The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-03-13
Tho Political Crisis,

from me 1i6grUH f1HIiy AdTeTHEpT tru ~
The impending struggle Ia Congress over
thG Lec0mpton Constitution viii put our lN-
situations ia a test, more searching lhan any
which they nave yet undergone, I nr sun
tcst has nov assumed the form oi q struggle
not between two great and nearly matched
popular parties, but between the Wishes pi o
great majority ~ the people on the one mana
and Of a minority, acting under the lead OF q
strong administration, on the other ~
the last presidential election MI buchanan
received popular vote Of ] ih0ODOOi Iolnnfl
Fremont / 884 900, and Mr.. FILLMORE $50
600 20 that there Was a popular majority
against Mr.. buchanan Of nearly 10000 30
far as can be judged by present indications
the proportion VI those who voted for MI
Fillmore, hut who nov support the admins
tratinn plliey. il small, while there isi on the
other hand, large body Of democrats who
following the lead Of Douglas, Wise and
Walker, oppose w.
We have a right 10 conclude them that the
majority against the administration has not
urly held its ground hut has gained largely,
especially in the northwestern States and
this brings us 10 the fact, that the administra-
ton has now resolutoly and deliberately SCI
itself o. work 10 thwart the will Of this ma
jority and o. demand their acquiescefce in
measure which thoy abh0T, This state Of
things Is more significant, whom Wa reflect
that the opposition majority 10 not bound TO-
gether by ties Of political fraternity Neither
in Congress nor among the opponents Of The |
except upon the one single /
question which now hlls the public mind, ,
and hence, the course pursued by the Admin /
istration has not even the ordinary defence .
which Is urged for the acts Of q minority /
temporarily in power, but h simply an effort
20 force through a measure which men Of all .
parties, those in other respects friendly 10 .
the adminislrl lion. ~ well Hs it, usual OPP
onenta, unite in condemning,
IL il moreover 90 be remembered that this .
measure, which Is 10 be carried through 10y
an extraordinary effort ofthe executive power,
upon which tie administration has determin-
ed % hazard IL own success as well as the
peace Of the country, il o plan for forcing
upon the people Of territory frame Of
gov eminent not Of their own choice, and is
therefore in dcrogaton Of those rights which
all hold 20 be- most important, as well as most /.
dear.
This determined effort 10 oppose the will
and moral sense Of the majority specially
In view Of the doubts Ia which the issue IL
now inNuNcd,-is a most serious aud ILL.,
1mcncd event That the greater number, at
least of the popular branch Of Congress,
would II lcit 10 themselves, follow the opinion
u the majority of The people, rather than that
lf the administration, can hardly be doubted
But unfortunatclyin Congress, ns everywhere
Else, there Is class of persons having 40
independent views Of their own, who are
open 20 the influence 80 freely used by the
executive, and hence instead ofbeing check
upon it,ure in fact one Of the elements of It's
strength. How far the weakness of this
lass may be able TO oycrbalancc the steadfast
devotion to principle manifested 10y others, is
yet doubtful but the suspense in which the
struggle Is now hcd,is remarkable com
ncntary upon the strength Of the executive
department. Of our government IL is well
Snown that every effort is now making to
overcome the scruplcs or unwillingncw Of
he small number who hold the balance Of
iower, There is little effect TO conceal the :
act, that the patronage Of the government is i,
q be used for this purpose, 10 an extent sell /,
lom Witnessed before, and the present SEGA =
ion will therefore show to The country plainly {,
low far the executive can go. It's success in ,
he present contest following the victories 4,
'nincd in other similar struggles which
rave occurred within q few years, will do as
much to disturb the balance Of our system. ,
Is sweeping constitutional amendments could :
10, whilo-thc change is in the present case y
pore dangerous, because ii is less openly an
ouuccd. Il