The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-01-15
PACIFIED, BUT WIDE AWAKE.
From the sume, January ! lsj..
Tho Fnuuirer ard tina President FLAG

The Enquirer ard the President Elect.
The article in the enquirer of Yesterday, from
the Lancaster iafsIligencer, was obviously writ
ten in the confidence oil the President elect ;
and accepting 1t as an authoritative Fremont
ton OF the policy Of the incoming Administra-
ton, we cannot but congratulate ourselves that
We have provoked so satisfactory a response to
the demanCs or the Southern Democracy. 1t
is true TIE Attcl{igeHcer deals only in negative
denunciaions ana vague generalities: but
much may be conveyed by the spirit Of an ar
tice, and for the absence Of positive informa-
ton, We Unidentified by the assurance that
Bigler does rot speak the sentiments OF Mr..
Buchanan, and that Benton is not in his con
fdence. So far, certainly, 90 good But that
! is not all. Our cotcmpor2ry near Wheatland
denies that Mr.. Buchanan has avowed his pur-
poses to anybody, and refers to the Cincin-
natl Platform for the only authoritative adj
umbration Of his policy. This is good again
but the Intelligence gees even farther, and de-
clares thai Mr.. Buchanan will adhere to the
Mo- Of his nomina. ion will conform to the
I principles OF the State Rights Democracy, and
III HIS Administration viii illustrate his fidelity
10 the Constitution, ard his impartial regard
for &ll the various sections and interests of the
Conlederacy. The Es,guiyer concludes our
contemporary, may WEB reiterate lis expression
of confidence in the President elect"
The Enquirer never minated any mistrnst
Of the President elects In his auiecedent his
tory, in the principles Of the party platform,
and in the very pocuiaF Obligations which bind
him to the Democracy Of the South, we find
every possible guarantee Of idelity.to cur IN
stitutions. Mr.. Buchai1an IS not the man, we
take It, to blot the coDF;sten' record Of his life
by a treacEerous Gacrisce Ct principle to timd
suggestions Of eXpedesCY Unless we entirely
Inisconccive his chaIaSe Ter, st is not in his ma
ture to turn his back tlpOn5men who have sup
ported him with such glnefous confidence and
ardor Of friendship Is ls Democracy CT the
South displayed in the recent canvass With
these satisfactory pedyse5 on his part, we might
patiently await the oRciaE development Of his
policy, if it were not r. t.5e impertnent decla-
rations Of individuals yzlio are understood to be
in his confidence. It9i5 not that We fear Mr.
Buchanan, bat the enIest of such positive repre-
sensations Of his purposes 1t is very far from
our wish to attempt angling like dictation to
the President elect, bus when others pretend to
speak by his authoriiyz We have a right TO re-
buke their presumption. We are perfectly will
ing that DIR. Buchanaa should determine the
policy of his Administration 5from tho sugges-
tons OF his own wiseom but when persons
with whom he sustainS ultimate relations com
nit him, in the Opiuoh Of the public, to q
course in which the 81 nocracy of the South
cannot concur, it IS ouF duty 10 admonish him
Of our dissent 1t Is K >erYice 20 the President
elect to inform him oLAe feelings and position
of the Southern DemSTracY. Ii is their pre-
rogative to declare t9sirs sentiments, and to
protest IN advance agss IS q policy adverse to
their interests, and - 0hsistent with the en-
gagements upon whicA hey rely for the protec-
ton of their rights. - far from betraying any
unnecessary impatienl or anxiety, in regard
to the measures of "a incoming Administra-
ton, they have exhibited remarkable forbear-
ance, and very generous confidence. The
| Pacific Railroad lettSr, though in direct con
tradicton to the principles OF the State Rights
| Democracy of the S69th, was treated with the
utmost delicacy and reserve, especially by the
Richmond Enquirer
In conclusion, we Sepeat, that we need not
the indefinite protess atoms of the Lancaster
Lateltigencer to assn e us of the good faith Of
| the President elect; 5or do we want its advice
to persuade US of the proprety of awaiting the
official PRONUNCIATION of his policy, Bat, the
expectations OF the Southern Democracy shall
be made known, at least through the columns
Of this paper.