Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-07
DAILY NATIONAL ERA.



But the most remarkable portion Of this
semi-ofioiAl manifesto. is the following:
aIf Democratic member Of Congress is led
by his Judgment and his conscience to vote Tor
the bill - We hope all Democrats will be led
to do, and be returns to his constituents 70 en-
counter the clam0r and opposition OF Wings
and Abolitionists, together NTH disotseted men
Of his 0s0n payfN no sensible man--at least no
man who understands and appreciates the
character Of the Executive--will believe that
the President will allow such factf0us men TO
scieh public patronage to overthrow any man
Of home who has given TO the principles OF the
bill cordial and conscientious support"
This is bride, openly offered by the Presi.
dent for votes in favor Of the Bill-a reward,
held up in advance, to Treason. Of course, no
man ever betrays his constituents, except from
convictions of duty So, if Mr.. Shocks, under
stern sense Of duty, vote for tho Nebraska
Bill, in utter disregard Of the known will q
four-fifths of the voters Of his District Jet not
his heart be troubled; the President will take
care Of him; in the profits Of fat contract or
agency, or in the honors Of foreign mission,
he may snap his fingers at the dear People,
and teach his children that under Democra-
cy there is nothing SO unbecoming On inde-
pendent man, as conformity to the will Of his
constituents, nothing go sure Of reward as
sublime contempt Of the opinions Of the masses.
Hitherto, the employment Of Executive pat
ronage to seduoe the representatives Of the
People, has been well understood in Washing
ton, but it has nsver before been openly pro-
claimed
The accountability ofthe representative to his
constituents the independence Of Congress, q
delicate reserve on the part Of the Executive
Power in matters Of legislation abstinence
from any demonstration that could be con-
strued into bride or threat to influence the
deliberations Of the Federal Legislature, have
been favorite themes Of defamation.
The Administration that ventured to bring
it's patronage to bear upon members Of Con-
gress, to secure certain results, paid SO much
respect to Public Opinion as to operate by IN
seen methods, yelling the depravity Of the act
But Public Opinion Is lower toned than former
", or the Administration Of President Pierce
is more reckless than any Of its predecessors;
for, what they did coyertly, hiding meanwhile
their shame, it does openly, glorying in its
shame Guilty, they had the grace TO be con-
scious Of the fact, and to save their selErespect
they sought for pretexts to deceive themselves:
but this Administration, with lofty contempt
for the subterfuges Of halting, conscience
stricken Guilt openly, grossly interferes with
the deliberations Of Congress, and proclaimsin
the ears Of the world reward to every Dem
cratic member, who, BY voting for its favor
ite measure, shall disobey the viii, and incur
the displeasurc, Of his constituents!
Very well--the issue is made between the
President and the People; or, more correctly,
between the Slave Power, acting through the
President, and the People Of the North. The
question submitted to members Of Congress
from that section ID Will you obey the former
or the latter? Choose whom you will serve
Betrsy us, say the People, and we dismiss you
from public life, Serve me, says the President
and for Whatever evil they do you, will REQ
ompense you four-fold.
Need We say that this attitude, assumed BY
the Administration, is just what might have
been expectedi A Chief Executive that at
tempted BY It's patronage to shape the local
policy Of its Party in New York and Massa-
chusetts, contributing in one case to an ire
trievable disruption of party organization, and
in the other, not only to throwing the State
into the hands Of the Wings, but to the defeat
of thoroughly Democratic reform in both
cases grossly violating the doctrine of State
Rights, and illustrating the worst vices Of what
is stigmatised by Democrats as Federalism, acts
in perfect character when it attempts to sub
vert the Independence Of the law-making power
Of the Union.