Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-04-30
a Successful Administration

In the midst of all the difficulties which have
surrounded the Administration of Mr. buchanan.
i, is most gratifying to observe the entire success
which has attended his measures.
The above is the opening sentence OF long ed
itoria, in the court journal, the Washington
Constitution" From this it will be seen that
the Consultation, equally with its predecessor the
Union, 10 entirely familiar with all ,Ac rules by
which an Administration ''orgnn" ought to lie
conducted To announce. upon frequent occa'
sons, that the Administrator has been entirely
successful in all its undcrtakings-to award to
the individual members Of it the hshest qualities
Of statesmanship--to proclaim that the country
was never 50 happy and prosperous as under the
Administration then in power-,his Is The true
and legitimate role Of an organ And right
faithfully does the CONSTITUTION fulfil NIL the
conditions which appertain to such service.
But although we have made up our minds not
to be astonished ut anyhing-partculariy as
coming from the Dcmocracy-we must confess to
a considerable degree of surprise at the above
sweeping declaration. To boast Of the entire
success" which has ''ai,cnded the measures Of
Mr.. Buchanan's Administration. seems 10 US not
to put too 6ne point upon it, rs IN excess OF
courtesy beyond even what is required and ex.
pected Of an "organ."
Tho truth Of the matter is, we cannot call TO
mind, at the present writing. single solitary
..measure" of Mr.. Buchannn's Administration
which has been attended with success--either par
tial or centre" Certainly. this may be nscrrcd
of all those leading measures upon which he chal-
lenged the verdict of the country. Some Of his
minor measures-suSh rs the removal Of reirac-
tory postmaster, or the awarding of Fat contract
to O friend who had contributed" to his election
may have been attended with CENTRE success"
Very likely such has been the case. But no one of
the measures which have in any respect attracted
public attention, has given the least symptom of
vigorous vitality.
Take, for instance tho admission of Kansas in
to the Union. Mr.. Buchanan made this an Adj
ministration measure--but though there WAS II
large Democratic majority in both Houses of Con-
gress, the enterprise met with disastrous failure
The Administration was defeated upon the mea-
sure, and had to fall back upon the miserable OK
pedient Of the English swinde.
So, also with respect to Pacific Railroad
The President has been hammcring away at this
question since he first went into office. But is the
Pacific railroad built? Is it even commenced?
Is there any prospect that it crer riU be made by
the::F ,deral government? Not the slightest. So
much for the centre success" which has attend
ed this measure.
The President among the other measures
which he has recommended to Congress, has civ.
en- especial prominence to the substitution of spec
ifc instead Of ad yalorem duties in the collection
of the revenue. We are not advised OF the ''en
tire success" which has attended this measure
As we should be very glad to hear that such a
measure has been adopted, the Constitution will
confer favor on US by assaringus ol its "entire
success" We have not yet heard oft
In like manner. the proposition Of Mr.. Slidell
to put thirty millions Of dollars in the hands Of
the President to negotiate the acquisition of Cuba
was an Administration measure. The President
had recommended it, or something similar. in his
last Message. The subject was deliberately dis
cussed in Congress-and, so far from its being an
"entire success" the proposition was finally with
drawn BY its mover, Mr.. Slidell. from absolute
hopelessness Of its acceptance. The "Constitu-
ton" could not have referred to his measure as
one Of those which had been crowned with centre
success"
Equally UNDECIDED was the Presidents suggcs
tion that we take armed occupation of Northern
Mexico. Congress has not even deemed the sub
ject worthy of consideration. The question has
been given the go-by with the most mpassive in
difference Any one who has heard Of the entire
success" Of this measure will oblige us by giving
u the full particulars
The President has undertaken to suppress the
African slave-trade. This was another one of his
"neamres." So far from accomplishing the oh
jest. the trade has received fresh impetus iron
the Presidential interference. Mr.. Lamar. of tn
yacht Wandersr. has been acquitted without dill
6culty-and it was only yesterday that We saw il
q Southern exchange that another cargo Of slave
had just been landed upon the coast OF Florida
The President has been no more ouccessful in thi
than he was IN defeating Douglas in Illinois-i
which last endeavor, it is almost needless to say
he had our most cordial sympathy.
So that when the Constitution" speaks Of tn
''entire success' which has attended all the mea.
ures Of the Administration, it would oblige us b
giving Ms bill Of particulars. Our own conclu
don l. precisely thu reverse of that arrived at b
Cur Metropolitan contemporary. 1t has not bee
very long since the "Uniou" the predecessor Of tn
ssCcnsiitation" announced that the Administr,
tica ecalA not even get an Appropriation bi
thssuh Congress without the aid Of Black Rspul
. licen So1ea. In England. when an Administr
fion finds itself in minority and its measures d
Hsssd, The result is . resignation Of the Ministr