Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-01-06
- The Norfolk News, Democratic jour
nal, thus discourses of tho Administration
The Blunders Of the Administrator.


We arc dcmccrats Of the states right school.
by the honcst conviction Of our judgments.
and not by hereditary prejudice or the die
tatcs of a selfish ambition. We cxerted all
the energies and talents, with WHICH God has
gifted MS, to elevate to the Presidency the
present Chief Magistrate not for the hope OF
reward or the spois of office, but because he
profcsscd our faith, and we considered him
prominently sound and conservative upon
the reserved rights of the States. lie was no
sooner seated in the chair of state, than he
was bcsicged by the pack of wolfsh patriots,
who had snuifed the flesh-pots in the tainted
.aln.
The fctd odours of corruption that arIso
from the political sinks in Washington have
for some time kept at distance most gentle.
men of sensitive honor. The houndishncss
for Office, especially under this adninistn-
ton, has disgustcd and nauseated every high
minded gentleman and patriot in tie country.
And the first false step of the administration
originated and sprung from this source
General Pierce attempted to hold the present
colossal democratic party together, not 30
much by firm reliance upon the princi plea
OF the party, as by the 1" cohesive power of
the public plunder." Theattempt has failed,
rs it ever must and ever WILL and ought to do.
The party that hag to be held together by the
loaves and fishes, the sooner it il disbanded.
the better. In scramble for Office, the po-
litical scoundrel or bankrupt politician, ever
oycrreachcs the modest patriot and hgh-toned
gentleman.
Unfortunately for the success of General
Pierce s administration, he has in his Cabinet
some graceess knaves us ever figured in the
political arena. They are ne statesmen, but
mean, intriguing politicians whose lives have
been spent among the cess-pools Of corruption
and intrigue and among whom, Office and
patriotism, are anonymous terms. With such
men to mislead his upright and patriotic
judgment, no wonder great and awful blum
ders have been committed in appointment t.
olhce. BY the cunning influence Of such
counsel, the unholy and infamous coalition
vas formed, by which truce to the warfare
on frecsoilism was struck and the political
pirates and cut-throats Of New York under
the lead Of Prince John, have become the re-
clpients of Federal patronage, while such pat
riots as Dickinson and Bronson, have been
threatened with communication BY the
Washington Union, tho sellconstituted guar
dian of Democracy.
The Richmond Fnqui ire;, 9pQslc the truth,
the other day, when it bcwailed in sucn dole.
full and pathetic strains, the dissatisfaction,
that pervaded the masses of the Democracy in
Virginia, in regard to the Administrations
We repeat, tbs true and fearfully true. Never
have we known in this section of the State,
such disaEection in the Democratic ranks
But unlike this Enquirer, we can account for
it and assign the cause; not that they do not
love their party with the ardor Of first love.
not that they do not approve the Presidents
inaugural, not that they do not still venerate
the principles of SO and '99, enpnciated in
his late message, but because the adminstra-
tion have dared, in defiance Of the sacred prn
cplcs of our party, to interfere in State cleo
tions, to countenancc hireing press, to per-
sccute Northern champions of Southern
Rights, to appoint to Office knavcs instead of
patriots, "short-boys" instead of gentlemen,
and freosoiers instead of National Democrats;
and because they dread some secret and mys-
terious coalition engendering corruption in
the heart Of the government, and endangering
the principles of the Democratic yarty.
The Presidents anteccdents are contradic-
tory to all this. His peculiar position nee
essarily precludes an acquaintance with the
history Of all who seek favor at his hands, and
we cannot believe that he has unwittingiyac.
quicsccd in the insidous mach h;nations Of
some confidential Cataline about MIN.
The Virginia Democracy, true to the teach.
ings of the sold school, still sternly demand
government of principles and not men.