Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-05-05
The Mormon Wharf.-The Progress OF
Executive Power.

Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy
of the United States were quite an empty
title. if the wearer were not the hero, actual
or constructive, of battle, military battle,
of some sort. No great nation, ike ours,
could live four years without twitching some
body's nose, or cutting somebody's throat
Amiable Mr.. PIERCE renowned himself and
yindicated the dignity OF his country, by
desperate engagement at the city OF Grey
town. This was redolent of gunpowder and
glory, and with it he was amply content Mr.
BUCHANAN is bent on giving the world smack
of his proves, and determines to tread the
heroic pathway of his ''illustrious predeces-
sor''. Early in the day, therefore, he sought
a sscene of glory" with the Army in Kansas.
Lawrence was the chosen spot. That was
equally as great city as Greytown-so the
army was marched up the hill near by-a
battery of one cannon was planted-the army
rested week, or two, and one bright morning
earIy-marched down again. In military
matters there are two kinds of success-posl-
tive and negative. The destruction OF Grey
town is an example of the frst-the retreat
from Lawrence and that of the ten thousand
Greeks under Xenophon, of the latter-both
brilliant. But Mr.. BUCHANAN's military genius
is universal; he can charge as well as retreat;
so he plans a campaign against the Mormons
They are a semi-heathen race who seem dis
posed to realize, as far as may be, the Moham-
medan's heaven, in this world. This is all
very well, if the COmmander-in-Chief were
practicing as an amateur for his personal
amusement.
But it becomes quite another matter when
the serious question is mooted whether the
President is acting under the impulses of en-
lightened discretion, when he summonses an
army to march some twelve hundred miles
through wilderness, at a cost of from five
to eight millions of dollars to be drawn from
an empty treasury. The question of c'ni bono?
what good is to flow from this expedition, at
all commensurate with the expenditure? arises
with much significance. And the other great
er question is also presented, whether the
Sword and the Treasury of the Republic be
long to the President or to the people! and
whether it is for the President or Congress TO
say when they shall be respectively drawn
and expended? When the nation was enjoy
ing its better days, it was considered that
Congress was the exclusive war-making
power but in this case the President it
seems has exercised that prerogative, and
with GOODNESS peculiar to his nature,
asks Congress to vote him supplies. He has
trumped up war of his own, usurped au-
thority which does not rightfully belong to
him, incurred a debt already of some millions,
perhaps, for the people to pay, all to snub or
exterminate Brigham Young, an arrogant but
feeble fanatic, who has planted his vine and
gathered his followers in remote spot among
the Rocky Mountains.
In order to bring the subject to the public
attention, we transfer to our columns some
extracts from the dspassionate and statesman
like speech of Senator BELL, delivered in the
Senate, on the 23rd ult, during the debate on
the Deficiency Bill. We invite attention to
it. as it shows very clearly whittier the exer-
else of Executive power is drifting.