Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-03-13
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.



experience of the world justified the practical poll
tician in adding, that therein truth differs lronl
error and that this latter does not rise again.
But unfortunately such is not the case. The
crushed error of to-day, will come up to-morrow.-
The contest for truth is perpetual warfare wnIcn
zach generation must maintain in its own behalf
There is no day nor hour wherein we may fold our
arms, and say to ourseIVes-the victory ls won-ie'
us disband our array-le US disorganze our forces,
let US lay down our arms. Eternal vigilance is the
prce of liberty and at nothing short of that price
can It's blessings be permanently secured.
In 1852 General Pierce was elected. In 1853 ne
took his seat as President with little apparent OPP
position as any man since the days of Washington.
Then it might have been urged that the Democrat =
having so signaly trumphed, could afford to neglect
precaution-to wink at dsafection. Its power was
established, it's opponents PROSTATE But barely had
that President chosen apparently by reclamation,
entered on the duties of hrs Office, before his admins.
raion became the object of the most bitter attack
While the nation was at peace, and IN the enjoyment
of unexampled prosperity, secret party, with an Or
ganizatlon such as free Country had never before
heard of, commenced spreading itself over the
land and astonishing the world by it's rapid advances
1t is idle to disguise the fact, that in 1852 there
were too many expectants of office. AmoDg' but not
of the millions who looked to the country alone, there
were thousands who thought mainly of themselves,
and when all the Offices had been distributed, without
respect being paid to their supposed claims, they were
ready to join any organization, 10 60 in for any move
nent through which they might obtain that place and
power TO which the Democracy had failed to elevate
them. Thus it was, that Know Nothngism Of a
sudden was found to embrace within its folds so ma
nv former leaders, or would be leaders of the Demo-
cratic party The horde of disappointed Office seek
ers went into it in drove, from Andrew J. Doneson
down to the applicant for the most petty employ
ment. Some of these, no doubt, thought they had
been hardly used-some, it may be, had been harily
used but the readiness with which hundreds and
thousands assumed the dark lantern, and took the
vows of opposition to party whose tavors they had
30 recently solicited, indicated the wisdom of their
rejection by the Democratic Administration, whose
trust they would most probably have betrayed.
That these persons, from their former position in
the Democratic pariy-from their supposed present
position, for the impenetrable secrecy which sur
rounded the movements and membership of the Or
der, concealed their defecon-might have been able
wondered at That they did do so, we all know.
It has been thought that if the order had been start
ed wear or so LATER it would have been in Its prime
about the time of the Presidential election, and SO
been able to carry all things before it. There would
be some force IN this but for the simple fact that il
its starting had been thus deferred, it would most
probably never have been started at all It's origin
ators no doubt calculated on avaing themselves Of
the disappointed in the first flush of their anger and
ehagrin, and they succeeded in their calculations
but too we'll, for a time, atleast.
When Congress wiped from it's statute book, an aci
which the highest tribunal OF the country has soemny
decided to have been void and unconstitutional, the
Northern wing of the Order, always Free Selfish
availed itself of this hobby-the Missouri Compro
MISE as means to arouse the passions of the people
of that section against the President, the Democratic
party and the South, while even that other section
which claimed special nationality, was too willing tt
pander to the same feeling, by denouncing the repea
of this unconstitutional compromise as "reckles
and unwise."
Out of this Northern division of the Know Nothing
order sprang mainly the Republican party which
supported Fremont. By this Northern division was
elected nine out of ten of the Republicans of tn
Congress which has just come to a close. Upon thu
maintenance of an unconstitutional law, and on op
position to its repeal was based nne.tenths of tn
Northern and Southern opposition to he administra
ton of Franklin Pierce.
Thus, out of an apparently clear sky there cam
forth storms and thunders which made the YER
ground shake under feet and left nothing stabl
around US, but the constitution Of the country, am
that one great party which stood firm in the storm
in the sunshine, and around which the conservativ
men of the land rallied successfully for the pre-
servation of the country. That under these circun
stances-attacked by secret bigotry and open fanat
cism-betrayed by summer friends and assaled b
relentless enemies, the administration of Frankli
Pierce should meet with temporary checks and IT
verses is little to be wondered at. But that it shou
neither yield to the tempest, from the pat
of duty and of principle, that it should weather tn
storm and transmit its policy unbroken to its
or, is something TO Misunderstanding 10 be proud o
With some trifing exceptions, the great features
administrative policy recommended by the admins
tration, have been placed upon the statute book
the country, and there is no clearly demonstr,
ted principle than that embodied in the Kansas an
Nebraska BILL alike approved by the voice of Il
people and confirmed by the sanction of the Court
While such is the case, as regards questions
legislative policy, the nation and the world recogn
the consummate prudence and ability which ha,
marked the conduct of relations with foreign GO
ernments-the energy and integrity pervadng the a
mnistration of the several departments, against MOI
of which the charge Of peculation has even bee
breathed and we, as North Caronans, are proud
hat nil I'd shor NJ hoe has
bestowed upon favorite son of our own State.
noa1 Al Is 4