Washington sentinel., 1856-05-29

record Of his past errors. Let his friends be
cautious how, in the eagerness of their strife to
raise him in this mantle to the Presidential
chair, that they do not uncover and again lay
bare the record SO generously shielded.
CONTRADICTIONS ON THIS PFC
TURE AND ON THIs.n
"When the Presidents term of office,n saws
Jared Sparks, of the close Of George Washing
toms first term, Gas prescribed by the Consti-
tuition, was drawing to close, no little anxiety
was felt and expressed as to his willingness
again to receive the suffrages Of the people.
The reluctance with which he had consented
to the first election, was SO great that it was
feared he could not be prevailed upon to re-
main longer in public life. From his friends
in different parts of the country he received
early communications on the subject, urging
him not to decide hastily, and, if possible, to
reconcile himself to second election"
Among the most prominent and urgent of
these appeals will be found the letters Of Thos.
Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and Edmund
Randolph "The confidence of the whole
Union," said Jefferson, SIS centered in you.
You being at the helm will be more than an
answer to every argument which can be used
to alarm and lead the people, in any quarter,
into violence or secession. North aud South
will hang together, if they have you to hang
on" &c.
Hamilton said: q 1t is clear that, if you con-
tinue in Office, nothing materially mischievous
is to be apprehended. If you quit, much is to
be dreaded" III trust and
pray God that you will determine to make
further sacrifice of your tranquility and happi-
ness to the public good"
Randolph spoke with the same urgency:
The fuel which has been already gathered
for combustion" he observed, "wants no add.
ton. But how awfally might it be increased,
were the violence, which is now suspended by
q universal submission to your pretensions let
loose by your resignation" &c.
Such were the strenuous and powerful con-
siderations addressed to George Washington,
and which finally prevailed with him to accept
q second Presidential terml Hamilton,
Jefferson, Randolph, uniting their importu-
mites to preserve the services of that great
man to his country! while Franklin Pierce,
with none but sycophants and parasites about
him, visits, feasts, fatters, and threatens by
turn, each delegate as he arrives in the Me-
tropolis.
How changed in this day ofs small things from
that in which giants lived-giants in intellect
giants in patriotism-giantS in everything that
go to make up the true excellence of human
character. George Washington WAS our Presi-
dent! Franklin Pierce is our PRESIDENT The
first displaying that nobility of nature, which at
taches to true greatness, modesty desiring to re-
tire with the glorious civil trophies which
single term had added to his ilustrious military
name, then, as now, unrivalled in history; the
second, an accident whose election was the re-
suit of one Of those strange fantastic freaks
of fortune that Providence sometimes permits
to succeed, for some wise, but to our finite
minds, inscrutable reasons Perhaps, in this
instance, to show us our retrogression to
point the way to our reformation-to open our
eyes to the fact, that the institutions of our
country were not made for the sportive tricks
of politicians, or to be tampered with by the
sacriligious Vaccinations of mischievous de-
magogues. Franklin Pierce, instead of being
thankful, humbly thankful, for this unusual
fortune-kind to him, cruel to us-dragples
the Administration robes of an office filed by
George Washington into the political cess pool
to electioneer for his oWn reelection. Nay, he
goes further still, he imperiously announces to
the delegates chosen by the sovereign people
to name his successor, that if he is "not
nominated, no other Northern man shall be ~
We know we war in venal age, and we know
that seventy millions of official patronage are
hard to resist, but we cling to the hope that
wisdom, dignity, and virtue are not so entirely
disregarded by the people, as longer to allow
the path to the highest preferment to be too
easy to blockheads, proaigates and parasites.
We must emerge from this day Of small things.
1t is inconsistent with the great mission of the
American republic, it is at variance with the
settled principles of the Democratic party. One
more such blunder as we have made, and the
safety OF our institutions is imperilled. Let
rs take men for their merit, for their wisdom,
experience, and virtue.
But we simply intended to make contrast
of the modesty and dignity Of the great Wash
ington in desiring to decline reelection, and
the present small head Of the same great
people, pressing audaciously and contume-
liously his claims for denomination. Verify,
1t is but step from the sublime to the ridicu-
lous
n@-We give the following just view, from the