Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-03-13
THURSDAY MORNING. MARCH Is. 1855
PRESIDENT PIERCE AND TERRIFIC
RIAL LEGISLATION.

RIAL LEGISLATION.
The nomination of Franklin Pierce was the
merest accident Of modern times The honor
was conferred, not as a reward for eminent
services, not as a tribute to intellect, but by
virtue OF temporary necessity-one Of those
necessities which, in the course of political
events, must occasionally arise. Men Of mark,
men of giant mind, men Unidentified with the
history and the glory Of the country, had been
unsuccessfully supported in the convention
1t becoming evident, finally, that no distin-
gushed statesman could, under the critical
circumstances Of the hour, receive the nomi-
nation of the party, it was, BY almost unani-
nous consent given to the present incumbent
II was the belief of every appropriated politi-
elan of the land that General Pierce would, If
elected, serve a single term, return his thanks
TO his party, and retire into private life. He
was nominated because he was thought to be
in nobodys way. Politics, indeed, makes
strange bedfellows! What man, born of
woman, and endowed with ordinary intelli,
gence, could have imagined, for an instant,
that this same Franklin Pierce would, at the
end of the term for which he was elected, come
forward and attempt to override the claims
and pretensions of every statesman that has
honored the Democratic partyl Yet such is
the fact before us; a man noted only for i'm
becility and political treachery-one that has
done more to damage the Democratic party
IL III. -
last thirty years-has the andacity to sit in the
White House and promise his support to a
hundred prominent statesmen merely for the
purpose Of fastening himself for four years
more upon the American people.
Now, what is the course for the party to pur-
sue? The majority Of The voters Of the coun-
try are Democrats, and the election of the
Democratic candidate is certain if he be bold
and patriotic leader. We must not calculate,
however upon the absolute invncibity of De.
mocracy, we are not strong enough to carry
weights. Franklin Pierce is the weakest man
whose name will be before the convention; his
name would be the signal note of defeat. He
is absolutely odous TO large portion Of the
Democracy of the country. His adminstra-
ton will be referred to in future as political
abortion. But for single measure, into the
, support of which it was absolutely forced, it
would have sunk ere this beyond the reach Of
resurrection. 1t will be an eternal warning to
the party. No future political mariner need
be in doubt as to the course he should pursue.
He has only TO do what Franklin Pierce has
neglected to do, and to leave undone the things
which he has done, and he will sail in the clear
waters of truth
No greater evidence could be furnished of
the strength of the Democratic sentiment of
the nation than the fact that we have been able
to survive the shock of the last three wears !:
but we must lot absolutely outrage the com.
mon sense Of the people. Tie world is look.
ing to Us for a bold and decisive stroke: shall
we shame our pretensions to patriotism and
fair-dealing by asking majority Of the voters
of this great Republic to come up and support
man who has struck down the best statesmen
of the land and all but demoralized the only
truly national party in the United States?
1t is time to look this matter in the face.
The President has descended into the arena,
and is employing all bis energies to secure a
denomination in June. He has said boldly
that no man in the North can succeed but
himself, and he has told the South that no
Southern man can succeed without his infu.
ence. He talks Of transferring the Democ.
racy Of the land as though every Democrat
were absolutely his serf What spectacle
would we present with Mr.. Pierce as our stand.
srd-barrer in 1861
What is Mr.. Pierces record, that he should
impudently call in question the patriotism or
nationality Of distinguished statesmen? What
is his organ in New Hampshire, and his mouth.
piece in Washington, that hey should dare to
read every man out Of the Democratic ranks
who honestly believes the nomination of the
present incumbent would insure us ignomini.
Gus defeat?
Who does not know that the New Hamp-
shire Patriot-Mr Pierce's sworn organ in New
England-was formerly the open and avowed
champion Of the Wilmot Proviso2 Who does
not know that the Washington Union--a paper
which is now trying TO lash the Democratic
delegates to the Cincinnati Convention into
the support Of Mr. Pierce-came out in oppo.
sition to the doctrine Of non.intervention, and
only came into the support Of Mr.. Douglass
bill when it found the general current of the
country setting in favor Of IT'D Who does not
know that the President, in large number Of
instances, has turned national and conservative
men out of office, for the purpose of supplying
taeir places with Abolitionists and Disunionists?
We have no real fears that Mr.. Pierce will
be re-nominated we believe the day for
weak and trucking political operators is past ;
we have been the victims Of one accident which
the American people will never forget; never.
theless, if we would counteract the influences
AE