Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-01-21
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THE ISSUES OF THE Day.
Hinder this canton the New York Journal Of Com
nero. very apprepriatev remarks that it is seldom
that 50 pspv important questions engage the sttsn
ton Of the government and people Of the United
States al the same moment, IS We End now claiming
tbsir consideration. II falls to the lot o. nearly
every Administration, to grapPle With some subject
Of general and comprehensive interests indeed, it
would perhaps be considered misfortune to auy
chief magistrate, did not some opportunity Of this
character occur 30 signalizs his Presidential term;
hut in the brief annals Of our national history We
tbink no occasion has presented such an array OF
vital and paramount questions for the consideration
Of the Executive and Legislative departments Of the
government and for popular discussion in all sec
tiOns Of the Union, as the beginning Of this year
SIS.
The rapid expansion Of our territory, and the in
Creasing power and importance Of our government,
naturally give riseto questions Of greater magnitude
and call for a more comprehensive policy in our
relations to foreign powers than any period in our
early history, while the extent Of our possessions,
and che great distance intervening between the
different parts may well give rise to questions Of
domestic character calculated to call for the utmost
wisdom, and the most active energies Of the govern
monL
without attempting toname allthetopics ofabsorb
iag interest now before the country, We may alude
10 three subjects, which more than any others,
gage public attention To name them in the order
which they ssem to hold in the public mind,
meTate the Central American question, the Kansas
question and the Utah rebellion Instead Of appear
ing intervals during the four years Presidential
term, Blr. Buchanan at this moment finds all these
subjects demanding the earnest and sttenve regard
Of his cabinet. and each surrounded by difficulties
and embarrassments well calculated to disturb any
but the clearsst and most systematic mind.
On the Utah rebellion, or the Mormon question as
it is generally called, there is happy agreement
throughout the country, pervading all political
parties, and controlled by no sectional lines. The
common sentiment demands its prompt and vigorous
suppression; and with the government, the only
question is Of military character, how it can best
be quelld so to re-estabsh the authority Of the
United States among the people Of Utah, afford an
example and warning to all who would disregard
their obligations, aud at the same time avoid
due severity and Unnecessary expense. These ques-
tons are, we have reason to believe engaging the
especial attention of the appropriate departments
and officers Of the government, and the country will
doubtless in the approaching spring and summer
witness a complete and final disposition Of that
question.
Unfortunately for the peace and harmony of the
country the other topics to which we have referred
are not by any means as easy of solution. By a
most singular combination of circumstances, the
President finds himself on the Central American
question, generally sustained at the North, while
his views do not meet with general favor in the
Southern States. On the Kansas question precisely
the reverse Of this is the case and while the South
as general rule, agrees substantially with the Chief
Magistrate, there is violent and organized oppOsi
tiOn in the Northern States, to the policy which he
mas thought it his duty to adopt
This singular state Of facts, and the consideration
Of these questions simultaneously in Congress- lead
to novel and extraordinary mixing up of political
parties, and place gentlemen in the anomalous posi-
ioR OfsupPOrting and opposing the Administration
at the same moment. The great Importance Of the
topics and the exciting nature Of the discussions
which have thus far taken place, and must yet
ensue sd materially to the difficulties of their ad-
iustmeut and must contribute in no inconsiderable
degree, to the anxiety and interest which the Ad-
ministratiOn may be supposed to feel in their final
disposition.
The eyes Of the whole civilized world are now
most anxiOusly directed towsrds the action Of this
Government, not only in view Of the influence
which one Of The subjects in hand may have upon
the relations Of the United States to other powers
and the feeling which it may adopt in its intercourse
r-f+I Lrr4 IL
degree, in view of the great trial to which our
system Of Government is subjected. in the consde-
ration Of question of such vital importance as
that Under discussion relative to affairs 10 Kan
sas. To successfully solve these difficulties is to
establish the power and influence of our govern
ment beyond any previous example in the proudest
periods ofts history andto give to theword evidence
81 the permauency and future stability of our in
sutudous, far exceeding any yet furnished during
Vur short career as q nation
To successfully master these stormy and power
III elements Of difficulty, is not only high duty,
but worthy OF the purest and most exalted ambition
TO succeed is to place the Administration on high
and honorable grouud-to give it a name and dig
nifty seldom achieved by the Chief Magistrate Of
this or any other country. The public mind is
thoroughly imbued with the gravity Of the issues
thus presented, and fully alive to the consideration
Of the measures which may be proposed for their
solution. The people will watch with eager atteu-
tion, the action not only of the President, bat Il
conduct Of their Representatives in Congress, who
sre charged with high obligation to obey the die
tates of patriotism, rather than the behests of
party.
For ourselves, while the important subjects be-
fore Congress and the country will receive in these
columns from time to time, appropriate discussion,
We msy express in this place the abiding conviction
and trust which we entertain, that the President
viii prove equal to the grave responsibilities which
have arisen under his administration. I:tbeactCn
OF the government at Washington thus far can he
taken as an earnest Of its future wisdom and states
msuship, the country has good reason for eongratu-
latOn, and for well grounded hope that the vezed
questions which now disturb our peace and threat
en- existence, will be wisely and satisfactorily
adjusted, and the government all the stronger for