Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1856-09-18
To the Wings of Missouri.

dersigned were appointed a committee to
prepare an address to the Wings of Missou-
ri, touching the course which, in patriot
ism, in prudence, and in self-respect, they
ought to take in the approaching Presiden-
tial election.
In the discharge of the duty assigned us,
we do not deem it necessary to go into
minute history of the present parties, or of
those untoward events which have brought
the government and the country into their
present huniiating condition. Yet the
Notifying facts are before the world
Those entrusted with the powers of govern
ment have failed to discharge their duty: Con-
gress has failed TO pass wholesome laws for
the good government of the people: the
President has failed to see, as the consiitu-
ton commands him, that the laws which
are passed are faithfully executed, and the
consequences Of this neglect of duty are
painfully visible all around us. Instead of
peace, order, and nut ial respect, (the nat
ural result of good laws well executed, y we
have local parties, sectional aninosites, in
testine violence, and actual bloodshed, (the
natural result Of bad laws badly executed)
Instead of governing the Territories with
mild and paternal authority, as was wisely
and justly done during all the tine Of JEr-
FERsoE, MADISON, and MONROE, the pres
ent government confesses IFS impotence,
abandons lis duties, abdicates IFS powers,
and declares its inabi ity to govern and pro-
tect dependent Territory on our border,
and leaves 1t 10 be scrambled for, in bloody
strife, by armed factions from the opposite
ends of the country.
When President Fr1LMoRE resigned the
chair OF state to President PIERCE, he left
him a country to govern, at peace with all
foreign nations, and quiet and prosperous at
home. By mild and judicious measures all
old quarrels had been settled; all former fac
tions had been quieted into repose, if not
subdueo into peace, and every thing seemed
TO promise long continuance of law, order,
and prosperity, (the natural result of wise
and conservative Wing polcy.) But this
bright prospect was dimmed, as it were,
with industrious haste. A single term of
Democratic President has changed the whole
scene. Instead Of moderate laws, passed
in spirit Of concession and compromise, to
soothe the wounded feeling of opposing par
ties, we see extravant theories, reduced,
with indecent haste. to the form Of statutes,
and passed in spirit Of conquest and def
ance, as if for the very purpose of lighting
up anew the extinguished tirebrands, and
reviving an exaspera!ing the quarrels which
had been settled, as we fLndy hoped forev-
er, by the wise and moderate measures of
the last administration. Instead of pru-
dent and moderate home policy, wisely de-
signed for the present and permanent good
of our own country, by facilitating CONNER
cial and social intercourse. in the improve
ment Of national highways; by removing or
softening Of the aspSities of lccal preju-
dice; by stimulating theSproductive powers
Of agriculture and manufactures; and by in
suring permanent and profitable market
abroad for the products Of our labor and
} skill; in establishing relations of mutual res
pect and confidence with foreign powers.-
Instead of all these good things, we see this
administration and its peculiar supporters
neglectlng the home government in all its
great elements of peaceful progress, and am
bitiOusl y straining after foreign acquisitionss
thus offending the pride and exciting the
jealousy and fear of foreign nations, and
thus habltually sacrificing the home inter-
ests of the country to the mad ambition of
grasping foreign territory, which, when ac-
qured, they have not the wisdom and cour-
age TO govern.
Al home, instead of peace, order and re-
ciprocal confidence, with the energies of all
harmoniously direcled TO national ends, we
behold peace and confidence destroyed, dis
order triumphant, and mutual jealousy and
hatred openly avowed in the halls Of Con-
gres ard throughout the country. And these
bad elements have formed themselves into
| parties, and lave not been ashamed, (such
is the madness of the times,) 10 call them
selves by the sectional titles Of North and
South.
We give it as our deliberate opinion, thai
The Democratic party, as now organized and
administered, is justly responsible for all
these evils. If it did not create them all by
its own mediate acts, il had the ability, and
lacked nothing but the will, TO prevent The
existence OF them all 1t came into power
with a ilow ng tide Of popularity. 1t filed
Eeyery department of The government, and
(ah domestic troubles being settled by its
immediate predecessor, il had ample power
to originate and carry into execution al, good