Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-09-04
THE ADMINISTRATION.

The present Administration went into power under
peculiar circumstances The election Of Mr.. Buchan
an was effected not alone by the separate strength oi
the peculiar party which brought him before tht
people for the Presidency, but by combination OF
conservative Southern Wings with the National De.
mocracy. There were tens of thousands enlisted un.
der the Democratic banner during the campaign Of
last FALL who had before been otherwise than
incorporating enemies Of those principles which
they were then supporting But the crisis had come
when partizan prejudices must be dispeed, for the
sake of the South the Constitution and the Union
The old line Wings had seen their party falter and
fall. The Black Republicans were threatening our
overthrow. The doctrines of Democracy were again
advocated as the only safeguards of the country
and there were few in the South who heeitated long
as to the course to be pursued-the alternative to
be adopted. The Fillmore faction was too feeble TO
command the consideration even Of q majority of
those who had hated Democracy with all the intensi.
ty of hereditary prejudice and partial political edu
cation. The South was seriously msnsced and the
only hope Of averting the election Of Fremont Was
In sustaining the candidates Of the Democracy Thus,
devotion to the Union and to the institutions Of the
South prompted all the old line Wings, with the
oeption of very email remnant to rally to the stand
ard Of Democracy. Considering this fact, it is evil
dent that though Mr.. Buchanan was made President
with reference TO those time.honored principles,
which have ever distinguished the Democratic party.
he nevertheless owes his election in no
degree, to the cooperation Of the old line Wings Of
the South; and therefore is his Administration more
national than If it represented only the wishes
of the party to which he belongs. Democrats OF all
sections supported him, because he was with them
and of them. The old line Wings of the slavehold
ing States supported him, because they considered
him reliable and capable protector of the rights and
honor of the South. For this reason, too. 1t might
have been expected that the first murmurs of discon
tent, the first words Of eensurs would have come
from quite another quarter than the ultra Sosh-
ern schaof e1 Democracy. 1t might have been
expected that some of those who, In the late
election, reluctantly adopted the precepts Of
the Democratic party as necessity, would
have complained of the Administration at an early
stage of its action. But it has not been so. Not
single shaft has been hurled at the head of the Presi
dent or any member Of his Cabinet, by any old line
Wing who stood by him in the battle of November,
and looked to him for peace to the country and secu.
rity to the South Those noble patriots have seen
nothing to condemn. They have not been disappoint
I'd. The Administration is, 80 far, what they expect
ito be. And they have atesed the sincerity ofther
professions and the strength of their faith, not only
by raising DO Idle csmor against it. but by rendering
good service again to improve the victory which
they aided in achieving When the occasion requires
it, they defend the President from the sspersions OF
his enemies as gallan:y and promptly as they fought
for his cause in tie campaign of last Fall. 1t is
significant fac an eloquent incident, that while there
are pTofessedly Democrats, who are endeavoring to
smbarass the Administration and to divide and dena
tionalizs the Democratic party, the od.lne Wings,
who have been with H less than year. are among
it's firmest friends. The handful Of dsaIeeted Demo.
crsts, to whom we have reference, have national
sentiments no fraterna feelings for the good men and
true of the North. There never has been party in
the country with which they could harmonize. And
there never will be unless they themselves are uti'
mately enabled to effect an exclusively Southern or.
ganizaton: with all its principles. objects and aims
expressed in the single word-DIsuSIoS. They co.
operate with the Democratic party in elections, and
are recognized as Democrats. Bat they are not
types Of the party.
1t lie gratifying fact, that the Old Line Wings who
came over to the Democratic cause at the late Pres
dental election, continue to acquiesce in that policy
which they aided In insugurating, and are among the
most Jealous friends of the Administration, because
1t proves that they are with US in good fath that
they are now converted to the of truth upon The
convictions Of their Judgments, that they are allies
not Of an hour but forever, aud that in them the De-
mocratc party has received an accession of patriot
ic, faithful and conservative supporters, who, con
yinced of error once, will be slow to embrace it in
any garb or guise again.
The Administration thus sustained on the one hand
by the National Democracy per- SCI extending through
out the length and breadth Of the nation, and on the
other by that strong, stering conservative senmep
of the old Wing party, which was once always in an
tagonism to the Democratic party, cannot but be ee
waited above mere psrtizan considerations and sec
tional feelings.
The principles promulgated in the Presidents in
aueursl address, we're the same which have eve
characterized the Democracy. The Administration
has so far coniormed to them rigidly, and we doub
not will continue to do 30 in every act until the e1
prs,iou Of Mr.. Buchanans term Of Office. The or.
| of opposition, which few weeks ego was ringnI
throagh the South has been growing fseblsr AM
feebler, until it ia heard with faintness indicative
only of expiring agony That it will bersvived with
in lesa than six months, we strongly suspect But
will again be rebuked by the conservative sense Q
both sections. Mr.. Buchanan has an important par
7 to play-a delicate duty to perform. And, strong
was our confidence in bis capacity before, It is not
intellectually increased by the energy, ability, sell
possession and fearless resolution, which he hs
manifested since his Inauguration. His Cabinet
composed Of patriots, who know mo sections an
there 10 every reason to believe that bis Adminstr
ton will more thanluil the highest expectations
the country.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CONVENTION.
We lay before our readers the concluding proceet