The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-15

Convention closes his political career, and throws
him into position commanding the sympathy
and commisseration OF every generous mind. Had
he been greater statesman, man of more in
flexible will, and more strongly imbued with the
essential elements Of fixed integrity and moral
courage, be might have dstanced ell his compe-
titors for the democratic nomination, and receiv-
ed even our support in the same disinteresed
manner as in the campaign of 1852.
Although an amiabIe man, and, no doubt,
meaning well, yet having been educated in the
"a school of paltry intrigues, corruption, trea-
cherry and trickery-he has very naturally, like
Ibis illustrious predecessor, oyerreached himself
and fallen to the ground A peculiar weakness
of Mr.. Pierce has been his great amiability and
generous incnations, often leading him into pro-
misses of this thing that thing, and everything
for the moment, without thinking of the difficult
ties of performance, under the pressure of the
nultitudinous and hungry spoilsnen that have
swarmed around him In fact, there are points
in his character too amiable and too good for the
hard and heartless school'to which he belongs-a
school of deliberate and INSCRIPTIONS hypocrisy
and of the most profgate and terrible corrup-
ton. In this, as in some other political schools
of this epoch Of party Generalization honesty,
integrity and truhfulness, necessary in all the
relations of social and private life, are utterly
abandoned and ignored We know Sena-
tors of the United States who in their
social conversations have freely denounced
NJ. c,;+ ~
and who are now making great speeches about
the country in glortcation Of this same unfortu-
nate man. The object with these double tongued
orators is doubtless little political capital for
the exigencies of some future day. And much
good may it do them.
We have no further contest with Mr. Pierce as
a politician. When, on reaching the White
House, he abandoned those principles and that
policy upon which we had supported him, we
could support him no longer. We opposed his
policy, We opposed his ruinous appointments we
opposed his administration, and we opposed his
denomination. We have triumphed and we are
content. Mr.. Pierce, we trust, in retiring to pr-
vate life will retire a better and wiser man.
We hope, too, that with his past experience his
efforts for the remnant of his term in the admin
istration of the government will be Of a higher,
purer and more benefcent order than those little
partisan and sectional expedients which have con-
trolled his foreign and domestic policy during the
last three years.
There are hints and rumors afoat, of a very
plausible shape, that since the Cincinnati Con-
venton has taken the scales from the eyes of our
late infatuated Executive, and brought him to his
right mind, he begins to exhibit decided incli-
nation to act like an independent man in his high
ce-independent Of the little clques and little
tricks for Buncombe which have taken up so
much of his attention heretofore. 1t is even said
that, abandoning his first Kansas policy Of con-
ciliating the free sellers of the North through
the appointment of Governor Reeder and his
land spectators, and repudiating, also, his
later policy of conciliating the land specu-
ators and niger drivers of the Southwest,
Mr.. Pierce has resolved to administer the law
in Kansas without fear, favor or affection"
but with strict justice, as between the belligerent
parties. This is good news Let him assume
high and Independent ground, according to the
constitution and the law-the intent and honest
meaning of the law in Kansas-and he will soon
discover that he lacks neither the power nor the
means for ending these border feuds, and restor-
ing tranquility, law and order to the Territory.
Let the law of Kansas be honestly enforced, and
let the decision Of the question of slavery or no
slavery be fairly secured to the bona de settlers
Of the Territory and whether they shall decide
for slavery or against it in the organization of
State government there need be no fear Of their
admission into the Union.
With the same patriotic purposes of justice,
peace and harmony let Mr. Pierce resume the
consideration of our delicate foreign relations, and
we think that there will be no difficulty in their pa
ciic solution. Mr.. Marcy and Mr.. Buchanan during
three years of diplomatic correspondence exhaust
ing reams of foolscap bottles of ink, and all the
diplomatic precedents, wisdom and double deal
ing of the last three centuries, have only compli-
Gated the troubles under discussion, and excited
a spirit of elimination and recrimination which
are rapidly at length drifting us to war. Let
Mr.. Pierce now take Marcy quietly aside, and
admonish him that. as the Cincinnati Convention
has spoken this pettfoggng IN our foreign affairs
must be stopped, that Buncombe has ceased to
be the game, and that now is the time to act for
the country and the American people, irrespec-
tive of sections, parties or party conventions.
In a word, let Mr.. Pierce turn short corner in
the management Of our foreign affairs, and adopt
policy with strict regard to the responsible
duties thus devolving upon him, leaving sectional
agitators and flibusters out of view, and it will
yet pay expenses We are quite sure that, in
stead of leaving the White House with the exc
crations and contempt of an offended people, he
may thus retire with much Of forgiveness for the
past, with something Of applause, and not with
out the hope Of a much higher niche in history
than that to which his folies and blunders Of the
last three years will entitle him. He has had the
necessary warnings of the shoals and breakers