Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-06-23
PIE ATIoN-IrS RESPONSIBILITY
TJrs,aND DIFFICULTIES.

TJESAND
4 While Republican countries are "pparen''y-a"'
really in oome sense-the most easily governed tney
.rsouirs the most wak4!ui vigilance, the most mature
e iudvroeuf, extensive information and eminent adj
administrative tal-n. to avoid tie Very dangers and
difficulties. which are liable to arse from an irudi-
2c:5us exercise of Tao franchises Of freedom. Coup
Sriss controlled by the edcts Of kings and courts or
/e .kas"s of autocrats, are Managed politically con
/'&;Gered with much less responsibility, and cohse
G;sn.y much greater Indifference to The Wishes a"u
piuions CT the people. II Republic every c"1en
ia sovereign; and hence the amplitude Oh iege'a
tion and the individual interest enlisted 10 'e Pf'
cyess of every national movement and puoNc act'
T, ;.f,r tbase reasons that Democratic governments
wbsnsver or wherever they exist, must necessarily
be attended with delicate duties On the part OF their
representatives and officials in every sphere, which
;,vss, them with responsibilities arising Immediately
from ,hsi. ameuability to the people by whom they
sre chosen and for whom they are legislating and
advising And especially is this true in the United
States, where there ia such an immense expanse Of
tsrrory so vast variety of interests, and an aires
DIV extensive intercourse with other nations increas
ing daily and eugendering relations OF character
by no means conducive to good understanding, as
long as their policy and purposes are Incompatible
with our interests.
In such an age and such a country as this, what
ever may be it's principles, and however may be its
capacities, il is impossible that any administration
can corduc. the government SO As to avoid every
difficulty and danger.
There has never been period in our political his.
tory, embraced in an olympiad between one presi'
dental election and another. half 80 important, not
only to the American people, but to the friends of
freedom in every land that comprised in the space
Of tune from the 4th November 1856 to the anniver
sary Of the same occasion in 1860. The slavery
ousstion-that most dangerous source of agitation
and alarm among patriots OF all parties-s either to
be settled upon proper principles, the Union is to
be divided extensive territory in open rebellion
against the laws Of God and man. is to be quoted by
moral force or at the pou Of the bayonet; and for
eigu policy is to be established, which, if not judi
c:ously DONE will inevitably involve us in war with
the frst maritime power of the world.
The difficulties that environ this administration
are enough to test the patriotism, wisdom statesman
ship and discretion even of James Buchanan and his
able Cabinet. And aside from all party prediction
We are sincere when We say we consider the coun-
try fortunate in having such men 10 such juIcure,
a, the head Of affairs.
The dagger which rises in significance and impor.
lance above every other is that attending the deter
m;naton Of the North with regard to the institution
of slavery and the rights of Tho South. Whether
the imsartial patriotic and constitutional course of
the Administration on this subject, will so far alay
fanatci.m to give guarantees Of future security
from insult and assault, TO the Southern people,
it is as yet impossible to decide. But there is rea
son believe, that at the close OF Mr.. Buchanans
term of ofioe the abolition party will BE- reduced
10 strength as to insure the victory OF another OF The
couserv ative men of this nation. The Utah difficulty
nasy lead the embarrassing aud dread necessity Of
levelins American guns at American citizens. But
it is ;o'be hoped those unchrissn traitors will be
brought into obedience to tho Federal laws without Il
resort to arms.
The policy to be pursued with reference to our
foreign relations, rather to those relations arising
from the designs aud movements of foreign powers
relative 10 certain parts and portions 0. the American
continent, is also, present, matter OF mos: mo-
lnen,ou. interest. England is evidently to
Abandonment of her purposes aud projects in Central
America. Aud it would by ;he la:e,, Intelligence
from Cuba that Spain is abou: to enter earnestly and
actively in enterprise for the deposition of Ccuon-
fort and the Reinstatement OF Santa Anna in Mexico
That Grea, Britain should be KEEP; back from all
farther colonization this continent, indispensable
to the natural expansion OF our institutions and area,
and in that direction, too, to which they tendag
With certainty and rapidity highly gratifying to the
South aud the friends of the South This admins
traton, We have not a doubt, will see that ali is we'll
In that quarter. And notwithstanding the difficulties
TO be encoun.ered-indeed, rather for that very
eon-we anticipate record for the Buchanan admin.
is,ration unequaed 10y few, exceled by none. that
have preceded or will come after it.