The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-01
WASHINGTON CITY.
OCToBER i. 1855.

CLASSIFICATION IHE NECESSAh1 IAClllD Or AN
OPPOSITION WITHOUT PRINCIPLES OR POLICY.
II is necessary consequence of the disgust now
felt by the northern public towards the negro agita
tion for the party whose Occupation is gone" in this
particular, to resort to other pretexts which TO
conduct their political warfare upon the democracy
The negro question out of the way the aggomeration
Of political factions which have conspred during late
years to oppose the democracy have no positive
principles or objects to contend for before the peo
pie. Their whole policy, If we take away the negro
plank from their platform, consists in capdous and
factions opposition 10 democratic measures and men.
II is true that If there were any possibility Of re-
establishing their obsolete measures of national
bank, protective tariff squandering system of
land distribution among States and railroad corpora
tions, an assumption of State debts by the general
government, and the organization Of stupendous
system of jobs and contracts in the construction of
vast internal improvements with federal treasure
they would be very clamorous for the Inauguration
of these measures. But as the very mention Of them
Is abooed in political circles and the opposition
hopeless that these their favorite viii
be tolerated by the people il has become necessary
since the slavery agitation has begun to excite a
similar popular disgust to resort to the most disrep
utabe expedents for sustaining their warfare against
the democracy.
Accordingly, the exigences Of the last twelve
months have given birth to a species of political
tactics which has never been known in the history
of the country since the administration Of General
Jackson. It consists in most stupendous and
unscrupnlous system Of Justification and exaggera-
ton The ordinary decencies of life are not re-
spected but private character is now assailed as
ruthlessly as it has been wont to assa public and
political conduct. The chief occupation OF the OPP
position press consists in the publication Of the vilest
libels upon official character, and the most sxagge
rated distortions and fasifcations Of official acts.
A large portion Of the labors and the expenses Of
Congress are devoted to the investigation and refu
tation Of the fables Of the press, or to scandal
lous inquisitions in secret in the dark behind the
backs Of the assailed looking to the preparation Of
documentary matter for use as pabulum in unscru-
pulous political canvassing.
A similar system Of things existed in the early
wears Of General Jacksons administration Of the
government and the fame of the Old Hero is scarce
ly yet relieved in some circles Of the odium and OBJ
GUS and mendacious politicians conspired to heap
upon his head. 1t is one of the most instructive
lessons which the patriot learn to turn to the
political files Of 1929 to 1833 and observe the UNI
scrupulous acrimony and mendacity with which
General jackson, his cabinet, and his friends, some
Of the warmest of whom derided as the Kitchen
Cabinet were denounced, traduced, and vilifed.
Many of the best people Of the country were de-
ceived, for long time, into the belief that that
great democrat and patriotthat most pure and good
man--was as profigate public servant as MARI
borough, and as imperious tyrant as Nero.
Mr. Buchanan is in fair way to receive similar
character from the professed libeers and scandal
mongers who direct the tactics of the opposition.
Conscious that they cannot successfully assail the
policy Of the administration or the -impregnable
principles Of tile democracy unable to make further
Roadway with the negro question on which they have
spent ten years of agitation without any result at
all-hopeless of reviving the repudiated system Of
bank, tariff 70. protection, land distribution, lar
gesses to States, and internal improvements by the
general government-without any practical policy to
propose, or positive principles Of their own to adj
vocatetker only resource is that of mere distruc-
tvcs and outlaws. Accordingly, although they cannot
dispute the policy Of the administration, they at
least assa in detail the acts by which it is sustained
Although they cannot question the principles Of the
democratic party they can at least decry its admin
istration as unfaithful to those principles Though
they cannot convict ii Of bad faith by genuine cst
mony, they can fabricate and forge it the thing
was done at Tarrytown Though they cannot convict
the administration ofextrayagance or proagacy by a
true exhibition Of facts they at invent
gerate dstort, and garble the truth in such
as to subserve their purpose of Justification.
Such are the tactics which the demorazed opposi-
ton are driven to adopt in their contests with the
democracy. They are the tactics of desperate
enemy on his last legs lighting only for his life.
They are the penultimate Of desperado's career.
After these come the last breath and DEATH They
the sure premonitories Of his final giving up Of the
ghost. They are the expedients he resorts to of
selling his life dearly possible. Bereft Of repu
tation himself, he would destroy his adversary's.
His last utterance is libel his last breath
WHAT is TO BECOME or TURKEY
The eyes Of the whole civilized world are now turn
ed towards Turkey with more than usual interest,
and every one is looking for that denouement which
cannot be far distant The persistent efforts Of the
49, Il "a