The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-27
The Administration and the Presidential
SChemers OF the Democratic Party

dds ana terces OF pork at d. Cd. q 6s.
The Administration and the Presidential
schemers or the Democratic Party.
Our democratic Presidential aspirants since
the time of Gen. Jackson have been very jea-
lous Of the power Of the administration in re-
ference to the succession. 1t was as much as
they could do, with all the engineering of
Robert j. Walker, to prevent the nomination of
Martin Van Buren, for the third time, (notwith-
standing his crushing defeat in ls4O) so great
was the influence of Old Hickory's predilec-
tions, down to 1874, over the councils of the
party. But since that day the party leaders
have taken good care to keep the President
within their reach; and thus they experienced
not the slightest difficulty in setting Mr.. Polk
aside in lS4S, and in turning poor Pierce adrift
in 1856
cessity, to which, however, his disappointed
rivals the more readily submitted from the I'M
Outstanding that in no event would he become
a candidate for second term. His election
was accepted not as mere party triumph, but
a. narrow escape from the absolute annhila-
ton OF the party. Exhausted by their despe-
rate efforts in the canvass, the rank and file of
the democracy at first occupied the field of vic
tory like an enfeebled and mutilated army, in
capable of further exertion; while the superior
forces of the enemy, still fresh and vigorous,
remained full in sight, not subdued. but cha
grined at the loss of the battle which they had
permitted to 60 by default.
But with the proclamation of Mr.. Buchanan's
Cabinet and inaugural, the party asprants for
the succession began to prick up their ears and
concoct their little conspiracies, while the
masses of the people, of all parties, began to
subside into state of confiding tranquility.
| 1t was evident that the Cabinet was the Cabinet
| of Mr.. Buchanan, that he was and would be
| the master of his situation, and that he was no
mans pioneer for the succession This would
| never do; and so the fire-eating organs of the
South instantly opened fire upon the heretcal
materials of the Cabinet. Mr.. Cobb had been
traitor to the South; Gen. Cas- had basely de-
ceived them with his Nicholson letter on the
niger question; Mr. Brown was one of the old
Van Buren, stock of Southern democrats, and 80
on As for the inaugural, it was but the cat in
the meal tub. Ii was evident that the Southern
democracy and Southern rights were to be sac
rifced to save the party in the North from be-
ing ground to powder by the abolitinists.
From Richmond to New Orleans a regular
fre-eaters' hue and cry of this sort was set ur
against the administration from the fourth of
March. and with the first pacifcation speeches of
Gov. Walker in Kansas this hue and cry was
swelled into a general secessionist howl
against Walker and against the President for
their treachery to the interests of slavery in a
frozen territory where niger can't be made
to pay expenses. But the masses of the
American people satisfied with the calm just
and conservative Cabinet and Kansas policy of
the administration. were Indifferent to these
outories of our Southern dsorganizers; and at
length finding that the President was not to be
bullied nor frightened into the service of JEFF
ferson Davis, the ireeaters ceased their howl
ing and bottled up their wrath for future
necessities.
But no sooner were the Southern fire-eating
.ohemers for the succession reduced to submits
sion. with Jefferson Davis at their head and
Mr.. Hunter. OF Virginia. at their tail. than the
Northern Presidential aspirants of the party,
with Douglas at the head and Walker at the
tail OF the conspiracy, came down upon the
administration with their Kansas coup detat of
popular sovereignty" And Why Simply
because If our hold over candidates for the
White House permit the administration to
become too popular, IL may become too power
full In the next national party Convention to
suit their purposes The outsiders had enough
Of this policy Of building up master over the
party in the case OF Old Hickory and they in
tend, therefore. that Mr. Buchanan shall be as
powerless in the matter Of the succession as
Mr.. Polk or poor Pierce.
The consequences, as we have heretofore de-
picted will most probably be a decisive disrup-
ton Of the democracy as a national organiza-
ton and the reconstruction Of parties for 1860
upon new sectional and party issues These
anticipations would be o matter for serious
concern to the President If, like Mr.. Polk or
poor Pierce, be we're a candidate for second
term. But as Mr. Buchanan has no desire of
this kind. and no protege to look after. he can
have no other concern than a satisfactory &C
count Of his stewardship to the American peo-
pie. The conflicting Presidential cliques Of the
democracy may tear the party into tatters;
new parties may be formed Of these disjointed
fragments; but having no favors to ask and
nothing to fear from cliques or factions, or fac
tioIs leaders, Mr.. Buchanan will still continue
the master of bis position, and will still be able
to command the balance of power among the
people, 10 spite OF all plots and combinations
TO Tylerize his administration.
We have no fears that this Kansas coup d'std
Of Mr. Douglas will destroy the public conf
dence In the honesty and justice of Mr.. Bucha-
mans policy; nor have we any apprehensons
that. with the admission Of Kansas as a free
State the administration will be broken down
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