The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-14

FRANKLIN PIERCE

chosen BY the electoral colleges
IN his response that body previous 10 his nomination
and more especially in his inaugural address he laid down
certain principles on which he pledged himself to conduct
his Administration
He declared his adhesion to the Compromise and the
great principle of nonneryention which il is based.
He declared his intention 10 conduct his administration
an the aeernal principles Of right and justice"
He declared his adhesion TO strict construction of the
constitution and consequently the great democratic creed
Of State rights
He pledged himself 10 adherence the Washington
pocy Of nonniervenuon in the affairs Of Europe the
protection Of the rights of his ielowczens wherever
saed 10 strict observance of the rights of neghboring
nations; and at the time he declared that long
h United States performed their duties and fulfilled their
obligations other nations .they had right to expect
and would under all circumstances require prompt recpro
city"
On these principles he based his foreign policy In ref
erepce to his domestic policy, he pledged himself
economical administration Of the government at the
time distinctly intmating determination to call all those
dnauents whether private citizens or public officers who
should unlawully appropriate the public funds to their
own purposes commit any species OF fraud ON the treas
ury 10 strict In speaking of appointments to
Office he said: @They the people, require at my hands
diligence integrity and capacity wherever there duties
10 nerfrm Without these qualities in public servants
more stringent laws for the prevention or punishment OF
fraud will be vain with them they will be unnecessary
Such is briefly the substance of the pledges made to the
people the inaugural of President Pierce Has he vo-
lated any of these pledges has he redeemed them when
ever the occasion presented sef2 Has he violated the
Compromise of 1850? Has he violated any of the ecr-
nal principles of right and justice in the conduct of the
government towards foreign nations, or attempted to
stretch the constitution beyond either its letter spirit by
construction Has he any OCCASION departed from the
Washingonan principle OF non-nterventon? Has he not
fully acted up his declaration that long the United
States fulfilled their duties TO other nations they had
right to expect and would under all circumstances re-
aue prompt recprocty?' Has he not fully sustained
Captain ngraham in indicating the rights of American
citzens7 The appeal may be confidently made to the
brief history of his administration Whenever the occasion
presented itself he has redeemed his pledge He has
tanned the great fundamental principle of the Compromise
be has held out protection to citizens whenever they
are Justly entitled to it he has refraned from all iner
in the politics OF Europe the internal affairs of for
egn powers and thus far acted the cardinal principle
Of just reciprocity among all nations Finally he has
prosecuted and brought to Judgment the principal in one
Of the most stupendous frauds perpetrated gov
ernmen and il is earnestly hoped will eventually succeed
in exposing and furnishing the aders and abeors
through whose fundamentally alone the fraud could have
been consumnated.
With regard to economical administration of govern
men which ought to be cardinal principle the period
for redeeming this pledge has arrived but is fast APP
preaching When that accumulation of projects for
dissipatng the public lands and public revenues shall
before him. and the option of giving or Withholding
his assent presented shall then see what stuff he is
made Of and whether he is staff from the Old Hickory
tree neither know nor profess TO know what course he
will pursue whether be viii yield the torrent of prod-
gaty which every day acquiring additional force
or arrest its course and appeal to the people justify him.
remains to be seen am no propheti but venture to
Aha -
vince the people of the United States that there are other
Presidents besides Andrew jackson on whose 6rmness and
virtue they may take refuge from legislative extravaganza
viii not give 1t harsher name because have too much
respect for the constituted authorities of my country TO
employ even the language Of truth in characteznp their
proceedings.
Thus stands the President before his constituents the
people Of the United States and thus has he stood since
bis inauguration Yet scarcely had he assumed the excr-
e OF his functions and before opportunity offered for
The performance of single act by which his pledges and
Professions his foreign and domestic policy, could be
fairly tested in any single point or from which either
could be inferred this gentleman assaed with show
poisoned arrows, not from his enemies but his pro
tssed friends, The who few brief months before
bad been elevated to the highest station in the republic
with an unanmity only second to Washington all at once
became the object OF unmeasured and unreasonable obo
guy with the very men who had given him their support
few months before They appear to have assisted in put
ting him up only for the pleasure Of pulling him down
children do houses Of cards.
And what was the pretext causeI care not by what
namo il Is caed-of this sudden and extraordinary fin
nap which would do credit to jumping sturgeon or q
veteran trading Politician Simply the appointment Of
one man TO Office and the disappointment Of another This
was the spark that set the brushheapon FIRE and ocesoned
such furious cracking. As frebrand smokes most
when out o. the chimney, 50 is patriot the most noisy
when excluded from office Without undertaking 70 in
vesgae the claims Of the candidates for the high station
alluded to- will take leave observe tina: see no reason
why The great democratic party SHOULD be Frustrated at the
loot Of It's adversary because any single man LET him lao
VINO nc wi has been disappointed in obtaining situa-
ton
The second great ransgression Of the President was that
dsplacng public officer partly on the ground Of hay.
ing employed his extensive patronage TO the prejudice
m administration and partly for want Of due respect for
zoe government by which he appointed II such was
ac-and with regard TO the latter charge there is nc
uouot from his published etiers-in my opinion th. prcs
sht wac fully justified in suporscdng him. although un
qashonaby OF eminent talents and great respecta
"y cannot assent to the theory that public officer
uoua he at perfect liberty TO employ that patronage which
nerves rom the pleasure of Chief Magistrate to the
purpose Of undermining his administration still less thai
nsuhed in throwing the gauntlet to his superors in
Ve y ne wishes to do either the other he should
NV accept Office and thus preserve his independence Re
Pec' and proper degree Of subordinaon are quite as
essential 70 civil in military organization and no
government can maintain harmonious cooperation Of all
functions without respectful Difference on the part Of
o whose duty to obey towards those whose province
ueet Tho citizens OF the United States are all free
" '"uf private capacity, but tho officers Of government