Washington sentinel., 1856-05-31
THE PRESIDENCY AND THE CON.
VENTION.

The road to the White House is 90 narrow
and 40 difficult Of access that but one politician
can enter it at time; and he who gets into
that road. no matter by what means, expects
everybody behind him to labor for has plea
sure and the perpetuity Of his power Who
ever ventures to advance and to go ahead OF
him is charged with disloyalty TO the party,
and treated not as an honorable rival, but q
deadly foe. Even the right of the people TO
put competitor upon this public road-a road
which the wisdom Of our institutions has made
accessible to everybody-is either denied or
resisted by the lucky favorite of fortune who
has gotten the start and hugged the inside
track. The treasure and patronage which the
people conferred upon the President for their
common and united welfare are used to resist
their will and to prolong his power.
This is strongly and strikingly illustrated in
the present case. Mr. Pierce started on the
Presidential turnpike as the creature Of acci-
dent and the favorite Of fortune. He had not
as much claim and title TO the mighty position
which he reached as many OF our worthless had
Neither in peace nor in war did he ever con-
tribute to the glory Of his country. His merit
consisted in the simple consistency OF bis public
life. But to an equal share Of any such merit
many Of our statesmen can assert claim as
valid as bis. In wisdom, experience, abilities,
and services, nobody Of candor and sense
would venture to compare him with CAss,
MARCY, or BUCHANAN. Neither in natural
powers nor the attainments Of craftsmanship
is he comparable to many others in public or
private life. And since the tide Of time began.
no one but Mr.. Pierce ever made voyage so
prosperous and profitable in craft so feeble,
in season so boisterous, and with nautical
knowledge SO scanty and superficial he owes
1t to the bounty Of Providence that he reached
the port
Yet not content with the good fortune which
blessed him, he relies upon it as the natural
result Of superior merit; and, far from placing
the obligation Of gratitude upon himself, where
1t justly belongs, he insists that il attaches 10
the Democrats, and that the party cannot
honorably dispense with his seryicesl The
'SB'~ " osN" hS"oonihk - Ohiy tQuAle0 by
the modesty which adorns il. II is easy TO see
how such graceless vanity gets possession Of
feeble mind. The President is always sur.
rounded by the receivers and expectants of
otice. To evince their gratitude, to secure his
promises, aud to retain their places, they extol
the talents, the services and patriotism Of their
generous benefactor; and they never fail TO
censure and TO depreciate everybody who does
not prefer him for asecond term. Long before
any opponent can muster bis forces or call the
roll, the army Of officials, in concerted order
have taken the field, have awed the ,;rid
crushed the feeble, bought the purchasable
and taken possession of every fortress. Everv
press, and every scribbler, who can be moved
by the hope Of reward, the fear Of displeasure.
or the pressure Of want, is induced to create
Dehei that no other but the Ruler can be
elected BY the Democratic party. Such wor-
tines have common interest in supporting
Chief Magistrate who enables them 10 i've
without assistance from personal virtue. in.
dustry, or abilities. gf
The President, who listens to nothing bu,