The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-17
THE COURSE OF THE ADMINISTRATION
THE POSITION OF PARTIES.

Ink IUSlI1ON We 1AhAA1S'
Mr.. Buchanan was the favorite of the South
ern members of the Cincinnati Convention, es-
pecally of the Virginia delegates. De was
nominated chiefly through Southern influence,
and was elected chiefly by Southern votes.
Only one State in the South voted against him;
only four of the sixteen free States voted for
him. That Southern men and counsels should
control him, and give character to his Admins
tration, can surprise nobody who understands
the relations of Principal and Agent.
The selection of his Cabinet showed that the
Public expectation was not to be disappointed.
Only ore member, the Attorney General, rep
resented Democratic free State, and he was
juriat, not a politician, or statesman, or
party leader. Two represented free States, in
which their power had gone down with that of
their party. So thai it may be said that Messrs.
Cass, Toucey, and Black, the three members of
the Cabinet from the free States, brought with
them no force to the Administration, appeared
as the legitimate opponents of no Party, held
in their hands no means for controlling or sha-
ping the movements of the So called Democracy
of the North. Wha! could be expected from
such men, so circumstanced, when confronted
by energetic politicians from the South, each
sustained by his State, and clothed with the
power of party leader? Messrs. Cobb, Floyd,
Thompson, erd Rrowu, could speak for their
States, and their section; Messrs. Cass and
Toucey had been disowned by their States
and section, and Mr.. Black, although citizen
Of Democratic State, could not speak for his
Party. To say nothing Of the timidity,
indecision, ard want of tact, of the free State
members, and the boldness, energy, and man.
aging qualities Of the Southern, the position and
circumstances of the latter, naturally gave them
the control of the Administration. No one who
has studied the political career of James
Buchapan, and remembers the influence that
determined his nomination ard election, can
suppose for a moment that he could Withstand the
unanimous and decided counsels of the South
ern members Of his Cabinet.
In the light Ct these considerations, his vacl-
latirg and disingenuous course in regard to
Kansas becomes ineligible. 1t ives desirable
to build up National Democracy, and recover
| a majority of the free States from the control
ofthe Republicans. Governor Walker was there
fore instructed to pacify Kansas, and in order to
do this, to promisee fair and full application
OF the Principle of Popular Sovereignty. The
Convention must be recognised, but its work,
of course should be submitted to the People.
| The Governor obeyed instructions, but his
speeches aroused the Indignation of the extre-
| mists of the South, who had resolved to have
Kansas pescesbly if possible, forcibly if neces
sary. The Administr alton was alarmed-the
| Southern members feared that the National
Democracy" Of the South might suffer too much
in the attempt to build National Democra-
| cy" in the Ncrh. Had Mr.. Buchanan been
resolute and Independent, he would have
promptly sustained and INDICATED Walker, but
| in Difference to his Southern counsellors he al
| lowed rim 10 be apoIasi9 al fo-, ga If he Lad
just little transcribed his instructions, per-
haps committed an error, but still had acted
from good inontious-thus relieving himself of
responsibility he ought to have been magnan-
| imous enough to assume.
| This trimming policy was persisted in but
his Southern supporters, while offering stinted
apologies for Walker, gradually brought the
| National Democrats of the South to assent to
the policy OF submitting to the Popular vote the
| Constitution to be formed in Kansas.
Then came the October election, demonstra.
| ting beyond all doubt the overwhelming majority
Of the Free State men, dispeling the illusion
of many shareholders in regard to the state of
~ nj h. a.
Governor Walker detected and rejected the
fraudulent returns from MCGEE and Oxford
a fact necessarily throwing odium on the
cause of Slavery. No question was raised as
to the fact-it was admitted on all hands, proved
beyond the possibility of doubt. What was
the manly course for the PresidentP To gus
tain Governor Walker promptly-to vindicate
his acts, and assume their responsibility. But
his Southern counsellors could not allow this.
No decided course was taken; for weeks, con-
Trajectory reports went abroad the President
condemned the action of Governor Walker
the President regretted his action, although he
would excuse it on the ground that there was
real fraud-the President was embarrassed by
his action. Such were the reports. Vacilla-
ton ard want of resolution BE ought to have
decidedly approved, or decidedly condemned
he did neither; and therefore he weakened his
National Democratic friends in the South, and
encouraged the Extremists, who clamored
more loudly than ever against Walker. Georgia
and Mississippi passed resolutions, demanding
bis removal-and Georgia and Mississippi have
two representatives in the Cabinet 1t was at
this juncture that Governor Wise, who had GUS
tanned the policy OF submitting the Constitution
to the People Of Kansas, and was understood
to be arrayed against Mr.. Hunter on this point.
issued an address, treating the matter of differ.
ance as one not at all vital, disavowing oil op-
position to Mr.. Hunter, and expressing the
opinion that, although it would be better to
have the Constitution submitted to the People,
still, if the Convention should send it first to
Congress, it ought not for that reason to be re-
jected.
The Extremists had conquered the South
YVES united-it was easy to see what would be
the course ofthe Administration. Their counses
prevailed in the Convention. 1t refused to sub.
NIT the Constitution to the People, but sub
mitted to them the proposition in regard to the
Introduction, not existence, of Slavery in the
new State, thus disregarding every pledge made
by Mr.. Buchanan, directly or through Mr..
Walker, to the People of Kansas; and the Pres.
ident, after six months of irresolution and vacil.
lation, at last assumes settled position. He
is with the Convention with the N ational De.