Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1856-05-03
Our Foreign Policy under Mr.. Pierce

We would not det1act one laurel from the
brow of President PIERCE; he has shown HIM
self true to the constitution and the laws Of
concerned. He has not hesitated to perform
his duty boldly and nniiinchin.ly . the South
whenever occasion demanded, and has never
Jailed to rebuke fanaticism in his official mes
sages and communications when opportunity
served. Thus far, we repeat, the President
has we'll fulfilled the trust reposed in his high
office, and so far is entitled to the gratitude Of
his countrymen. We do not withhold 90
commendation for the decided stand he has
occupied since the election in opposition to
the dangerous plots of Abolitionism to over
turn the principles Of Republicanism and
States Rights. But when we have done jus
,ice to his craftsmanship and patriotism Ill
this particular every thing has been said ia
vorab!e to the administration that truth will
justify. Our foreign policy was never so
wretchedly and bunglingly conducted, and the
National character never at so low an ebb as
it has been reduced by FRANKLIN PIERCE and
his stupid Secretary OF State.
Since they took the helm OF government,
insults to cur flag and outfages upon our citi-
zens and their have become Of
such frequent occurrence as to. scarcely at
tract attention. Our mail steamers, pursuing
the legitimate course Of their service, have
been brought to by the clustering m'i,,ions of
Spain; our neutrality laws violated by the
slippery agents of England, connived at by
the British government, and prosecuted under
She protection and connivance of her recognize
ed ministers; and, save the Interchange of d.
plomatic notes and counon place protests,
there have been no steps taken to assert our
outraged honor. or punish the insolence Of
those who profer the insults. Witness the
ElDorado affair, which, having undergone the
dampening influences of Mr.. MARc1's diplo-
macy, Is now safely reposing in the myste-
rious recesses of his 'circum!ocutSn Office"
at Washington city. Spain has refused, and
still refuses, to make amends for that mat
ter and Mr.. Marcy and the circumlocution
office aforesaid alone know upon what grounds.
The question arising out OF this Interpretation
Britain has likewise had its day, and not
wi:hstanding the patriotic appeals Of Gen.
CAss and others have to the issue promptly
met, it, too, is gradually dying out and will soon
become tine sole property of the administra-
ton, and Mr.. MAEcy's circunlocution Office.
The enlistment questionable most direct
and unprovoked attack upon our national dig
nifty and honor since the transaction which
led to the war Of 1912, has also ceased to agi-
tate the bosoms of the venerable barnacles
who preside over the diplomacy and the cir
cumlocution Office who, without extorting
even an apology from the British government
for the insult, are quietly permitting it to
drop itself away to the 'tombs of the Capu-
let's" and a thing only it to illustrate their
imbecilisy and the mouldy shelves aud pigon
holes OF circumlocutory diplomacy.
The nation has become disguised with
this continued invasion and procrastinatien of
issues which SO dearly concern it. The
American people do not wish to stand before
the world with the brand of ''cowards'' en-
graved upon the National Escutcheon, not
withssanding, the seeming determination of
MARCY & Co., to make it SO appear. We
have already endured enough from British
hectoring and Spanish bullying to arouse the
indignation of vassals 10 an assumption of
their maniine& agains, a government that
binds their hands against resistance to such
indignities. The blood of our ancestors cour-
ses hotly in its channels when we see our
cherished flag i%nsulted, and that insult tamely
pocketed by those who are chosen to guard
our rights and our honor, and to preserve
them untarnished. It has been left to the
present rulers of the United States to bring
the American name in contempt among the
nations of the earth. 1t is only within the
last four years that an audacious alliance of
European nonarchs dared assert their right
to NEEDLE with affairs on this continent, and
treat with scorn the doctrines enunciated by
President MONROE in regard to foreign inter-
ference with governments on this side of the
Atlantic. To FRANKLIN P1 EKcE and his CO.
terie of advisers, belongs the honor of de-
grading our nation to a staDiard for ~insolent
rivals to sheer at and override with braga-
docio. It was not the case before an infatuated
people carried him t%riumphantly to the pres
idential chair over a war scared veteran of
so many victorious battle fields; nor will it
be so when the same power that elevated him
again arises in the majesty Of its might and
drives into disgEaceful retirement, those who
have sacrificed the national honor in SC hemes