The south-western., 1854-09-13
THE PIERCE 4 ADmIHIsTRATIoN.-E .-Entering up

$ most favorable circumstances, the Pierce ad
ministraton has done literally nothing, but l.
disappoint both its friends and its enemics.-
: The former expected an unusually high-tonct
national policy, and the latter looked for vigor
| if it had little hopes Of wisdom in its measures
! The one expected the acquisition of Cuba, ant
d bold defence of American rights abroad; th'
} other looked for acquisition of territory,
change in domestic policy, and a bold if nc
defiant tone in foreign negotiations.
But both have failed to realise any Of thei
expectations. After the kostza letter, which
appeared TO define the position of the admins
T tration, there has been nothing but weakness
in our management of negotiations abroad
nothing not indicative OF inbecilitv, OF vacllla-
ton and weakness in those to whom most I'M
portant questions have been entrusted In fact
on more than one occasion the doctrines Of that
remarkable document have not been applied to
cases as strongly requiring the interference Of
the government; creating the impression that
the cabinet was doubtful of the grounds so
boldly taken and so ably defended Our ne
gotiations with Spain are protracted month af-
ter month, and new outrages are almost daily
added to those OF which We complain without
fastening the result desired.
On the mere rumor of a proposed flbuster-
Ing expedition, g proclamation is issued, as de-
cided i'll its tone as that penned by Mr.. Fillmore
after armed men had absolutely left our shores
and an invasion of Cuba was fact accomplish
ed; and, for the bare suspicion Of completely in
designs contrary to treaty faith, ex-governor
Quitman and other citizens have been placed
under heavy bonds not to violate the laws. IT.
is strange that the democratic press, so unspar-
ing of indignant denuncaton of the past ad-
n,inistration, should have passed by similar
offence Of the Pierce administration without an
imadversion, without having even moral cour
age OF independence enough to find any fault
atever-unless their silence may be constru
ed as a grave rebuke.
Two years have passed, and what has been
accomplished? What event has marked the
present administration which will figure in the
future history Of the country SO as to reflect
credit upon the actors in the highest depart
ment of the government? Nothing. Absolute
y nothing. The two Years are a record of con-
,roycrsies between sections of the dvmocracy' :
or spos--a daily intrigue between abolition /
sts free -soilers and ''hards''-a shifting ofthe I
balances Of official favor between the leading
iemagogues of opposing factions The i'm
nense power ofthe democratic party has been {
nItered away and its hold upon popular aiec- q
ion destroyed by the descent of the adminis- 7
ration into the arena Of local politics and petty
lections. The country has been agitatcd by :,
he introduction ofissues neither desired by the l.
orth nor the south; and we now sceo the dis I
rgansation Of apoWerlul party in places where II
had long been indomhable. Congress has "
one little, and the executive has undone, what, 4
s it were by accident, congress did accomplish. Il
hostility to Americans, and denouncing those it
ho cicaye to the doctrines Of our fathers. that D
Americans should rule America" as hostile q
the constitution as guilty OF reasonable
2ncmeS against liberty, and 1ntoierantly pro- a
s'p'''e OF whole classes OF citizens on account a.
their nativity, is Eow the all l-absolbine sub II
s'' VII" '"e au'n'n'sraI'on editors. Instead to t
a feeNuhc'a''on OF the democratic PLATFORM 81
'ere IS no" nerce remuneration OF the know Ia
''n'H5S 1'Is IS 'hen the hrst and last Of =,
'e P''n''PeS % 'le T'efce party is
10 ''''S nus '"e most powerful party, the u. BE-
'"'eS ever Saw 'aIlen' Harbour and river dt
'P'''sN'e"'S are 'e'oeo' hnI'ions voted 1orthe OF
'''ie"' oI our commerce are arrested by ~,
' 'Ae'"''e a''' ana no voice IS raised IN con N
'i'D"''o"' al are 100 ousy IN opposing native q
'''e'c"D'S'a 10 pay any regard to SO practical ac
SUBJECT ac
l ~ governments mas oone one thing which ia ia
III no. De soon 'oI5o''en' ana Tor which 1t de- as
l'es coAl'he'''*''on' a'Iho"sh 1t IS now sadly sp
'0Seo A. Has oo'no7'oeo ana burnt an In lc
Sn '''''se' anu IN consequence got itself into 'i'
ulSCuSSloH VIII the foreign Ministers. who OK