The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-13
The Administration OF Mr.. Buchanan, and
It's Troubles.

The Administration OF Mr.. Buchanan, and
It's Troubles.
Another exciting contest upon preliminary
vote has agtated the House of Representatives
during the last day or two in reference to the
admission of Kansas as a State under the Lee
compton constitution. We have but little
doubt, however, that upon the main question
itself there will still be found sufficient practi-
cal common sense in both houses to pass the
bill and settle this ridiculous imbroglio. The
struggle has degenerated into a factious fight
upon distractions; but these cannot much long
er postpone the real test upon the Lecompton
constitution as the organic law of the new
State.
But in connection with this exciting and en-
FILTERED fight of the factions over this barren
fig tree of Kansas, we are drawn to the general
Generalization of our public men and political
parties. as indicated in the sectional and fac
tious opposition in both branches of Congress, to
other aud more practically important measures.
Here We have an administration commanding
more intelligence, political experience and moral
power than any of its predecessors since the time
Of Gen. Jackson-an administration with
calm, firm, clear headed and experienced states
man at its head, surrounded by harmonious
Cabinet of talented, able and patriotic men-ap
administration commanding the confidence of
the country and represented by q powerful
party majority in both houses of Congress: and
yet what do we see? We see in the Senate and in
the House that spirit of discord. of faction
and decentralization has already been developed
which has rendered the President utterly power
less, which battles him at every step, and which
threatens speedily to PROSTATE the administrs-
ton al the feet of its enemies and to scatter the
whole democratic party to the winds.
We know, too, that should this party BE- now
destroyed it will be sunk beyond the hope of
resurrection; that il will be as completely ex-
tinguished AZ the old federal party, the old re:
publican party, or the old whig party. aud that
the reconstruction ofits broken fragments will
be upon violent sectional antipathieS Such
however, is the pressure Of this spirit Of section
al and factious discord which has crept into the
party camp that ii il reckless Of these
dangers, and instead of being softened
into respect by the moral dignity of
lion seems thereby to be innamed into the
very blindness Of hatred and revenge. Presi-
dental demagogues aud plotting sectional aud
local politicians have made paramount their
paltry selfish schemes, regardless alike Of the
success Of the administration, the integrity Of
the party, or the peace Of the country.
During the lukewarn milk aud water adj
ministration of Mr.. Fillmore. the several clques
Of the whig party kept up sharp running fire
against each other for the whip hand; but they
were still united upon great issues Of vital mo-
ment TO their organization. The still weaker
and facilitating administration of poor Pierce.
though continually barassed by the triangular
Cabinet war between JEFF. Davis Cushing and
Marcy, and by the spells and plumber qusrrels
of the party, still contrived TO maintain some
thing like party discipline in Congress and
throughout the country. But here with a su-
perior statesman ct the helm. with united
Cabinet Of experienced and capable men to back
him, and with party majorities in Con9ess
equal to any necessity in ordinary times we
have the extraordinary spectacle presented Of
an administration rendered poweress in the
first year Of lie existence by democratic
treachcries and in the particular issue upon
which IL has s'aked its success or ruin, depend
ing upon the support ofthe Know Nothings-its
most intractable political enemies
In this remarkable and significant work Of
party Generalization, strangely enough some
of the leaders and managers Of the democracy
who were most prominent In the election of Mr.
Buchanan are the leaders of the mutineers
Wise Douglas, Walker and Forncy-the captains
Of every forlorn hope Of the party in the terri
bic and doubtful campaign of lsj6-are the men
who have act in motion these present inside aud
outside filibustering operations against the Pre-.
sident from their determination 10 bring him TO
their terms or to tumble him and the party
headlong TO ruin. They moved heaven and
earth and the waters under the earth in 1856
10 save US from the fearful contingencies of
sectional disruption; but now. with the full con.
viction that they are hurrying themselves to
sure destruction, they are rushing madly, upon
their miserable abstractions TO all the perils of
political confusion. sectional striies and disso-
luton.
From this outline the intelligent reader will
perceive that the party treacheries, the sec
tionsl discords, the factious alterations,
and the INSCRIPTIONS demagogues, North
and South. which environ the President,
render bis position more critical and
the fate Of his administration more momentous
to the party, to oil parties, and 10 the cosntry,