Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-08-05

Is known as modern Democracy and Despotsm there
il only n single step. Only during the ''reign OF
terror" in the time OF Jackson is there to be found
any parallel to what have witnessed since the ins
auguraon Of the Pierce dynasty, in the way of Exc
cutive usurpation and aggression. "ioung Hickory,
seems emulous in this respect Of the laurels Of "Od
Hickory" and il he succeed not in concentrating the
whole power Of tho government into his hands, his
failure must be attributed to any lack Of will
effort his part, but to want Of requisite tact and
ability in conjunction with unpopularty, personal
and political, wholly without precedent in Presidential
history, excepting perhaps that furnished in the
of the notorious Captain Tyler.
Mr. Pierce conscious Of his unfitncss for the Pres
dental Office and conscious Of his inability to origi-
nate any measure series Of measures tending the
welfare Of the country his own personal advance
men has seemed all the time anxious signalize his
administration Of the government by petty acts Of
petty tyranny-by shameless and wanton abuse OF
the power vested in him and by INSCRIPTIONS
patton of those rights, and that authority which the
Constitution had wisely assigned to other branches
of the government. In making these charges, we
indulge in no empty and unmeaning assertions They
are sustained by an accumulation Of proofs which
rational and unprejudiced mild can reject. Demo-
Gratis themselves admit their truth and have cons
planned Of and denounced the aggressive spirit and
conduct Of the President with rs much bitterness ard
indignation as ourselves, any other Wing press in
the land. Their complaints and their denuncia,on Of
the President, therefore, this score is an ample
vindcaton of the justice Of ours and no mputation
Of undue partisan prejudice or hostility, which may
be laid at door by the confidential organs and
special defenders of the administration can avail to
blind the eyes Of the people the facts as they ac-
tually exist.
In recapitulating some Of the msdeeds, aggres,
sions, and abuse of power the part of the Pres-
dent, it is needless to to the hubbub which pre-
vailed throughout the country in consequence of his
presumptuous interference in the domestic affairs OF
of the States 1t is needless to refresh the read
ers recollection with his violent attempt coerce the
New York Hards into the ranks of the Softs by the
exercise Of Executive poverty threat, intimidation,
election from office, and other appliances which be-
trayed, not the magnanimity Of the man. or the
catholic spirit of the patriot, but only the tleness
of the demagogue and the malignity Of the deSpot-
Democrats themselves who had earnestly aided in
bis elevation TO the Presidency who reposed unloubt
ing confidence in his integrity and patriotism and
perhaps his wisdom, Also the first to start the
outcry against him. They saw, with surprise and
indignation, that the power they had placed in his
hands was being yiley abused-that il was un.
worthiy used to strike down and degrade the ruesl
and most faithful Of their number and that too he.
cause they were too proud to truckle to Executive
dictation, too independent to surrender the right
OF private Judgment and too honest to sacrifice po
itcal conviction for the sake of retaining office
They saw this, and they saw more-they saw that
with all his transcendenta professions of regard for
State rights, he was striking blow at their very
foundations by bringing the power of the Federal
government to bear upon State elections And seeing
tnese things, many OF them had the courage and pa
otism to sound the ALARM and openly express their
condemnation OF this extraordinary and dangerous
ABUSE oil power on the part Of the President OF their
own choice-bnt one unhappily for them and the
country, IN whom they had been grossly and outrage
ously deceived Their dissatisfaction and Indignation
At this tyrsnical exercise Of the one-man power or
the part OF Mr.. Pierce neither slight nor tram
sent-but the feelings Of opposition and hostility
engendered by his conduct then, exist now and are
likely to continue to exist until the expiration of bis
serm OF Office And even that will not suffice To
eace the bitter memoryof their wrongs, or to recon.
Gle them to those fragrant abuses of his official power
and patronage, of which he is acknowledged by all
parties to be guilty.
We had intended to dwell unon o,ber ;,s,onoos .,
the encroachments and usurpatons Of the ''one.man
power, as illustrated in the official conduct of the
PRESIDENT but we can only make brief ausion 10
one Of them at the present time First and foremost
men, is the late affair at San JUAN which was an act
oiwar undertaken by the President without shadow
Oh right, upon his own responsibility, and without
the knowledge or consent Of Congress-the only war
making power known to the constitution or laws
Ihat THIS was an unauthorized assumption of n grave
right on the part Of the President we are not alone
in believing. Even Democratic prints declare IL IN
be such, and boldly alege that the President has
been guilty Of an inexcusabe and criminal violation
OF the Constitution The Norfolk Ners for exannlo
an out and out Democratic paper takes the President
10 task, and after commenting at considerable length
upon the subject, says: "Now, the question and
grave one 1t is arises by whose authority were these
many houses knocked first into cooked hats and ,b
burntS IL by the Administration land tbis ,v. co,
not doubtO whore does il find authority ON ,yh;ct .,
sustain its actionY Is the President authorised n
make WarY Is II his option even when assisted bv
the combined sagacy of his counscllorsy And
morel especially is IL optional with him to burn and
destroy, when the property thus destroyed Is in the
iona hde possession Of American French and Eng
llsh subjects? Does tue Constitution confer upor
ms eIcelency the right which has in this case been
HrogatedY We humbly think not and il will he ,
matter OF some difficulty to reconcile the princilcs nj
tr'ct construction, which the Cabinet ayow. with
this gratuitous and arbitrpfy sumption of a powe
imperial in its scope aud exercise"
such is the language Of a Democratic print in re-
ference TO the conduct Of it's own President who ,c
cordng 10 IFS belief as well ours has been guilt,
Of the 'grdtHitom and aybitrory assumption of
JoNer IMPERIAL N ITS SCOPE ASH EXERCISE. Whcr
Democrats thus deplore and denounce the abuse o
the 'one-msn power" on the part Of Mr. Pierce. /
there not something certainly "rotten in Denmark p
We leave the answer to the people themselves.
Washington correspondent says Il amusing, TN
other day TO bear General Cas- quoting Mr.. Calhoun
favor Of Rivers aud llarbors Ito would have IL that NJ
calhoun Wss in favor Of spending money upon all hsrbor
Of safety, refuge. aud naval sAticns whether on tn
te' or inland rivers, and upon the Mississippi and II
'eu'arie' S-eaH" n, led to tie Hscy i.sic6 Goee
SHto ne Ocrsn, &c.