Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1855-12-05

tige OF popularity and success which surround
ded its incoming, was soon swallowed up in
the sea of disappointment which its own eyre
gious blunders lad created in the public mind.
There was nothing in the previous history
of Franklin Pierce, an obscure lawyer and
politician of ew Hanpshire-nothug which
the country knew Of his abilities which was
calculated to inspire confidence in aim as a
statesman--yet, by a singular combination of
circumstances, SO overwhelming had been bis
majority, that even those who had opposed
him, were almost ready to believe they had
committed an error in so doing, and were al
most willing to regard his advent into power
as an era of good feeling. The opposition,
conscious OF the error they had made in placing
before the country a candidate who hal an
odor of Sectionaism about him, felt inclined to
regard Mr.. Pierce's election as a triumph of
nationalisn over sectionalism--not that the
great body of that opposition were sectional in
their views or that the great hero-patriot who
was their candidate, was less worthy of the
national confidence than his competitOr-but
that the circumstances which surrounded him
had prejudiced his claims on the country
that Gen. Pierce had been elected on the
ground that lie was sounder compromise man
than Gen. Scott, and would be less likely to
lead, or permit fanatics and demagogues to
lead the country into sectional difficulties.
After the bitter feelings which the contest
had engendered had subsidized, and ere General
Pierce had assumed the seals of Office, the
whole body of the American people were re-
cOncied, and all were glad that although a
great cheftain who deserved well of his coun-
try for his valor and patriotism exhibited on
the battle-felds of half century had failed to
receive that high mark of the nations graft
tude which many thought he merited-yet the
compromise measures of 1850 had received the
sanction of the people. All thought that as
the edict which had spoken the new admins
tration into existence was a voice from the
depths of the great popular heart, demanding
peace and RESI- from the discussion and diStrac-
ton OF the slavery question, that obedience to
that voice would be the great principle of its
action. Alas, how sadly We're they disappoint-
ed. How short-lived were their hopes. How
quickly were the prospects of peace dissipated.
Had some sagacious seer on the 4th March,
1853, fOretold the present condition of the
country, brought about by the conduct of the
administration-had he pointed out the crmi-
nal blunders, startling in their number and
enormity, which has been crowded into the
short space of less than three years, he would
have been declared mailman or a fool.
Elected as the very embodiment and incar-
nation of the Compromise feeling, his first act
was the appointment to the most lucrative and
important offices in the government, men who
had been the fiercest opponents of those meas
ures. From among Northern Abriitonists
and Southern Disunionists, he selected his
placemen aud retainers. He scattered the
gifts of Office with a profuse hand, to the very
men who loathed the national sentiment which
had carried him into power, and exerted every
energy TO defeat the adoption of measures to
which it had given birth An administration
whose object, in obedience to the voice of the
people, should have been that OF pAoifcation,
filed its high places with stirrers.up of strife.
Instead of fostering the sentiment which had
made it, and encouraging and protecting those
who favored that sentiment, it quietly gave
the back of its hand to the nstional men of
the party, and selected lis loving friends from
the ranks OF free sOilisn and disunionism.
Bronson in the North, and DonelsOn. the edi-
tor of the leading organ Of the party in Wash
ington, disgnsted at the treachery of which
the President was guilty, openly, like honest
men and true patriots as they are, declared
war against him and the disastrous policy he
was pursuing. Good men of all parties view
ed, with mingled astonishment aud alarm, the
course of the President and is effects. In a
short while it had sunk so low in the public
confidence, that there were none beyond the
circle of its oiiceholders, aud editors, $50
poor as 10 DO it reverence" The indscree,
appointment Of the French fire-eater, Soule,
as Minister to Spain, aud the disgrace which
he brought upon the country, was the death.
blow to the popularity of the administration
His Fantastic tricks p" before the Court OF
Spain, and Ceaseless endeavors to involve the
country ia war, and the imbece cowariice
which restrained the President from revoking
his commission, brought bushes to the cheeks
of his warInest friends, aud made him aud the
country a mark for the lidicule of the won ID.
The appointment of such men as Owen,
Belmont and others, to important diplomatic
trusts, cannot be forgotten in an enumeration
Of the fOles of the Pierce administration. Il
was that which directed the eyes of the nation
to the dangerous Importance which the foreign
element in our population was beginning q
assume. Its Influence was so powerful that il
must be propiiiated ia order 10 call il to the
support of the administration. 1t demanded
office as pay for its services, aud there was not
enough high-toned Auericanlsm, there wa.
not enough courage in the President TO refuse
its call, aud rebuke its presumption. IL,
tamely yielded to its insulting insoleuce, and
decreased the already diminishing respect
which the country felt for him.
We hope the country may be spared from
another three years like that through which
il has Just passed. We hope the records o
the coantry for 80 short a spuce Of time, viii
never again comprise 80 much to detract from
her honor, or 50 much to humiliate the student
Of her history.
We cannot believe that the Democratic par.
ty of Tennessee viii endorse the Pierce Ad.
miuis,ration. We believe that the great mas.
of them, however corrupt may Do their lead.
ers, arc firmly attached TO that sentiment
which would Danish the slavery discord from