Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-04
"A Successful Administration"

In the midst of all the difficulties which
have surrounded the Administration of Mr..
Buchanan. it is most gratifying 10 observe
the entire success which has attended his
measures"
The above is the opening sentence of n
long editorial i'll the court journal. the Wash
ington constitution" The truth Of the
matter is, We cannot call to mind. at the pre-
sent writing a single, solitary measure" Of
Mr. Buchanan, Administration, which has
been attended with >uccrss-either partial
OF entire Certainly. this may he aserred
OF all those leading measures upon which
he challenged the verdict Of the country
Some of his minor measures-surh ~ the
removal of q refractory postmaster, or the
awarding of fat contract to IA friend who
had contributed To his election-may
have been attended with entire success "
Very likely such has been the case. But
not one OF the measures which have in any
respect attracted public attention, has given
the least symptom Of vigorous vitality.
Take, for instance, the admission of Kan
sas into the Union. Mr.. Buchanan made.
this al Administration measure-but though
there was large Democratic majority III
both Houses Of Congress, the enterprise met
with u disastrou, failure. The .tlministra-
ton was defeated upon the measure, aud had
10 fall back upon the miserable expcdent Of
the English swindlc.'
So, also, with respect to Pacific Railroad
The President has been hammering away ut
this question since he first went into Office
But is the Pacific Railroad built! |, it
even commenced: Is there any prospect
that it scer ,ciU be made by the Federal Go
yernment? Not the slightest So much
for the entire success" which has attended
this measure.
The President among the other measures
which he has recommended 10 Congress, has
given especial prominence 70 the substitu
ton Of specific instead of al valorem duties
in the collection of the revenue. We are
not advised Of the "entre success" which
has attended this measure. A, We should
be very glad 70 hear that such Il measure has
been adopted, the CONSTITUTION" will CON
fer favor Oh w by assuring us of lis zen
tire success" We have not yet heard Of it.
In like manner, the proposition of Mr..
Slidel to put thirty millions of dollars in the
hands of the President to negotiate the a.
QUESTION Of Cuba, was an Administration
measure. The President ha. recommended
it, or something similar, in his last Message
The subject was deliberately discussed in
Congress--and, so far from its being an ZEN
tire success the proposition was finally
withdrawn by its mover, Mr.. Slidell, from
an absolute hOpelessness Ot its acceptance.
The Constitution could not have referred
to Mis measure" rs one Of those which had
been crowned with centre success"
Equally UNDECIDED was the President
suggestion that We take armed occupation Of
Northern Mexico. Congress has not even
deemed the subject worthy OF consideration
The question has been given the go-by with
the most impressive Indifference. ANY one
who has heard Of the "entire success" If
this measure will oblige Us by giving US the
full particulars.
The President has undertaken to suppress
the African slaye-trade. This was another
one of his measures. So far from accom-
plishing the object, the trade has received
fresh impetus from the Presidential interior
ence. Mr.. Lamar, Of the yacht Wanderer
has been acquitted without difficulty and
ii was only yesterday that we saw in a
Southern exchange that another cargo of
slaves had Just been landed upon the coast
Of Florida. The President has been no
more successful i'll this than he was in de-
feating Douglas in Illinois in which last
endesvor, it is almost needless 10 say, he had
our most cordial sympathy.
So that when the CONSTITUTION" speaks
of the centre success which has attended
all the measures Of the Administration. il
would obligc US by giving rs a bill of par
ticulars. - LynrhLmy Inyiniau.