Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-04-19


pamphleeer, who so far drops the Virginia
mask, as TO state amongst the reasons which
should aetuate the South to support Mr.. Pierce
for a second term, that " if a President is as
sured that after lapse of four years, he must
inevitably return to society where slavery is
not tolerated and its friends are prosecuted, he
will not be disposed to sacrifice the happiness
of his life in the service Of people he may
never see again" But, it is added" if the
South will hold out TO northern President an
assurance of support for another term, they OF,
fer him an almost inevitable inducement to
support their interests. The South must avail
itself of any expedient of selfprotection.
There is no dishonor in yoking the ambition
of men to its car"
Now, Mr.. Pierce is within both the terms OF
the category Of characters to which this policy
would apply. He is "northern man and
the President Therefore, according to this
casuist, unless assured that he will not be al
lowed TO return TO society where slavery IS
not tolerated. he may not be disposed TO sacri-
fee his happiness Tor the inadequate consider
ton of single term to shpulate for the re-
newal of his official lease will constitute an
almost inevitable inducement" TO him TO serve
the interests of the South.
This open and fragrant intimation of the
price which is yet to be paid for his services,
and the penalty of refusing to secure them,
would alone warrant the people whose suffrages
are asked on the score OF magnanimity, to re-
fuse them on the ground of selEpreservaton,
and of self.respe ct. Such al avowal, at least
releases the South from any obligation--if any
existed-to renew a mark of confidence thus
shown to have been susceptible OF peryersion
to the most mercenary purposes.
But since the GROUND Of moral obligation has
been thus virtually abandoned, let examine
the expediency Of renominating Mr.. Pierce
| upon the principles thus alleged to acuate
him. In the reiutation of the argument in
favor OF the policy proposed. we distinctly deny
that the charge against the natives of one great
section of the Union are true though OF
| course, the advocates of an individual have a
right to make any special admissions which
please them, and to sacrifice the claim to
the integrity Of their candidate, if they can
thereby more effectually promote his in
terests If it be, however, true that "a
Northern President, is so mercenary, let US
see how far he would be bound to the car OF
the South by q promise to confer upon him a
renewal of his office. If the doubt in regard
| to the denomination of Northern President
! will render the course of his administration
uncertain, the certainty that he could not be
continued in office beyond the second term
would release him from any obligation to con-
form his actions during that term to the inte-
rests of the South. The practical result of the
reelection of such an incumbent would be
this: Having conducted his administration
during his first term TO secure the support of
the South for second, he would so direct it
during the second, as to make his return to
the bosom of that society where slavery is
not tolerated" as pleasant as possible. With the
accumulated savings of eight years of public
station and the treacherous recantation OF
every sentiment obnoxious to that society
| which does not tolerate slavery" we should
| find "a Northern President" comprising the
two great objects Of decieving his sectional
antagonists out Of a competency, and recon
Cling his alienated fellow. citizens by sancti
monious professions, and a judicious appica-
ton of the spoils of successful dnplicity If a
sincere, though fanatical, people could be made
parties to such q scheme, it wonld be but the
story Of some pirate, who undertakes to APP
pease the outraged law by pretended penitence,
and the profuse bestowal of the fruits ofiniquity
upon the affairs of power or Of superstition.
But we are glad that such imputations upon
the honor of the North, and such infamous
counsels to the Democracy Of the South, exist
but upon the ephemeral pages Of an election
pamphlet.
1t is, indeed, publication obscure, anony-
nous, irresponsible, and almost liable TO the
suspicion that il has been written by some enc.
my Of the Democratic Party, to subject that
party to the imputation OF advising doctrines
so dishonest, and tolerating advisers SO reck-
less and inconsistent.
We, however, content ourselves with having
disproved any obligation on the Southern De-
mocracy to sustain Mr.. Pierce for renomina-
ton, and cheerfully acquit him Of the imputa.
ton TO which the INSCRIPTIONS zeal Of his in
visible advocate has subjected him.
But Mr.. Pierce is not the most eligible nomi.
nee that the South can at this time select. A
magnanimous sacrifice Of local and sectional
preferences to the common good Of the Demo
cratic party, resulted in his election, by ma
jority almost unparalleled in our electoral
annals The destinies Of the Democratic party
we're committed to his hands, and he ayowed
his policy and principles in an inaugural ad-
dress, which received the commentator Of all
men. But the acclamations with which he
retired from the east portico OF the Capitol we're
succeeded by murmurs Of discomfort. Under
some unhappy idea, that the sacrifice Of all