The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1856-05-17
Nat.
Just now the tern

of q misnomer than !. is
no such thing as natl it, at
present, according to the ns.4.. ~ .sion Of
the phrase. The Democratic party, or, rather,
the prominent friends of the various a%spirants
to the Presidential chair-there is no occasion
for particularities, where all are concerned
are engaged in the very amiable, pleasant and re-
freshing business, of cutting each others polit-
ical threats, preparatory to the grand slaugh-
tcr-house melee, which is sure to- take place at
Cincinnati, in June. Pierce wants a re-nom-
nation terribly. AS the " hart panteth after
the watcr-brook +" he pants for a renewal of his
commission as standard-bearcr-in-chie of the
variegatel, discordant and mostly hosts Of the
unterritied, tremendous and subterrancan De-
mocracy. And lie is determined that the
mantle Of a denomination shall fall upon his
shoulders, if the vast power and patronage Of
the Federal Government can accomplish that
object. Months ago, from Maine to Califor-
MIA, the word went forth to the oCice-holding
gentry Of the government, that they must set
the traps, lay the wires, and use every possible
~eXertion to secure a selection Of delegates
favorable to the denomination of Gen. Pierce.
That the subordipatcs of the administration
have faithfully endeavorcd to carry out the in
structions from head-quarters-their bread aid
butter depended on it-therc is no reson to
doubt. They have labored faithfully veal
ously, skillfully and if they have not succ' led
in stocking" the Cincinnati Convex
is because of the intractability Is,
and the appropriately of their Chief the,
they have had an uphill busip all the
way through; yet, r"d" tances,
they have succeeded n re will
enjoy a respectable ton,
when he would no. for
the superhuman lie
power pnsenD Of the ssi the Papal States ,sst ,;s5rtn1
are the spoils. ssdjpSpaIlAeyalpti
AT present Mr.. Buchanan is the opponent
Mr.. Pierce most fears. So the edict went
forth that his political jugular must be severed
if possible. Immediately the big and little
chieftains in the Pierce interest pitched in ~
with q spunk and a valor equal to that a
Scotch terrier exhibits, when he assaults a
formidable rat with deadly intent. And the
mode and manner Of attack are various and
singular. Some assail !" Old Buck " directly
Others seek to accomplish his ruin by indirec-
tion-by saying that, though he is a good
Democrat and a good man, he does not possess
the requisites that add strength to the party,
and hence, it would be bad, if not suicidal
policy, to nominate him Others contend that
he is too much of an " old fogy " to suit this
fast age, and strenuously aver that his selection
would stupendously disgust Young America,
from the summit of his " wide awake to the
tip of his patent feathers. The Washington
union-the great organ of the Pierce faction
deals him stunning blows by reproducing all
the unpopular movements he has ever made
and pretending to justify them, but so lame1y
and Enthusiastically, that the defense is worse
than a direct. attack. The echoes of the Union
catch up these key notes directly, and so the
game goes on, steadily increasing in interes,
and intensity.
In the mean time, the friends Of Mr.. Bucha
nan are not idle. They fight manfully, return.
ing blow for blow, and seem determined te
struggle to the last for their f%avorite. Al
things now stand, MIR. Buchanan does not have
a fair chance. The contest is unequal. AL
the other aspirants, through their friends, arr
STRIVING to kill him oil, in order to increase
their W chances. Pierce thinks he can ge
the nomination, if he can only destroy Bucha
nan. In this laudable endeavor, Douglas beln
Plerce-not because he wishes Pierce to sue
coed, but because lie believes it will further hi
own ambitious views. If he can use Pierce tt
use up Buchanan, he thinks he can rally tn,
Buchanan delegates in solid phalanx arains;
Pierce and for himself; which, with the assist
ance of his own friends, may enable him t.
gain the nomination. This is the gamc Sena
tor Douglas is playing, and if he throws his
cards shrewdly, it would not be a matter f0
great wonderment if he should be successful
The fact is, it is a game of use-up all around
and it is very possible all the prominent play
ers may find themselves essentially used n,
before the final conclusion of the struggle. 81
much for the politics of the " fierce Dmocracie.
Now, for the politics Of the American party
if snch a term is applicable during u period o
profound repose. The American PARTY, we arr
persuaded, grows stronger and stronger ever,
day. The nomination of our candidates ha,
given satisfaction. Than Willard Fillmore
there is not 4 more accountable man to n,