The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-27

ExGOvERNOR Hunt AND THE ADMINISTRATION
OF Mr.. BUCHANAN.-In his late speech to "the
old line whigs," at Hope Chapel, Ex-Governor
Hunt was hardly less remorseless in his denuu-
Citations OF Mr.. Buchanan's administration than
has been the Richmond Enquirer since December
last Mr.. Hunt says that "those who have
looked to Mr.. Buchanan for just and prudent
policy have been deeply Disappointed" that,
''instead of restoring peace to distracted coun-
try. he has widened the breach, and fomented
fresh dissensions;" that, ION candid survey of
the present attitude Of the government, all must
admit that its condition is deplorable IN the
extremes" and that cit is difficult to discern
single redeeming feature" DC.
But what are the facts? When Mr. Buchanan
entered upon the duties of the Presidency, he
found himself saddled with the heavy burdens
and expensive legaciss thrown upon bis back by
his predecessors, Pierce and Fillmore, including
the Kansas trouble, the Central American i'm
broglio, the Mormon rebellion, and all that enor-
nous schedule of party and lobby coruptions
which, since the Mexican war, had been depict
ing the treasury, robbing the people, and un-
dermining the government. In addition to these
endorsements, the sweeping financial revul-
sion of 1857, the result of overtradiug, excessive
speculations, and stockjobbing and swindling,
and all sorts Of extravagances, cut down at once
the receipts of the treasury to the extent of some
twenty-five millions year. Thus, to an unpre-
cedented increase of the government expenses
was added an unprecedented reduction OF the
government resources And yet, with all these
difficulties to face, and against succession of
plots, conspiracies and rebellious in his party
camp, without parallel in the history of our
political parties Mr.. Buchanan's administration
has been eminently successful. Let Kansas,
Utah, Central America, and the British right of
search question, answer for him.
Rome was not built in day." and the gross
party and official corruptions which had grewn
up in eight or ten years could not be weeded
out in two; but MIR. Buchanan in this work has
made good beginning. He would have done
much more but for the corrupt lobby
cliques and President makers of Congress. As
it is, let the responsibility for all failures in this
general work Of retrenchment and reform, and
for the present deplorable condition OF the trea-
sury, rest where it belongs. Through the warn
ing given in veto or two, Mr.. Buchanan has
saved millions upon millions of public resources
which otherwise would have been wasted in
Buncombe, pension bills free favors, &C., by the
late Congress. This is not small matter. Let
Justice be done; and when Mr.. Hunt next under |
takes to speak of the political signs of the
times," let him at least stick to the truth of his
tory in regard to the present administration, and
the legacies left it by Pierce and Fillmore,
and in regard to the substantial achievements,
foreign and domestic, which have crowned the |
official labors of Mr.. Buchanan
The CTY RAILROAD BUSINESS IN THE LEGrs. |
LA1uRE-The application for charters for rail- |