pcrusal, but can hardly ex-
act comment. There is hardly enough to
crrct anything. As an exposition of State
policy it is nerveless and shadowy; as a
piece Of composition il is faulty in spots
and inelegaut throughout; az compendium
Of facts touching the great interests of the
countryl- i'll many respects scanty and I'M
satisfactory. It's chief Importance lies in
It's meagre figures; its chief at.ractveness
Id it, volatile defamation. Monotonous
annals are said 10 be the best proof of ma
tons prosperity; this document is sufficient
~ common place 70 assure the most dis
uus,tul.
The Chicago Tribune says:
So ftr as AN rYuressiou of oDiytinn as IN