The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-03-04
The Inauguration OF Our New President
The incoming Administration.

The inauguration of the fifteenth President of
the United States, James Buchanan, takes place
at Washington to-day. With the pronunciation
by him of the oath prescribed by the constitution
the administration of the last four years expires
and the new one begins 1t will begin, too. I'M
der highly favorable auspices and indications Of a
peaceful, digni6ed, satisfactory aud successful
administration, both in regard TO our internal
and exterior relations.
Franklin Pierce has been a failure-a deplora-
bic and disastrous failure-to his party and
unanimous vote of the thirty-one States
Of the Union, upon the basis Of the conserva-
tive principles embodied in the great compro-
mise measures of 1850, his way was clear before
him. But instead of building his administration
upon the solid rock Of the Union sentiment OF the
country, as expressed in those great measures of
peace, he proceeded to erect rnongrel establish
ment upon the shifting sands of faction. BE
would harmonic his party, and 50 he proceeded
to q mixed Cabinet commission Of Northern free
soilers and Southern secessionists and thus hts
downward career was commenced Ia advance Of
the delusive promises Of his inaugural
With Mr.. Buchanan the case is widely
different. Elected, Liz Pierce, upon the
strength Of the UM66 sentiment of the
country, and in spite of the expressive popular
minority 10 which the democratic party has been
reduced by the follies, blunders and crimes OF
poor Pierce, il is well that Mr.. Buchanan has
thought It safest 10 fall back upon first prin-
ciples In this view, the appointed of his Cabinet
headed by some Of the most prominent men
associated with the names Of Chy and Webster
In the passage of the peace acts Of 1854, removes
the new administration at once from Pierce's
road 10 ruin, and gives the cosntry and the world
a solid guarantee Of a conservative government
at home and abroad
The policy Of compounding with Northern dis
organizers and Southern secessiouists, fiibus
terra and all the odds and ends Of faction In view
of another democratic nomination and another
term Of Office, is openly repudiated by Mr.. Blu.
chaDan. His position is an independent one.
He has no second term Of Office TO ask; he has So
| cured the ultimatum Of his ambition, excepting
the desire to return in March, 1861 TO his retire
men' with the approval Of The country and with
| a clear conscience, before God and man, in hav-
| ing redeemed his oath 10 fulfil the duties Of bis
\ high Office to the beet Of his abilities
While the Cabinet affords US the most atisfac-
| tory assurance Of q firm, consistent and
conservative policy at home against
| the schemes Of all sectional dlsorgan-
izers on the slavery question, we are also as
sured that no fears need be entertained that Gen.
Cas-, as Secretary Of State, is equivalent 10 an
inevitable foreign war. On the contrary, we
have IL from various reliable sources Of informa-
ton that in the late discussion Of treaty in the
| Senate, and in his outside conversations, Gen.
| Cas- has expressed himself as man of peace,
and in favor OF peace rsther than war, TO the last
| reasonable extremity o. forbearance. This peace
policy, bow,yer, will hardly be that mastery
Inactivity concerning our foreign relations
Ehich, with all its "sound aud fury, has charac-
. &ixed the Pierce administration, but something
| hc. II viii comprehend the expansion Of our
! commercial interests, the enlargement of our
| political isfaence abroad, and the extension of
our phydcal boundaries, es far ss compatible
with our international good faith and the int
rests of the Union at large.
Briefly, we accept the Inauguration Of james