The Washington union., 1858-03-19
( NNsAssA NS
WASHINGTON CITY.
FRIDAY MORNING. MARCH 10. 1855
THE PRESIDENT AND HIS AssAILANTs.

We deny to no man the freest criticism upon the
conduct of public officer, however high his posi-
ton. Condemn his acts, impeach his integrity, ira
dnce and vfy his character if you will. An upright
Magistrate cannot be permanently injured by haiice
any than the principles of justice can be over
thrown and destroyed by acts of tyranny and oppres-
sion. Truth in this country OF rapid movement iree
inquiry and Judgment is TO work its own way
to light and while il will exat the honest and the
faithful it will react with fearful energy, upon the
dishonest and the corrupt We do not live, thank
God! in borrowed and reflected light The public
Judgment in this country is full of original force, full
of Justice, magnanimity, patriotism, and truth. Mis-
led for a day it will again assert its power.
James Buchanan is the elective representative
Chief Of this great nation. Advanced in years, his
whole life has been devoted to the public service.
lie has been seated in almost every position of honor
and trust under the governmental Congress, in
the Senate in the cabinet in high diplomatic service
abroad and now in the presidential chair Of the
ton. 1t may be said Of him, too what cannot be
truly said of all men, that his eminent talents his
unblemished name his industry, and his devotion to
the people 30 itly marked him for the discharge Of
high political functions to render his acceptance
Not one breath of suspicion has fallen upon his
during his whole public During forty years
of public service questioned his integrity, his
manness, or his devotion in all that time, to the high
trusts confded to his administration. Nominated for
the presidency by the great party to which he has ever
been welded and which he has done much to elc-
yate in the midst of bitter canvass in which were
enlisted the concentrated prejudces of sectional
hatred and malevolence, dared to assail his
motives, his integrity, or impeach his public pri
vate virtues He passed through that ordeal not only
without blot or blemish, but commanding the homage
and affection of every upright citizen of the re-
public Wanting in no fidelity to his party or his
country relaxing in no honest effort to achieve the tr
umph Of the one and the prosperity and happiness
Of the other lac entered the great office he now fills
commanding universal confidence and cliciting al
most universal blessings upon his name and charac-
ter. If a suspicion had crept into tho public mind
that the government was in danger OF demorali2a-
tion-that there were signs and tokens OF improper
conduct on The part of its agentshe people looked
to James Buchanan whose long public and private
life was blameess, TO bring back the administration
Of affairs to the purity of our national origin. If a
the slave States, they looked to the man who com
manded the confidence of ALL to mollify asperities
calm and subdue discussions and to execute justice
TO every part of our Union. Ii they saw the
constitution impcred by ceaseless efforts to under
mine its authority, to question its wisdom and I'M
peach its morality, they looked to him, who had
exhibited lifelong devotion to that great COM
pact and to the just administration under its pro-
visions Of the government it created TO parayze IFS
assailans to yiBdcae its character and maintain its
integrity.
One short year has passed since Nh buchanan as
sumed the great trust to the execution of which he
brought all the patriotism, experience, ability, and
energy Of his life. No man had been promoted to
the office he holds commanding more or deserving
more, of the confidence of his countrymen. No man
had ever ,.e.ed it with less ambition and with more
single purpose to discharge It's high dnties with alb
solute fidelity to the constitution and laws,
Are there those who relying upon the force of
truth and justice, expected that even upon this rec
ord Mr. buchanan would escape ths malevolence of
party and the deraction, abuse, and sander Of par
tisans /? Has it ever happened that high public
officer, however pure, however able, however de-
deeds shield against malice, in his services pro
lection against misrepresentation in his integrity q
foil against sandcr? Surely not Honesty is not a
universal virtue Prejudices not all extinct
Envy, hatred, and malice still exist.
Who, then are the assaiIa3ts Of James Buchanan
Who are they that impugn his motives question his
integrity AZ man, and impeach his character aE an
upright Magistrate We have right to know
them, and we have right TO understand their mo-
tives and their purposes. We bring them before
the country. They William II. Seward John i.
Hale, Benjamin +. Wade, William p. Fessenden,
Charles Sumner, Stephen A. Douglas, Thomas L.
Harris, Horace Greeley James Watson Webb, Rob
ert j. Walker, Thurlow Weed. Wendell Phillips,
William Lloyd Garrison, and many others of lesser
note These are the men who bear public testimony
against the President They have right to speak
what they will We do not question that right.
They witnesses, and we separate them. We ask
the country to take them sugly, weigh their charac
ters, consider their credibty interpret their de
signs and measure the value of their testimony If
there is one possible breach in the constitution,
leak in the treasury, the body-politic
you may trace their existence to these If there
are signs of dissension between the States and OF
10 that nd than fbnr