Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-13
OPENING OF CONGRESS-.
OPPOSITION TO THE ADMINISTRATION

OPPOSITION TO THE ADMINISTRATION
Three weeks from Monday next, and Congress "lll
convene. In another column full list of the neu
bers Of both the Senate and House Of Representatives
will be fonud. The Democratic majority should Insure
such support Of the Administration as to enable it
to pursue it's prescribed policy smoothly, quietly and
successfully But there is reason to believe that the
assaults Of the Black Republicans will be seconded,
in effect if they are not eIcelled in reckessness bya
few actous representatives of the disunionsts and
their ultra allies in the South. Mr.. Buchanan had
hardly been nsugurated, before the murmurs OF the
malconteu,s were heard, like the ill.conceaed anger
of snarng cur, eager for opportunity to bounce
upon the object of his hate.
The alleged misconduct OF Governor Walker soon
presented plausible prete1 for open attack, on the
part of those who had the msuness to assume an
unequyocsl attitude of hostility to the Admnstra-
ton, and for an indirect exercise of badly disguised
anilnosity, by those who srove to undermine while
seeming to support it. Mr.. Buchanan has thus been
boldly arraigned by one class of enemies, while the
treacherous setto of professed friends lie also often
drawn against him by another SO far this opposition
has In some instances exhausted itself temporarily in
idle camor; and In others il has either been subdued
by contemplation Of the lofty independence and i'm.
pregpabIe position Of the Administration, or taught
salu,ary lesson by the trenchan hrusts and calm ad
monitions of the defenders Of the policy Of the Pre-.
,ident But that the enemies Of the Administration
in the South az we'll as in the North, pseudo. Demo
cratic as we'll as Black Republican, will make war
upon it in less than thirty days after the opening OF
Congress- we have little doubt. The faconiSts, who
have already assailed Mr.. Buchanan, are only await
ing an opportunity to renew their attacks. And we
need not anticipate that none others than they, VINO
are now known either as ss6wsd or unavowed op-
r,onents of the Administration, will be implicated in
the opposition
We have no idea, that in point of numbers, there
will be anything than an uncomfortable acces'
sion to the csptious clique Of utrasts, when the
gauntlet is thrown down to the supporters OF the
President and the decisive battle begins in earnest
between the National Democracy and the sectional
ists. Nor have we in our minds eye, any individual
Democrat, who ia not now suspected of secret sym.
uathy with the factionists. But we should not be
astonsbed If the influence Of distinguished names is
NOT wanting to lend dignity TO the efforts Of the more
obscure, but not less ambitious individuals, who may
lead the assault upon the Administration.
Why is it that this opposition will be made in
Democratic Congress, and that, too, by Southern
members7 Was Mr.. Buchanan elected Is an enemy,
or az friend Of the South1 Did the North, or the
South contribute principally to his elevation to the
Presidsncy7 And has he proved untrue to single
principle proclaimed by the Cincinnati Conventioni
Has be in single instance devsted from bis duty to
the country: or acted or advised against the interests
of the slaves States1 No Democrat in Virginia
would dare to say that he has. And yet, after Con-
1ress meets individuals inspired with tbs sympsthet
ic courage and confidence of company, may be heard
as representatives of Virginia, openly appealing TO the
Democracy Of the South, to array themselves 10 '"'
rsgonsm to the Administration.
Mr.. Buchanan has so far pursued the policy "n'on
his whole history induced US to expect wn'on "u'
prescribed for him by the Convention at Cincinnati
and which ,b. Southern a. well IS Northern Demo
crst. proclaimed for him when they were advocating
bi. elsc,ion, An experienced statesman, and moor
ruptiols patriot he was thought to be above the IN
anence of nr.udices or Of predictions. And hence
ho GA. considered the for the times-to crush out
fe,s,icsm in the North and calm the hot temper OF
nrarm In the South; to quiet the troubled waters,
and restore the republic to peace by an nfs1bls ad
.,,rsncs TO the Constitution, and an impartial ad-
mipis,ra,ion of the Government. He has 90 far ed.
mrsbly answered this expectations sndthsth will do
60 to the end, we entertain not doubt. Abolitonim
70 already rapidly declining; the contest between The