Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-03-15
PRESIDENT PIERCE AND THE Sue
CEssION.

comes evident to a majority Of the Democracy
of nation, that one of lis leaders is not
proper representative Of its principles, and is,
in fact, the advocate of policy likely to be
destructive of its best interests, it is the duty
Of that Democracy to cast off that leader, and
place at the head of the column one of sterner
metal, and endowed with those great qualities
which will command the respect of honest men,
In the opinion of vast majority of the liberal
party Of the United States, such period as
that to which we have alluded is at hand
Franklin Pierce has been weighed in the bal
ance, and found Wanling-wanting IN every
element of the statesman or the political sage.
Stripped of his hypocrtical professions of dis
interestedness and love for the people, he
stands before us, one Of the veriest demagogues
of the age talking of nothing, writing Of
nothing, thinking Of nothing but the advance
ment of his own private affairs.
What has Mr.. Pierce, of New Hampshire,
done, that the masses of the Democracy should
bow the knee, and worship reyerentially at his
shrine What single great move has he made
that can entitle his Administration to the re.
spect of men who love fair and honest deal
ing? Has be taken single step in the ad
vancement Of the interests of the party that
elected him? Can any Of the living or could
any OF the dead, if they we're restored to life,
testify in far or of one bold, unms'akable blow
on the side of the Constitution and the rights
of man? The record is barren-absolutely
barren-a dreary desert of weakness, political
cowardice, treachery TO friends, and purchase
of unworthy enemies! The acts of commits
sion Of the present Executive will occupy but
little space in the pages of the future historian
of America. The record will be about as fol-
lows:
He turned out of Office every politician in the
State Of New York who was not favorable to
the interests of Martin Van Buren,, and his
Abolition confederates.
He established press in Washington city,
and directed every man depending upon him
for bread and meat, to devote his leisure hours
to extravaganza eulogies of his Administration.
He commanded his agents throug hout the
country to attend all the primary conventions,
and see TO it that delegates should be chosen
favorable to his denomination.
He issued many proclamations of his inten-
tons to regard the equality Of the States and
the compromises Of the Constitution; never
theless, he suffered mob law to run riot in the
Territory Of Kansas for many a month, and
dared not, for fear of injuring his prospects for
the Presidency, exert the power which he ad-
mitted was lodged in his hands. Instead Of
quelling disorder in Kansas, according to his
oath Of off ce-according to the Constitution
and laws OF the land, and according to the
right which he admitted he possessed-he
called upon Congress for authority to do that
which nobody doubted he had the right to do.
His only object was to make pompous dis
play before the country and avoid response
bty from which it was impossible to relieve
himself All who are in doubt in reference to
this matter, need only refer to the late able
report Of Hon. Stephen A. Douglas upon the
subject of Kansas, where they will discover
that the President was fully authorized, at the
time he sent his message to Congress, to do
everything which be requested Of Congress the
power to do.
He abolitonized, BY his treatment of Ma
tional Democrats, half dozen northern States
Of the Union.
he telegraphed to New York city to prevent
American citizens leaving our shores to settle
in Central America.
He and his Attorney General talked learn
edy Of a war with England, and still suffered
the mother country" TO gain great advan-
tage in the final settlement Of the most impor.
tant political question Of the age.
What is there in such presentation Of facts
as this TO entitle Mr.. Pierce to come forward
and demand an Endorsement at the hands OF
the American people? Are we SO reduced in
these latter days that we are compelled to re-
nominate a weak and unworthy man, that we
may preserve the consistency Of the Demo
cratic record2 What has Democracy to do
with any Of its temporary representatives? We
have no kingly nor apostolic succession in our
political annals. Like every other Republic,
that Of America must occasionally furnish
Chief Executive who will not honor the high
position TO which he may be called Our true
course, when we have shallow and pretend
ing demagogue to deal with, is to suffer him
to drop quietly into oblivion. If he insists
upon fastening himself upon the, Democracy,
then it must become our duty to use every hon.
orabe means in our power to avoid a demora.
lzation of our party.
Democracy can never gain anything by an
effort to impose counterfeit greatness upon the
country; the tremendous power which it has
welded since the days of Jefferson has resulted
directly and legtimately from its practical
honesty. 1t has never attempted to conceal
its weak places, nor apologize for the errors Of
its public men. Let us select, from The no
htical armament Of the Union, bright and
unsullied star, the light Of which, as in other
days, will guide the Democratic column 10 :
trim mphant yictory