Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-03-17
THE ADMINISTRATION


nation were iGucl more circumscrhed :han new,
when our population ws4 Spare, our internal sffai,
uhc"inpileateh snd easily arranged Ans, DIR re,a-
''ohs Win iore:gn nations neither ,uuliarious nor
intricate, the administration of this government was
st-0tl-d With comparatively few of ;he d.;cs,. di:
fcuiii"s and dsughrs, which, urdrc existing circum
siances, are ever and anon arising on every hend 10
e'nhhirsss legislation aud interfere with tbs WORK.
ngs o Our institutions Il was one thing :cr an
Executive to nonc:iato The conflicting cisir!s OF
rival 'eciions, 70 preserve quie and concord in tie
country, 10 piesss the people Them ard il is a fsr
different thing 20 do !, now No. ,ha, the expansion
OF opr area tho multiplication Gf our p.ope or the
enlargement of our intercourse with other power..
has, In the least, legmate!y ai .cted The integrity
OF our Interests as an undivided nation impaired, The.
purity and power of Dur form OF government or in
fruded directly upon tho administrative rights and
c.2aciIies of its otices-not that the American
people are not now a. they we're them and have ever
been for the most part true to tho teaching, Of the
fathers Of the Republic, loyal to the Constitution
and the Union, and TO the sovereign will of the ma
ory But our foreign relations are often more deli
cate and difficult, and dangerous now than then; be.
country, Illustrating the progressive spirit Of the age,
have increased the apprehensions, and excited :he
alarm Of Kings and Courts; because the government
and character, the freedom and intelligence, the
thrift, industry ard energy Of the people of the New
World are admired and envied by the sahi-c.s,
but hated ard dreaded by the sovereigns Of the old
because our institutions ore the elect of God, for
tho development Of the destiny %! humanity on EARTH
the results Of reason aud right, aud wisdom ard
TRUTH moulded into action by the counsel and arvu-
ment Of heart with heart and mind with mind while
iaers owe origin and existence to the tyranny aud
might of y5aa over mna. II is IN the nature Of our
institutions 10 Gate, and extend into every cline,
and over every people prepared 10 appreciate and
receive them And while il is neither the province,
nor The policy Of this government to fost or force
them upon any nation. it is in accordance with the
spirit Of Repabcansm, 10 offer no obstruction 10 ;-
own progress upon the principles Of free will and
Individual independence OF despotic puwer. Our
commerce mas become almost con:erminuus with the
limits OF navigabie waters n, every point OF Inc com.
pass, end "a Importance rs nation il other ra.
spec,s is IN q corresponding ratio, we have been
brought into closer connc: with other powers of he
are uufrequrnily arising from that Is wei, rs the
o:hsr cause We have assigned for tho increased en-
barrassneut on the part of The government in the
management OF our foreign relations.
Our domestic matters are more difficult 10 accord
and sttuns 10 the satisfaction of all Sections and par
ties, from the fact, not that the growth Of the coun-
try and addition Of new STATES have 81 al modified
the force or effect either Of the federal co1sti, u'ion
or the sovereignty of The Stses; no, that the rights
and n;erests the powers and spheres OF ,he general
government in conradslinctoa 10 The several States,
snd cf each State with respect 20 itself and the
otter member. =" the conec-racy s-s re: es max
si and distinct a. ever; bu; because here are
more nalcontens in the country than !c.rncG:y--
more men who n,e 80 !or treason, st-stsgem end
.poil.;" because he equality ct the State. is no:
universally urcues,iene6 as it use! 20 be; because
aboioaisn IS allowed 20 stalk abroad, and to throw
the apple OF ii.cord into ths counca Of ~ nation lie
g,imste questions originating in ::cres differences a.
opinion aud pertaining - The welfare Of ,h- who.-
country, wtbou, invading the 'aac'iry of the so"a
reign States md t.ionsing by birth right, 10 tn ia
rIsdic:ior Of the natiosai legislature, have away.
5,en discussed, adu Heated and adjusted, without
arrsying the S'st.s Of ore section in deadly snago
usm 20 those OF another; without engcnderiug neti Ell
and malice or The part ct tins CITIZEN O. Connecticut
.gein.t the citizen Of virginia. without d1.evrr:G'
the bond. If brotherhood between any II ;he A;2evi
can people. Sut since the domestic institutions OF
some Of the sovereign State, have been selected as
objects Of assault by he legislative bodies Of cher
States since il is ATTEMPTED 20 p-rve-t the pows-s o!
,hs Federal Governner; to the control Of the ezciu
sve affairs Of ;he separate 7overeiyn,ies, by whose
authority, under whose auspices, at whose option
;hi, Federal Government had il. asaS, ,he rn2r
Itself is sutiec, 20 shocks which have already severe
ly t.steG s srspg,h .rd ara likely to les: L more
vereiy still. AuG is Jr ini. recson and this alone
tnst toe srduo.s duties Cf the new rcugursiec ed
lnns,7.;ion ere almost appalling TO contemplate.
When Wings and Democrats we're the only conbs:-
in ihe arena there Tss co apprehension OF revo-
luton and ruiz. on the par: OF the people
Their contests were upon principles, and ootn sub
scribei to .ae supremacy OF The Constitution. Bns,
now, thai almost all national lesiaato' is oa in the
absorbing eec,iona issue between thoss who still
stand by the Constitution ,bs palladium o; ioert"
aud the Union, and those who curae and cry down
everythin, ;la; ntsrposes protection to The slave
board Is watched with eager interest and The result of
the grea, game that is being played out by abo''ton-
lem against law ia anticipated with an anxiety thGt
argue. i'll for The fate OF the Republic in The event OF
victory 10 the traitors. The game ia coming 70 Il
close: the con,es, ,s waxing warmer and warrrer.-
,--sr after wear sboionism has been encroaching
.r,uin, stronger ana bo:der ss il mas advanced upon
the object of i;s envy and hate. Franklin Pierce
bore the brun: Of many Of l's most terrible onsets
upon the institutions OF the South, manuiy and
we'll. Events have been, and ara sti rapidly ripen-
nv 10 final close O: the contest which is 10 deter
mine either epeedy disruption or lie perreu''y Of
tho Irnon Ard il remains for the adniinsti ston OF
James Buchanan either t" occupy the concluding
cbap,er or ia opeu a new era il the poicsf history
of the United States.
In the patriotism. ability and experience OF the
Executive "a vel Ra in the conservative cabinet of
constitutional statesmen around him, have
rance made doubly sure by the principles and policy
proclaimed in the inaugural, that, whether with re-
ference 10 our foreign reationa or domestic ds4"n
sons all that mortal man can do Will be done by me
Administrations 20 advance the intrre5's maintain the
homo. aud perperate the Institutions oi our r"un'
try.
THE EASTERN SHORE.
We cheerfully give place 10 day, to the commun
cation over the signature OF "Senex,." W. ii We
transfer from the Norfu!k Meas. Il is a chaste ana
elegant production, scvcra! portions oi "hic!i are
worthy Of Washington Irving.
There is no section of Virginia. and, indeed. there
are few favored spots the face OF the globe, more
richly endowed with every natural advantage, that
can contribute to the happiness aud prosperity Of &
no,,,s or more noted for distinguished than he
ji,,,e insulated peninsula comprised in the connie,
W,,Ll .I3o.p Ia-E