Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-11-15
A.. For the Standard.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF FRANK. PIERCE.

THE ADMINISTRATION OF FRANK. PIERCE.
Mr.. EDIroR: In the history of our Government
no Administration has encountered more violent op-
position, or whose acts have been more thoroughly
examined and scrutinized than that of Franklin
Pierce The Wing press, from Maine to Texas, ad-
vocating ali shades of public sentiment and deeply
imbued with all the miserable " isms" of the day,
have not only bitterly assailed President Pierce but
misrepresented him and the motives which have ac-
tuated him in the patriotic discharge of his official
duties No Democrat objects to fair unprejudiced,
and impartial examination of his acts and the SEN
tence they merit at the hands of the people, salts
fed OF the rectitude Of his intentions, and the JUS
tice they will receive at the bar of public opinion.
1t would, indeed, be preposterous to suppose that
any Administration directed by sublunary beings
could please everybody, should be free from the
commission of error, when the Divine hand has
created us all so imperfect and interviewer weakness
and fallibility with our very natures With due al
lowance for the imperfections OF our race, pre-
sent to ths.wosd the present Administration for its
wisdom, its patriotism, its nationality, its economy,
its American feeling its strict guardianship the
interests of the country, and the glorious ilustra-
ton of those principles purchased with blood and
treasure in the memorable struggle of 76. The just
and impartial historian when the narrow preju6ices
of the times are eradcated, and reason and justice
resume their throne, will record with his diamond
pen the services of our party, and bestow upon
Franklin Pierce the need Of undying praise.
If vituperaton, invective, and all the vulgar ep-
thetS which research can extract from dictionaries
the vile tongue of the demagogue and dcfamer
utter to be the criteria by which to judge the
Administration, then might trembe for it. 1t
came into power by the almost unanimous voice of
the people, with concealed principles, with no
unknown creed for its guide; and it has acted in
cordance with those principles and in harmony
with that faith Its policy before it came into ex
istcnce was clearly marked out in preceding Demo-
cratic Administrations, and q reflection upon the
present is also asperson upon those of the past.
If it be supposed that virulent language and noisy
andimpassioned defamation, supported by silly news
paper paragraphs can swerve the Administration and
the Republican party from its high purposes, the
people sadly err.
1t may be asked, what has the Administration
done? What should entitc it to the support Of the
American people? Has it not forfeited all respect
by its domestic and foreign policy? Such questions
when propounded for information arc answered
with pleasure. We wish to keep the whole country
enlightened in regard to governmental policy.
When interrogatories asked in n taunting man.
ner we refuse notice the fault finding genius from
whose contracted mind they emanate. 1t has never
been the object of the Democratic party to conceal
aught from the public gaze, but to act boldly and
openly. To answer the foregoing questions will
now be my purpose.
What has the Administration done? What should
enttle it to the support of the American people?
These the questions that present themselves for
consideration. 1t has certainly done much, and for
OOVlOuS reasons merits apprOOatlOn OF
1t came into power upon the broad platform of ma
tionaity and has warred against sectional influence,
sectional feeling and sectional animosities smbra-
cling the whole country in its patriotism. 1tispure-
influence re ps srs 5y
tit is high, elevated, and national in its tone.
Anti-Slavery feeling and the detesable objects of
abolitoniss are repudatcd by it, and the enforce
ment of solemn laws strictly enjoined upon the
Northern people. 1t has shown its devotion to the
Nf anil fho
and efficiency in executing the Fugitive Slave Law.
In towns where Abolitionism is rampant it has
cucd the property of our citizens from the violence
and madness of the mob and vndicated the sanctity
of the law, the very midst of anatcism. 1t is al
legged, men have been appointed to office of strong
Whatever may have been the antecedents of these
government employees, they acquiesced in the Bal
timorc PLATFORM thus approving the adjustment
measures of 1850, and pledsing themselves to op-
pose sectional agitation in all its various FORMS On
ly such have received the honors and emouments
of office. Thus the administration is purely nation
al-stricty watchful of the rights of the Statesen
forcing the laws OF the country and looking at har
mony and union as the sure preservers Of national
! prosperity and greatness.
Again: What has the Administration done? II
has pracced the StrcteSt economy Ill all its eXpen
dtures. 1t has refused to lavish and waste the pub
lie monies in works Of doubtful utility. 1t has op
posed an eXtravagant system of local improvements
1t has peremptorily refused squander millions o
dollars in upholding the log rolling system. 1t ha.
vetoed the River and Harbor Bill upon the grounds
of unconstutionality. Whilst it recognized in tina
| Bill many improvements of national character
| it recognized more of State and local character
Large sums of money were embraced in that bill
! for building customho extravagant scale
merely to adorn and beautfy cities, and increase th
value of property. President Pierce in no instance
hesitated to sign appropriations when the improve
ments to be made were national. The difference be
tween the two parties this subject is, the Democ
racy approve system of national improvements b,
the Federal Government and local improvements b,
the States, whilst the Whg party advocates boil
national and local by the United States Treasury
Here the difference is broad, and the wisdom ant
prudent economy of Democracy beautifully illus
trated.
What has the Administration done9 1t has mark
ed out for the country foreign policy, bold, dccid
ed, and patriotic. Ithas vindicated our rights upo
the very soil of despotic Europe. 1t has spoken t
foreign nations in language not to be misunderstood
and clearly defined the privileges of citizens il
every cline. 1t has done more-it has wreste
from the hands of despotism, q naturalzed citizen
and brought him under our own flag to these shore.
1t has vndicated the honor of our name, and tn
sacredness of our rights in Central America
follows the sea, the ocean, the rivers, and o.
land with its aegs of protection, securing to us per
sonal liberty and the invioability of privileges
1t will not permit any power however potent to dis
honor our flag, but wherever its folds float, or ii
stars beam, there is security and safety. No mon
arch dare infringe upon treaties, but every stpula
ton is to be observed. -.-.
What has the Administration done? Much, YER
much. 1t has vetoed the INDECENT Insane bill, thu
giving us an assurance that the public lands will
kept in the hands of the nation for their legitimat