Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-03-18
TuE RETIRING ADMINISTRATION.

We find in the National IntelEgencer Of the
Ith instant, the following article, containing
we'll deserved tribute to the patriotism, industry,
and fidelity of the late President, and OF the
members of his cabinet. 1t is an endorsement
worth more than all the panegyrics OF the party
press and strickingly illustrates the candor,
moderation and intelligence by which that eN-
cellent journal has always been distinguished IN
its course towards its political opponents
In the process of time, and III accordance
with the reouisiton of the Constitution the coun-
try is this day brought to contemplate the term
of the Presidential Administration OF Franklin
Pierce. The executive powers OF which, during
the last four years Of our national existence,
he has been the honored depository, are about
to Ee transmitted to the hands OF his veteran
successor. At such period when so many
eyes are strained to greet the rising sun, II IS the
Office, rs well Of patriotic solicltude as OF per
soual respect towards the retiring incumbent OF
the Presidential chair, to cast glance BACK up
on the results of the Administration which has
now reached its close.
Without entering for this purpose into any
minute recital Of the measures and principles
which have given shape and color to the poNti-
cal and public events OF the last four years, we
NAV safely venture to say that in hereafter ira
cling the civil and material progress OF the coun-
try, the historian Of the United States will be
able to discern that the administration OF Presi-
dent Pierce deserves to find place among those
periods which have contributed their share to
the general prosperity.
After due allowance made for that recupcra-
tive energy which enables a young ANA vigorous
nation to thrive even in spite OF occaslona! er-
rors in the administration Of its public AFFAIRS
Justice will still ascribe to the outgoing Govern.
ment an active and positive agency in much that
has contributed to the national honor and vel.
fare Our own readers are sufficiently informed
that it has not been our fortune to concur with
the President in the wisdom or expediency OF
all the measures which have marked either the
domestic or foreign policy of his administration,
nor have We vet found reason to change our
deliberate opinions with respect to the tendency
of those issues upon which we have felt 1t our
duty to dissent from the conclusions OF the EX.
ecutive, however much we may always have re-
spccted the convictions Of public duty which
guided his course with reference to much-can.
vassed questions Claiming for ourselves no ex
emption from that lallibility which we have
sometimes ascribed to the executive department
of the Government, we can only hope that the
developments of the future may vindicate its
policy even with regard to those points which
are still in litigation and debate, as We are sure
the softening effects Of time, whatever in other
respects may be the award of impartial history,
will mitigate the partisan animoSity which has
sometimes unduly assailed the purity OF its
motives.
But, however great may be the diversity of
Judgment respecting the policy OF its particular
measures all will concede to the retiring Admin.
istration, as 4 whole, the merit of industry and
fidelity in the discharge of its ministerial duties
In this respect it may safely challenge compar.
son with any that has preceded it. The head Of
each Department seems to have We'd with his
colleagues in giving to his particular branch of
the General Government all the efficiency which
talent, aided by untiring assiduty, could effect
Where each has thus done his duty with such
commendable diligence, it would be inridious to
indulge III special praise; and if the same meas
ure OF success has not attended the efforts of
all, the blame should perhaps be assigned to the
intractable nature of certain administrative de.
tails, which afford very wide margin for una
voidable grounds of complaint on the part of
those who fail to consider the thousand.fold con.
tingences to Which such d service is subjected.
While the logic of the sagacious and expert.
enced Secretary Of State may have failed in a
few cases to convince US, We yield to none in a
high appreciation of the general conservatism
and statesmanlikc ability he has always brought
tp the conduct of correspondence which he has
held with foreign Governments. Without de-
tracing aught from the honor due to the Prcsi.
dent for his part in directing those important
negotiations, we may yet be pardoncd in express
sing the opinion that much of the success of his
administration in its management Of our foreign
relations deserves to he attributed to his trusted
and trusty Secretary Of State. And if the head
OF each of the other Departments may be truly
said to have rvalled in his respective sphere of
duties the zeal and ability of the Foreign Secre-
tary, it is, perhaps, not too much to affirm that
the learned and indefatigablc Attorney General
of the retiring Ministry has organized the ad.
mnistrative dnties of his office, thus rendering
more easy the career Of his successor, not only
by the clean docket he transmits, but also By the
define the boundaries Of his provinces with all
its subdivisions and dependencies.
As that praise is always most valuable which
proceeds from those best qualified to judge of
the grounds on which it is conferred, we need
but alude to the confidence which the business
men of the country have steadily reposcd in the
outgoing Secretary of the Treasury as constitu-
ting in itself strnng testimony to the intelligence
and fidelity with which he has performed the
intricate and responsible functions of his office;
while to the personnel of the Army and Of the
Navy, the Secretaries Of these Departments may
safely appeal for the general plaudt, which
forms the best reward Of Official station. If the
Secretary of the Interior and the Postmaster
General have had wider constituency to man
age and please we are sure they have none the
less or less Justly earned the appreciation Of
those entitled to sit in Judgment on their labors.
When the Roman Emperor whose name has
come in aftertimes to designate the palmicst days
of national greatness was about to depart from
the stage Of action, he turned to inquire of his
courtiers if he had played well his part; and,
being answered in the Affirmative, expired with
the simple request upon his lips, "Then give
me your applause" That which in his case
was but the inspiration and cxaction of imperial
pride, the ruling passion strong even in death,
deserves among us to be the voluntary homage
which the citizens of Republic may pay to the
faithful servants of the National Commonwealth
and, so far as is due to those who are now about
to resign their public trusts, we cheerfuy unite
with those of our felow.citizens who are ready
to accord to them that tribute.
-<~<--
PHILADELPHIA, March IL.
DR.. KAsE's REMAINs-The remains of Dr.
Kane were escorted by large procession this
from the Baltimore depot to Indepen. !
dence Hall which was draped in mourning