Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-03-12
Enn As Wa.hinntan Kaian-
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TIE RETIRING ADMTNIsTR ATgo,

Ala O'Clock to-day the term Of the nrassrt oi;.t
ton closes It seldom happens that Justice is done 70 any
administration until the sober second thouq BIT assigns 10
It its proper place in history. The Observation-Disclosures Of
otcal aspiration alone furnish causes Of ssasfscon
M9on prevent or the the time being unbiased popular
judgment IL was not until after Jefferson Madison Jack
son and Polk had severay terminated their official terms
that their administrative merits we're auy appreciated and
6utnOriaTey determined. No one Of these iustrious
champions OF democracy had greater obstacles contend
Wlih and no one of them was more resoue peseyerng
and triumphant IN meeting and overcoming them than
FRANKLIN Pierce Their and their memories are
now embaed il the aeetionets and grateful hearts of
the national democracy, whilst thsirvng opponents freely
eoncede 70 them that respect which due dsnereSed
Fatfl0tlsm and eminent abilities. So il viii be with Gen.
sra PeTcs except that the Justice which rests on atured
popular judgment promises to be less daory 10 his case
than IN that OF some Of his lustrous democratic prede
csssors.
IL has been our fortune to be intimately associated with
President Pierce during his entire term On most Of the
domestic questions Of policy which have arisen durisg
ms Administration, he has received cordial and
supports and all the questions of foreign policy save
one we have been quite cordial and sup
port Where could not approve the dictates of pru-
dsnes required 10 be SILENT that was our course in
gard TO Ce tral American EarE some OF tie measures
in regard TO which have been SILENT because they did
not correspond with our Judgment and sympshies
We aude to 1t now by way Of explanation Of the silence
which have observed in connection with the compiler
ton OF government with The affairs in Nicaragua.
With this exception regard the foreign policy Of
the administration emnantly WISE patriotic and sue-
cessfu 1t may be that the public judgment will differ
with ours in the excepted case if it should We shall not
regret that the entire foreign policy Of the administration
has contributed TO make up Of tie brightest chapters
in our history VI whatever may be the hnal judgment
this particular feature Of the foreign policy Of the ad
minstratOn it is gratifying to know and 10 stale that
Secretary Msrcys fame dplt msst can suffer no dim
iRuton He has elevated the American me that point
o! national emnence and splendOr Of which every friend
OF the honor and glory OF his country sjustly proud
In the domestic policy Of President Pierce the great dis
tinguishDg feature has been his steady determined and
successful ressancs Of ssetouasm, and his zsaous IN.
Waveng and efficient support Of naoualsm He started
out with the conviction that the Union could only be pre-
served in its purity and integrity by unfaerng ad
hersnca % the true spirit OF the constitution he regarded
the constitution as building up the Union the equality Of
to States and he found secODasm Wagng insidous
warfare upon this basis principle Of the constitution. At
every personal risk and with all the energy and enthusi.
of his nature he resolved to found the principles
Of THE EQUALITY THa STATES TWAS this great idea
Of nationality and justice and equality that be staksd his
administration upon the principles Of the Kansas bill We
remember well when be asked whether that bill ought
to contain express provision rePsaiHg the Missouri
strcton, he put the question: Does the bill as il now
stands by implication repeal that restriction? and eng
sWered that such its necessary legal effect be
piled with emphasis then Il IS better % make ne geDeq
eDyess and thus dir6ctU and 0pspL meet The grsgt Ss,e
5Cher Congress has the DOlgsT to The equality
Of the States. We knew that when the thus d.
Tecty made he unTing and uHceasing his efforts
to secure its success It did succeed and risk nothing
in saying that without his efficient cooperation it could
not have been carried. From that day this President
Pierce has stood IN the breach and with his whole soul de-
voted the maintenance Of tbs constitutional equality of
the States and to the final overthrow Of seeOnasm be
has received the se7erst assaults Of maddened fanacsm
-
cured second presidential term; but he chose TO act
did Henry Clay 1889 when be prepa great speech
against a5COnsm, and wasasked if be did not fear that
would defeat him for the presidency, be replied that he
"Woud rather be right than be President l in this
same NOBLE determined, and self sacrificing spirit that
President Pierce BeTevere in his great effort to plant the
Union the solid basis Of the constitutional
equality Of the States He not made President q
second term, but the great issue Of his administration
Wes fully recognised and sustained in the nomination
and election Of James Buchanan President Pierce tr
umph therefore, signal in the result Of the election
OF bis successor If be had himself been hOnOred with
second term. We consider ii definitely settled that
the constitutional equality OF the States the only basis
which the Union be parpetuated and will be last
ing monument to The frmness wisdom, patriotism, and
ability Of President Pierce that the establishment of this
principle the chief measure of his administration.
Much has been said by the enemies of President Pierce
in regard the dscordant and inharmopous materials Of
which his cabinet composed. Il the charge
in the in which 1t has been repeatedly made, it
would prove much higher order of administer tive talent
on the part OF President Pierce than his opponents concede
him The unprecedented ac stands out either to re-
flute the charge illustrate the extraordinary capacity
Of the President that during his entire Of four yeaa
his cabinet has adhered 70 him. has cordially sustained
hun on all leading questions has zsaousy eOOpeTated and
harmonzed with each other, and to-day Tetres as
unit they commenced cherishng for the President and
for each other the highest regard and esteem This fact
which stands without parallel scaters 70 the winds the
thousand misrepresentation with which the opposition
press has eesd in regard to tae dseordGn character Of
the cabinet and the aedged want Of wall and efficiency
the part of the President
The truths that whilst there were differences Of senti.
the cabinet certain questions delicate
ture which became necessary for the administration
to act these differences not greater than must
saly exist between statesmen coming from different
tons imbued BY habit and education with different views
and animated less By the peculiar sentiments that
obtain in different ATTITUDES To harmonizs and reconcile
these differences the important business OF the Chief
Magistrate and the result proves that he was fully equal
to the task. dis almost ntulve perception Of ultimate
popular judgment any given question; his Cautious cir
cumspscJon adopting his line Of policy any such is
his indomabe energy and perseverance in arriBg
successfully WhgtsTer line OF policy he fixed upon
these qualities combined with the susTity of his manners,
the crdsty of his intercourse the force Of his
tOn3 powers aad the Open frank and C0ndng Of
his heart enabled him 10 preserve the unity harmony and
/ efficiency Of His cabinet during his whole term.
Whilst the unbiased popular judgment will at early
day render ample justice Is President Pierce it vii! not
be slow award the to the several members
Of his Cabinet. The reforms and improvements made in
| each Of the dep trmenSs are matters that have
strongly impressed themselves the public mind that
they need not now be welt upon by Whilst the very
atmosphere Of Washington Dss been rendered offensive
with charges Of congressional corruption, every branch Of
the executive department escaped the malignant
tongue Ct defamation. At no period in the government
has official integrity been so freely and universally cOncs
ded TO the executive departments at the present time
venture to predict that when the story the present
administration shall be faithfully written, it will be
down WISE conservative, and honest administration OIL
| the government
Il matter of pride and satisfaction that have beer
intimately associated with meritOrOus admins
tTson. We have sustained it earnestly if efficiently
not because its policy emanaed from the Executive bu
because its policy sound national conservative, and
constitutional, and therefore truly democratic We retire
from the position have Occup ed during the four year
term Of President Pierce and resign our place to
with abiding confidence that be will find il a
cOnSOnant with his feelings and judgment TO give warn
and hearty support to the principles and policy OF the IN
coming as We have done to those Of the outgoing admins
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