Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1856-12-09
TUESDAY MORNING, DEC. .. 1856.
FRANKLIN PIERoE.

FRANKLIN PIERCE.
President Pierce has submitted to Congress his
last annual message. few more months viii
close his administration. and to the future viii be
left the determining of the wisdom and justice that
has marked it's policy. No time since the removal
Of the depostes by President Jackson has been SO
fraught with domestic troubles as the greater por-
ton of the closing Presidential term. Nothing
but the purest patriotism, the most unfserng res
CLINTON and tatesman-lke conception of the
questions in issue and the difficulties impending
could have successfully and satisfactorily encoun.
tered them. Perfection does not attach to Presi-
dents any more than to men in humber relations
Of life. Ii is not within the wisdom of man to
administer the complicated duties of this large and
expansive government with entire satisfaction to
himself, much less to others. There are few, how
ever, measuring the difficulties that surrounded
them, that reached to that degree of success that
charscterizes the administrative career Of Presi-
dent Pierce.
The troubles that have environed him were I'M
avoidable. They came as the natural product of
the timss-the legitimate fruit of the existing con-
dition of affairs, acted upon by the infections dis
temper that seemed to have taken possession of
the Northern mind. Abolttionism had attained
its power through the advent ofKnow Nothingism
in the country, which had given an additional
impetus to religious bigotry, and thrown the man.
tie of eoncealment and successful organization
around what was before an open deformity, pow
erless by reason of its selfexposure. Thus thrown
into temporary ascendency ct the outset of Mr..
P.erces administration, it readily fastened itself
upon the then recent Kansas legislation TO raise
The wild storm of sectional hate and fqnaticism
that has recently shaken the government to its
very centre. The evils Of the times could not have
been less-the danger might have been more
with any other statesman in the Executive Chair.
Planting himself on the basis of broad national
hy-knowing no geographical divisions, and look
ing to the Union as a great ssterhood of States
each equal and independent, eenfederated under
common constitution for certain purposes well de-
fined, beyond which the government could not by
right proceed-clear and confident in his ccncep.
tons Of constitutional law-resolute and patriotic
in faithful and impartial discharge of duty heed
less of personal consequences-he has directed the
helm of the national vessel straight onward through
thestorm, with an eye unblsnched aud nerve well
unstrung; challenging the admiration of all honest
and impartial minds, fixing himself in the graft
tude of all patriotic hearts, and composing chap-
ter in oistory that will honor him to mankind 80
long az American nationality has votary or &
friend. ~
Upon all questions originating in or connec-
ted with, the Kansas imbrogo, his Messages
are unsurpassed in cearness and strength and may
he huf III
pIete, beautiful and comprehensive presentation and
argument that can be found on record. They will
present, also, the sublime spectacle of President
rising superior to circumstances and the natural
bias of his prejudces, association aud habit an
order to bejuSH By these messages and this policy
he has succeeded 10 bringing the American people
to clear realization of the truth-aud in giving it
apracticsl application-that the only possible safe
ty for the Union of these States s in a strict and
rigid construction Of, and compliance with, the
plain provisions of the Constitution, the only pal
ladium of our safety and that there can be no
government with except upon principles of
equality and fairness
Upon fair observance of the great democratic
policy, as inaugursted by the Compromise meas
of 1850, re-enscted in the Kansas bill of 1854
and as applied by President Pierce since that time,
depends the success Of all future administrations.
The President that shall venture upon different
policy as to our domestic relations, viii greatly
hazard, if it does not effecusly destroy, our pres
ent republican system. No such change can be
anticipated under the incoming administration.
The endorsement of this policy was the express
issue rendered and determined in the recent can
Vass On its popular approval Mr.. Buchanan / as
been elevated to the Presidency, On these queJ.
tons, therefore, the course of the incoming cannot
be expected to materially vary from that of the
outgoing administration.
We have not intended review of President
Pierces administration. In such q review We
should find scarcely less in his foreign than in his
domestic policy to applaud. Without insugura-
ting any new system of diplomacy, our inter-ns-
tionsl rights have been enforced-our privileges,
by all legitimate means, have beer extended-our
national honor has been preseryed-and our power
and influence increased throughout the world. The
most that can be said in the ewest words is th at
in every instance, he has adhered ygidly 10 the old
landmarks of democracy, whilst others have been
drifting off into the adventurous sea of political
speculation. He will retire from the responsible
position to which the confidence of the democratic
party elevated him, with the consoling reflection
that he has respected that confidence, in no in-
stance forgetting bis pledges disappointing the
reasonable expectations of those who elected him.
In thus pleasing his friends he has displeased his
enemies. 1t could not have been otherwise. The
President who shsll undertake to satisfy the de.
msnds of all parties, will secure the respect of
none, and fall beneath the weight Of puerile con-
servatism blasting in its effects than the most
loud-mouthed curses Of bis bitterest foes.
SUPREME COURT,
EourY DooKET, 4TH CIRoUIT.-Green B. Thomp-
SON We. G Sadler ct aL-Opinion bv JUDGE Harris