New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-03-16
WHO WILL BE HELD REsPOysIBLE

The sword is now the arbiter of EurOpes destlnes.
----------s----
WHO WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE
The first brunt of northern indignation aroused by
the proposed breach of solemn national compact
has naturally enough fallen upon the Senatorial god
fatber of the Kansas Nebraska bill, and upon those
weak corrupt ard treacherous members Of Congress
WHO have already voted for that nqutous measure, or
WHO are suspected OF intending to do So SO villain
ous BETRAYAL of trust 10 ubt deserves all the anger
Which il has aroused The total political anahilaton,
the social ouilaHry which awaits every northern mem
her of Congress who shall in any way aid the passage
of that Infamous bill, even by .kulking, will be piece
of Justice too evident for any to gainsay it. This
is one of those cases in which the North will be fully
justified in setting down as against her all those who
are not actively and openly for her nor do we imagine
that henceiorwsrd certificates of sickness will be apt
TO pass muster unless cOuntersguel by some regular
physician.
But the trampling back again into the dust out Of
which they ought never to have sprung, Of a few mis-
cradle political fuDguses will by no means satisfy the
public indignation. The character of these men is
well understood. 1t is perfectly we'll known that they
destitute of courage as they Of trustless
and that however ripe for mischief aud predipOsed to
fslsehOod and treachery they do not dare to crafty
these, their natural inclnatiOns, except when they
feel assured Of being strongly supported. Ordinarily
they borrow the language and assume the air. aud im
tate the conduct Of honest men Look for instance
at Senator Norris Of New Hampshire. From his talk
about Slavery few years ago who would have i'm
ogined tLa he would ever have voted to extend that
curse into Nebraska Such men. however, are harm
less enough except they have somebody to look TO who
will back them in their rascaity, and pay them for it,
The punishment of these poor tools and instruments
will by to alay the Indignation Justly
called into activity by broken faith and violated con-
pacts. The question will still be asked-Who were
their hackers BY whom were tbeseweak and timd
creatures stimulated and encouraged to this daring act
of trescherous wiekednessl
This question, indeed, has already been asked aud
not only asked but answered and that upon the for
this purpose) high authority of The Washington Union
newspaper, the acknowledged organ OF the national
Administration. President Pierce, it seems is the
man who has bribed and set on these political ruff
fans. He is the Duke Of Gloster that stimulates
these murderers by promising to pay them. The
policy of choosing little to be Presidents des
tined to no better in the case of Mr. Pierce
than in the other three in which il has recently
been tried God knows says famous English his
torian, d" few men have done more harm than those
who have been thought TO be able to do least and
there cannot be a greater error than to believe
man whom we see qualified with too mean parts to
| do good, to be therefore incapable of doing hurt
There is supply Of malice of pride, of industry
and even of folly in the weakest, when he sets his
heart upon it, that makes strong progress in mis-.
chief Both the Wings and the Democrats within
fourteen years past have twice tried the danger
experiment Of raising very little man to be Pres
ident. The Wings indeed may plead in excuse that
Tyler and Fillmore owed their elevation 20 unfortunate
accidents which when these men were placed in the
line Of promotion, no anticipated whereas Polk
and Pierce were deliberately selected by the Dem
ocTats to fill the Presidential chair Once in Office
however whether by accident or otherwise these four
little all TO have adopted precisely the same
rule Of action. Fully conscious it would appear, Of
being qualified with parts too mean to DO any good,
they TO have set their hearts upon seeing what
strange progress they would make in mischief To
Tyler we indebted for tie annexation of Texas.
/ Polk followed suit With the Mexican war. Fillmore
dscontinuirg the policy of bis distinguished prede.es-
sor, saddled upon the Compromises of 1850 and the
Fugitive Slave Act, and now Mr. Pierce, by all odds
the smallest man Of the four caps the climax by going
in for the repeal of the Missouri Proviso The other
three little Presidents succeeded indeed in striking
damaging blow at the country At the same time they
e1trgushed themselves and upset their psrty.
Whether the Kansas Nebraska bill passes or not the
result of Mr. Perces efforts cannot but be much the
same. This attempt at Reputation, even though it
fails must needs give a shock to the public conf.
derce in political compacts the effects of which will
long continue to be felt. Suppose it on the other hand
TO succeed it must at least sign the political death.
warrant OF President Pierce and his confidential sd
sisers, who will thus realize the fable of the do,
that dropped good piece of meat out Of hs mouth IN
clutehiDg at another piece which was merely in
agirary
The public of the North will look, however. some
what beyond President Pierce a1d President Pierees
Cabinet. Mr.. Pierce in happening to be President.
and in having the vast patronage Of his Office where
with to bribe members of Congress- aud in using that
patror age to stimulate to breach of faith and rros.
betrayal OF the rights Of the section of the country to