Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-08-31
An Old Democrats Opinion of
the Pierce Administration.

tnC ASACc AAQllAl AIS Ut u LlOns
I'M. Niles, late u S. senator from Con-
noctcut, has been long known rs member
Of the old Democratic party. lie has writ
ten 4 letter to the Hartford Republican, in
which he gives his view. of the pro slavery
action Of President Pierce's Administration
in very plain terms.
After referring 10 a rem,rk Of his to this
effect that int journey to the west Of 1905
miles, he had found 10 one 10 d,fnd the
! present administration, he continues:
The idea intended 10 be conveyed
was, that the administration must be
sunk very low wiki The whole people,
when on tour of four Thousand
miles embracing ten states and one
territory, aud convcr>ing with all
snris OF persons, aud hearing con
ver>allons among others, we IN no
+ instance Witnessed defence of the
( administration by single individual.
+ We SAW aud convcrsud with several
persons, some gentlemen of dlslinc-
Goa, ~nOsc i,'se-.:-.. O.. guCiI ttIut tuvy
NAV be regarded as giving their sup
port 10 the administration but they
did not defend ii-and one of them,
a distinguished editor in Ohio, seem
ed to admit that this administration
was the heaviest burden his party
had 10 sustain.
Whether the circumstances which
fell under our observation indicated
the true state Of public sentiment at
the West, will offer no opinion, as
that question will soon be decided
by the elections aud yet the cleo
tons, involving state as well as IA r
uonal issues, will by no means fully
indicate the public sentiment, rs
from the influence of political asso-
Citations and party drill, thousands
who dislPprove of every important
measure Of this administration, will
vote for candidates who, after the
election, wall be called administration
men.
That the great states in the West,
whose institutions are based on the
principles of freedom contained in
the ordinance of 1857, should De OPP
posed 10 The present administration,
ought not, we should think, to sur
pnsc any one. All the arts aud
snphstry of politicians, with their
iargon about popular sovereignty,
cannot prevent men II sense and or
binary intelligence from pcrceiving
that all the power and influence of
this administration has been To force
slavery into Kansas LIST, by repeal
ing the restriction which excluded II
in The Missouri Compromise sec
ondly, in appointing all the officers
of the Territory, judges, attorney, sec
rotary and governor-as was sup
! posed-who are pIo-sayery men /;
and thirdly, in the administration S
counienancing and upholdne the
7 ourragrs PcrPerrotvu upon mt pow
Pile of Kansas by armed bands of
ruilians from Missouri.
What is the relation Of the Presi-
dent to the territory Very different
! from what il is TO state. II lawless
! disorders arise IN a staie--which is
an independent government in itself,
with all the organs of power--it is
not the the duty OF the President to
interfere, nor has he The power 10 do
il, unless in case of insurrectIon or
rebellion, and reqnislIion is made
upon him by the Governor. But ii
is very different in territory, which
exists under federal law aud au-
,horty, where there are no other
laws, and where the iederal govern
men, has exclusive Jurisdiction.
The organizing the territory is not
local act, but the law Of the Uni
ted Suites, which the President has
taken an oath 10 support yet he
permits il TO be violated, aud the fed
erai authority to be overthrow. In
this extraordinary course is not the
President making himself a party to
these outrages and If civil disorders
come, and blood is shed, will he not,
in moral point of view at least, be
responsible for il! The people Of
Kansas appeal to him for protection