Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-17
A POLITICAL LESSON.

Hon john c. BREcKINRrDGE, some time since
nominated to Spain, has declined and General
AUGUSTUS CESAR DODGE has been honored with
the place. the Senate having confirmed his ap-
pointment At the same time, we are inform
cd, that the nomination of Mr.. JOHN B. MILLER
as Secretary of Legation, at Lima, Peru, has
been Withdrawn, and his place filled by an
other.
An inquiry into the antecedents of these two
men, will demonstrate to what use the power
conferred by the Democratic party is now pros
tituted Gen. DoDGE, who was Senator from
Iowa, has always been distinguished for his ser
Witty to the Slave Power. In the consumma-
ton Of the recent outrage upon the rights of
at the beck and nod of his masters We be-
lieve that he has earned, by his course in the
Senate, the undisputed right to the title of the
Chief of Doughfaces Repudated at home, by
the indignant voice of a free constituency he
has his reward at the hands of the Admins
traton
Mr.. MILLER is the editor of democratic pa
per in NewYork. 1t was represented that he
had denounced the Repeal of the Missouri Com
promise and for that reason, as the appoint
ment was condemned by the Shareholders, his
name was withdrawn
That General AUGUSTUS CESAR DODGE, con-
trlbuted more to the success of the Democratic
party in the election of FRANKLIN PIERCE, than
did Mr.. Miller there is no reason to presume;
and yet, one now finds himself prescribed by
the Administration towards whose elevation in
good faith he contributed, while the other re-
ceives q signal mark of favor and consideration.
In alliding to this, it is not to complain of the
distribution of the offices, any further than the
act demonstrates the uses which are made of
the patronage of a democratic administration
whose boast once was that it " knew no North,
no South, no East, no West" If the influence
and patronage of the General Government is
used to favor one section at the expense of the
| other-if it is used to press through Congress
measures repugnant to the great majority of
the nation-if large portion of those whose
efforts have made the Administration are pro-
scribed and repudiated- then, the lesson should
not be without its uses in the future.
The action of the Baltimore Convention. in
passing by those who had fawned and truckled
to procure nomination, and selecting a man
comparatively unknown fresh from the people,
identified with no cliques, and unpledged to
sections, was hailed with the utmost enthusiasm
by all those who love the name and revere the
principles of Democracy Under the time-hon-
ored standard of the party, upon broad and
national platform, the great and liberal party
of the country was once more unted-anduni
ted, is ever victorious. BY a majority unpara-
lelled, Franklin PIERCE was elevated to the
Presidential chair, and assumed his high Office
under prospects as favorable as ever greeted an
incoming Administration. The rock on which
previous Administrations had foundered, was
the slavery question. That was now set at rest
by the action of Congress, and by the deliber-
ate resolves Of the National Conventions of
both parties. Gen. PIERCE hastened to de-
clare that the public quiet should suffer no
shock during his administration.
Elected by an united Democracy Gen. PIERCE
set out, We have no doubt in good faith, with
the intention of dealing impartially with the
members of that party, in the distribution of
his favors. But this course interfered with the
schemes of personal aggrandizement formed by
portion of the party who consider sycophan-
cy to slavery as the only qualification. Their