Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-11-29
A FAIR TRIAL.

Amidst the manifold surmises and barefaced
inventions relative to the sayings, doings and
intentions of the President elect, with which
the imaginative scribes at Washington muse
their leisure hours, we occasionally encounter
something that wears a sembIance of probabiIi~
ty. Such, for example, is the annexed letter
which we find, rather Unexpectedly, considering
its tenor, in the columns of the New York
Tribune:
WASHINGTON, Non. Is, 1856.
A distinguished gentleman returned from
Wheatland last night, after a visit Of two days.
Mr.. Buchanan authorized it to be said that he
has extended no invitation for a seat in his
Cabinet to any person, nor expressed any india
cation by which a proper inference might be
drawn on that subject. His purpose is to keep
himself entirely uncommitted until he has full
opportunity of consultation and reflection, and
the motive of reserve will no longer exist.
One point is settled in his mind and avowed
to his personal friends, that is, to initiate the
example Of Gen. Jackson, by making the
Cabinet a unit, and unmaking it, if the purpose
be not attained at the first experiment. lie
is sensible that Gen. Pierce's administration
split on the rock of attempting to have harmony
with incongruous dement's and hostile factions.
He believes himself firm in this and other res
solves, forgetting his former facile shortcom~
ings. He also says that he has given no as
surance, promise or pledge in any quarter res
specting any important places here or else
where.
Mr.. Buchanan will endeavor to postpone
his presence at Washington as long as practices
BILE, and desires to avoid the proposed demon"
STATIONS which scheming demagogues are now
contriving along the route and in this capital.
He may surprise them all by a quiet and un-
expected appearance. His niece, Miss Lane,
will preside exclusively over the social graces
of the White House, as she has long done at
Wheatland. Some of the Philadelphia pre-
tenders, who aspire to the control of this i'm
portant department, will awaken soon to the
extent of their weak delusion.
For ourselves we may as well say once for
all, that we intend to offer no f~actious opposi-
ton to the President elect. So says the Bee,
in commenting upon the above, and to which
we heartily respond. We were, says the same
paper, in favor of another candidate, honestly
and sincerely, but we have never understood,
and always despised that low partisan malign:ty
which expends abuse and detraction on the
successful nominee, simply because he is sue"
~cessfuI. Mr.. BUCHANAN is to be judged by his
acts. 1t matters little or nothing to US whe-
ther he calls himself a Democrat or not, or
whether he bestows office on those who sus.
tanned him, or exercises a wise and wide disere.
ton amongst all parties. Let his administra.
ton rebound to the honor Of the country, bear
healing on its wings, and sooth the distractions
and divisions which have shaken the confedera~
cy to its foundation, and it will command the
approval and applause of all good men. As
independent journalists, we shall observe the
rule Of nothing extenuate, or aught set down
in malice" touching the President elect. We
believe, too, the moment is particularly fayora>
bic for a display Of public justice unbiassed by
party prejudice. The trenchant distinctions
formerly existing between parties have been
gradually blunted and effaced. Certainly in
the South, and in many portions of The North,
it would be difficult to decide in what consists
the difference between one party and another.
The period, then, is propitious for giving n foir
trial to the new administration, and we are of
opinion that it will be very generally accorded.
So concludes the Bee-and the sentiments
are ours also.