Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-22
THE ADMINIsTRATION-ITS TRUE FRIENDS
AND REAL ENEMIES


To whatever motive or notiyss it NAV be ascrib-
ed it has been aud is still, fact too palpabe to ad
NIT of doubt, that the bterest enemies of the Ad.
mlnistraton were and are dissatisfied and captous
Democrats, who bold on to their professions of attach
nent to the party, while they attempt to strike down
some Of the most powerful and patriotic of its leaders,
The unanimity with which Mr. Buchanan was sue.
tanned in the election, at the South should have led
US to anticipate corresponding cordalityo support
tor his Administration from tho same section. "a
he had hardly been installed in office when mur,
inslnuatons and menaces were heard in regular o.
DER as the opposition increased and was encouraged
by its own mistaken temerity TO advance. A few
weeks only had elapsed when it was we'll known that
thsre were mutrous soldiers in the Democratic
camp. few months only had passed when the NAL.
contents were, for the most part, too ncautous and
too violent at timee, to escape especial observstion
and now, as they were then, the true friends and
real enemies of the Administration are easily distin.
gushed.
An unqualified commendstion of every act Il the
Administration is, of course, what no meu could
either ask in advance, or reasonably expect. Ia.
deed he who can see faults in hs frenc must al.
ways be an unsafe counsellor. But it is ope thing TO
oppose measure from sheer spirit of enmity, and
quite another thing to demonstrate against an act,
from sincere convictions Of right and duty and mo.
tiyes Of friendship and favor for him. whom we would
save from the embarrassment of its perpetrstion.-
This distinction has been admirably Illustrated in the
Kansas question, as it was and it is in its relations
to the Administration, and the Democratic party
Governor Walker had hardly entered upon bis deli.
70 upI drkn. tI,a 1r
when course of conduct obnoxious to the South
was foreshadowed for him by the impatient enemies
Of the Administration, who made haste to hold up to
The public gaze as traitorous renegades and infamous
ubettors of a1oliiionism, James Buchanan and
Robert j. Walker. How is 1t now1 Do We zee the
Presidents original opponents srrsyed against the
Lscotnpton Constitution, or in favor of it7 Have
their denunciaons increased, sbsted in bitterness
since the latest phase of the Kansas question has
been presented 1t IL evident even to the most
obuse observer of the political developments of the
day. that the Administration commands at Last upon
single point Of policy, the unavoidable appreciation of
some OF the most constant and active of its enemies
And, seemingly strange to say, is at the time
opposed by some of the ablest and truest of its
friends The relations of each to it, are nevertheless
unchanged. Mr.. Buchanan need not, and we pre-.
sumo he does not "lay the Hatterng JUNCTION to his
soul" that his recommendation of an acceptance of
the Lscompton Constitution has appeased the wrath,
dspelled the preudiees, and concated the i'll will of
the factionsts who opposed him from the frat, and
will war upon him to the end. They are obliged to
ground their arms at least to blunt their arrows
for the time. reception Of the Lecompton Consti-
tuition is the best that can be done. The President
urges it. And the ultraiss cannot refuse to slscken
their fire upon him. But as soon as Kansas is out Of
the way the batteries Of the opposition will! all be
unmarked again. And the Administration will need de-
fence we'll against the poisoned arrows Of the crafty
in the copse the sword of the knight with bic
visor of, who defes it face to fsce. We regret TO
think But, nevertheless, believe it to be true
aud, believing, We warn the upholders of the Ad.
mnstrstion to be on the watch for the wiles of its
opponents.
We st have strong hope that the Lecompton
Constitution will be accepted. But received or re.
turned, the true friends and real enemies Of the Ad
mnstration, will remain as they have been, and a.
they are, to the end.