Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-03-26
POLITICAL.
The Presidential Question,

1uO 6SuSSIlOn,
The Late session of Congress has had an
important effect upon the coming Presidcn
tial canvass. 1t has modified the calcutta
tons of both political parties and has Sc
riously damaged the prospects Of the De-
mocracy Nothing, indeed could be more
disastrous than the results of the session
upon that section of the Democratic party
whicl, is identified with Mr.. Buchnnan's S
Administration. The President himself
IS as powcrlcss aud rs friendlcss as was
General Picrcc,-far more so, indeed, for
whatever may have been his political mfr
mites, General Pierce was a warm-heartcd
gentleman, true to. his friends, and able to
retain their respect and personal regard
even when he could not crafty their polit-
ical aspirations MIR. Buchanan "sct up
for himself in every respect, personal and
political, when he became President. His
oldest and most devoted friends were the
men first discarded .;-his most virulent
and unscrupulous dcfaWers became his con
fidants and most cherished counscllorS.-
And politically his chief anxiety scems to
have been to mislcad the party, do violence
tn its most cherished principles, for-swcar
all his own professions, aud dig an impas-
sable gulf between the Democratic Party
and the popular sympathy.
EXtravaS9nt expenditure, national bank
rumcy, an attempt to saddle the country
with an enormous debt, tho break, down Of
the Postal service, and the prcvuding in
fuencc of corruption in the Executivc De
partmcnts, arc among the lcgacics brqueath-
cd to the Democratic Party by the AdmiD-
istration during the late session of Congress
ltscarly fithlrssncss, TO the principle of
popular sovereignty might possibly have
lost something. of its influence, but Tor the
new issue raised by the spcciq representa-
tiycs of the President in the Senate during
the Kansas debate just before the adjourn
ment. 1t WAS, then distinctly ANNOUNCED
that the Democratic Party must take ground
in favor of Congressional Intervention for
the protection of slaveryin the Territories
Mr. Mason, of Virginia, laid this down as
Imperative upon any man who expected
the Charlcston nomination.. Mr.. douglas
said, what every man ofcommop.scnsc must
know to be true, thptno a single Northern,
Western or Middle State can be curried
upon such aplatform ast!lnt. lie might
have gone further the Democratic Party
cannct be kept together upon any such
platform; aud if tho National Convention
at Charleston shall adopt it. the National
Democracy will be rcorgapized upon the
basisof Popular Sovereignty, and will out
votc tbe s'reguLrs" three to one in every
Northern State Tic lcipsarrectionary move
mont of 1913 wol.,J be repeated undeg, ev-
cry possible edygatag% and with much
greater chunce of sllccesq,
Almost every prominent politician in
Washington expects a pom,nation for the
PrcsidcGcy j----and this was tilo reason why
the President was compelled to 80 into the
shades of the Pateut.ofIic TO find a success
.sor for the Ute Pustmaster.General.- no
politician would risk his popularity, as a
Presidential candidate, by undertaking, the
duties Of an Office, the disbursements OF
which were to be largely eurtailed. Mr..
Buchanan is undoubtedly hoping for re-
nomination, ,---bit not eyoff the,liunfblost of
his oflice-holders considers it, necessary to
pretend to be for him. s
Senator Hunter wiltbe q very G,rmldAbIe
candidate strong in ehilty. in staiespan-
Nkeequipoise of mind and character. and in
thu ganetM conyersatsm of bis opinions.--
His adhesion to Che President has ihyafvol
bimin an ugly quarrel with Gov. Wise, which
NwiidaniaSe him in Virginia and. consequent
iy,at Charleston. Secretary Cnbb and Vice
ProSident Brcckcnridge are both in position
% command strong support for tho nomiRp-
t'oh,and balf-t-dozen others are hoping tos
90 considered available. A ycrg influential