Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1859-05-04
A sUocEssTUL ADMINISTRATIONS

] j
In the midst Of all the difficulties which have
surrounded the Administration Of Mr.. Buehan-
an, it is most gratifying to observe the entire
success which has attended his measures. No
one subject had engrossed larger share o. The
public attention, excited deeper feeling, created
greater alarm, or more fully eonvulsed the
whole coun,Ty--ihreateuing its peace, II not
the stability Of the Government-than the dif-
! heulties in Kansas. But the firm course OF the
! President in vindieating the supremacy o. the
| laws-exerting 10 that end all the powers OF
! his great Office needless Of psrtizan clamor,
and intent only on the performances Of has con
| stitutiOnal duty. In full view Of the most ap-
palling eonseqneBces-brought order out OF
! confusion, and gave peace and repose 70 that
disturbed Territory. He appealed 70 reason,
sustaining his appeal BY adequate military
! force. to maintain thu dominion OF law for the
public good, and his policy was successful.
When the President came into Office, be found
the people Of Utah In open rebellion. They
had resorted TO acts Of resistance, Of violence,
and usurpation, until there was left in the Ter
ritorv scarce vestige Of legal authority. The
| President again. with in6exibls purpose, deter
mined al all hazards to restore the supremacy
Of the laws Promptly, at an immense dis
lance, in spite Of Infinite difficulty and embar-
rassment, he precipitsted a strong military
| force into the SHOWS Of that inhospitable re-
u
deluded and sxasperated people the olive branch
OF peace. The reign Of law and order was in
| mediately restored in this case, as in that OF
/ Kansas, without spilling drop OF human
blood The firm and decisive, but just and
| eoncilistory measures Of the President, in both
| cases, signally prevailed.
The President, at the commencement Of has
/ administration, found the old veNed question
l Of the risht Of search, which had been persist
entity maintained by Great Britain, disturbing
or threatening TO disturb, the relations be-
/ tween the two governments. Invoking to his
aid a principle Of the law Of nations that
/ ought never 10 have been questioned, which ex-
| terds the absolute sovereignty Of nation
over the decks OF its own vessels traversing
the high seas under its own flag, accompanied
! BY the proper muniments Of title, and gives 10
them the same protection which Is given 70 the
! soil, he presented the American claim to the
British Government, with a power Of reason
and argument which il seemed difficult to re
sist and when the practice Of the assumed
| right began to be openly revived In the neigh
| borhood Of Cuba, be promptly dispatched into
those waters strong naval force OF twelve
armed vessels, with peremptory orders 20 pre-
vent its exeTcise-thus leading into inevitable
collision unless the difficulty shouldbe ADJUST
ed The law Of nations, as maintained by our
Government, was admitted BY Great Britain,
the pretended right Of search was relinquish-
ed. tbs navy Of the United States was put in
the position Of defending American ships as il
defends American soil and thus has been ae-
corded TO US pesceably what the war OF 1872
had not been able 70 extort-
Another case OF difficulty with a foreign
power existed, involving an insult to our tag,
contumelV 70 our Government, and nlury to our
people The property Of American citizens
had been eonhscated, the United States ship
Water Hnek had been fred into from the for
tress Of Iapera, the life Of an American eiti-
zen had been acrifeed, treaty already agreed
to had been abruptly rejected, and mission
Of peace rudely repealed. The President ap-
pealed 70 Congress, and obtained authority TO
use force 10 secure an adjustment OF difneult-
les with the government Of Paraguay. He i'm
msdiateIv despatched a commissioner, sup
ported by powerful feet, comprising nineteen
vessels oflevery description, (Which nothing m
Paraguay could resist,) to demand Just and
honorable terms The expedition is now on It's
return hone, after the most satisfactory accom-
pI. shment Of its obiect-all difficulties settled,
redress obtained, treaty negotiated, and The
great interior Of South America opened to our
commerce.
On the 9Th Of March, 1851, China was in the
mids Of her troubles. Intelligence had Just
been received that the Barrier forts, four in
number, mounting one hundred and seventy-siN
guns, commanding the approach to Canton, and
among the strongest defensss Of the empire,
had fred into one Of the boats attached 70 our
squadron, passing up the river under the flag
Of the United States, and had been, for that
ofense, BY portion Of the squadron, captured
and destroyed, and their walls razed TO The
ground. This act Of summary retribution, al
though il had the usual effect Of bold and sue
cessful measures, was well calculated to preju-
dice our relations with China, and involve US
in the consequences, at least, Of the hostilities
in which England WIS then engaged against
that empire. The President Immediately took
measures to increase our naval force on that
station by the addition Of the Mianssofa, he
Mssissippi. and the GeTmaHf0icn, and 70 send
commissioner 10 China. with instructions 10
keep clear Of those hos'ilities and TO make
treaty. The mission was entirely successful
Our pacific relations with that people were
more than preserved-they were improved a
treaty was made upon the footing Of the most
favored nations; and the rich treasures Of the
East have been thrown open to US under the
most favorable auspices.
These are some Of the results Of Mr.. Buehan-
ans Administration. Should the same bril-
lisnt success follow him 10 the period which he
has fixed for bis retirement, il will be sufficient
10 crafty the highest aspirations Of an Amer
lean President.