The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-02-03
EFFECTS or TIE ADMINISTRATION
UPON THE COUNTRY.
(FROM The NEW YORK HERALD

Ii was frequent remark OF Mr.. John c.
Calhoun, during the last lingering days of his
existence, rs he was moved from his bed to
his chair and from his chair to his bed, 10
his boarding house on Capital Hill, that al
though the compromise scheme then pend
ing before the Senate would pass, and might
he satisfactory to the country for year or
two, no peace, no lasting friendship, no per-
manent alliance between the North and
South, would be secured. And his reason
for this apprehension was, that the corrupt
ing influences of the spoils would - far de-
mOralize the political parties of the North
and the South that in their squabbcs for the
public plumber the government and the Uni
on would be finally torn to pieces. "Cor-
ruption and the spoils," said the diving states
man-lOoking into the future with the clear
vision of prophet" corruption and the
spoils will be the ruin of this country aud
one day its effects will be felt when The grass
shall grow in the deserted streets of New
| York"
The developments which we have made
public concerning the intrgues and fraudu-
lent devices through which General Pierce
| was elected, and his administration was
brought into power and which afford the re-
! quired solution to the freesoiI and secession
coalition in the Cabinet, in Congress, and in
the materials of the administration party
throughout the country, are almost enough
to impress the fearful prediction of Mr.. Cal.
houn upon the mind as the words of inspira-
ton. Looking to the past, and casting about
US with an eye to the future, we are startled
with the fear that the worst may be re.
allied even before this generation shall
have passed from the stage. The prodigious
accumulation Of the spoils, the spols, the
universal spirit of corruption which peryadcs
all parties and all clQucs at Washington raj
lying around the Cabinet, among the press
gang, among the lobby-forccs, and in Con.
gress, seem clearly TO Indicate that we are
entering upon u phase Of political action and
decentralization which will soon carry the
government and the country into the high
road TO dissolution and destruction.
Nebraska territorial bills have introduced
a new apple of dscord into the Senate
Mexican treaties have been made which can
only tend further TO involve and compicate
the trouble, while the disbursement of the
spos has ripcncd the spirit of discord in
both sections of the Union for the most
reckless and desperate agitation. Amidst
this gloomy prospect we look in vain for re.
lief to the administration, or to the heterogc-
nous elements supporting it in either house
ofCongress. They are banded together upon
the "cohcsive power of public plunder;;"
they form in the mass, including patent
agents, and all other drummers of the lobby,
Almighty and INSCRIPTIONS conspiracy for the
spols amounting to $500,00C,O00.
The compromise of the constitution, State
rights, the rights of the South, the princi-
pies which hold this Union together, are all
mconshine with this hungry army of spois-
men. A single test, fairly made between
principles and plumber III our New York
I election, has shown that in this State there
is still preponderance OF tie democratic
party in favor of principles. But they are
whistled down the wind by the Cabinet or
gan and by Congress If a New York ma
tional democrat rises in the House to plead
the supremacy of those principles which are
the only security of the South, the abolition
lists of the North and the spoils statesmen
of the South join in the hue and cry to hunt
him down. He is despised he is avoided,
he is cut adrilt as an enemy of the admins
tration, and the outside sposmen scan him
with scorn and derision. The tendency of
such state of things can only be to unlim.
tied corruption on all sides, and to all the
train Of evils and disasters which follow in
its wake. 10 ,oU make the uhole northern
free States, anti-Slarery in less than t,co Years.
The Paris correspondent of the ". Y.
Tribune, in describing a new improvement
for fasteDiDr rails To crossties irvontod h., ,