The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1859-03-25
F'ornoy on tho Administrntion.


. inasmuch as Col. Forney of the Phila-
dolphin Press was the architect Of Presi-
dent. Buchanans fortunes and Is still a
powerful and influential leader of the
stronger section Of the Democracy of the
country, his opinion Of the Administra-
ton cannot fail to be Interesting, especial
ly as it is. just and true. Here it is:
Two years ago James Buchanan was in
augurated President of the United States.
None of his predecessors entered upon
the duties of that Office with more brilliant
prospects and under brighter auspices.
For the first eight months of Mr.. Bu-
chanans career all things seemed to
prosper, and to promise for him one of
the most brilliant and successful Admin
istrations in American history. In sad
moment for the President, for the Demo-
cratic party, and for the honor OF. the
country, the firmness of James S51chanan
gave way, and he stubbornly resolved to
consecrate hideous wrong. From that
moment to the present, his career has
been one continued succession of misfor-
tunes, singing rebukes, corruption, in
efficiency, and political disgrace unparal-
leled in the annals of this or any other
country. He began by stultifying him
self on the Kansas question; his next step
was to act the part ofa tyrant on the one
hand, to crush out all honest differences
ofopinion, and the corruptionist on the
other, to win to his standard, through
sheer venality, those whom he could not
intimidate. He failed to carry his Lee
compton policy through Congress; he
failedin his onslaught upon Senator Doug
las in Illinois; he failed in his assaults up
on the .anti-Lecompton Democracy of the
North; he succeeded in inflicting vital
injury upon the party that had warmed
him into life, and in calling around him
band of parasites who have revelled in
the iniquities of corruption. Z
The present Congress has shown, per
haps, less respect for the opinions of the
Executive, and attached less weight to
his suggestions, than any other Congress
that ever assembled On the tariff ques-
ton, the diversity between Mr.. Buchanan
and Mr.. Cobb has completely neutralized
their influence; and since the inyestiga-
ting committees have unearthed the mon
trosities of the political machinery of the
Administration, the simple truth is that
the President and his Cabinet stand rath-
or in the attitude of criminals on trial
than that of constitutional advisers. So
glaring has been the misconduct of the
chosen favorites and friends of Mr.. Bu-
chanan, that they are left without sim
gle earnest and sincere defender-and are
rather objects of derision, contempt, ridi-
cule, and scorn than of respect. There
never was SO complete and thorough a
political failure as the present National
Administration at this epoch ofits history;
and this is the universal judgement of all
parties, no matter by what name they
may be called-Democrat American, Re.
publican, or Whigs In the North it is
universally despised, and in the South
there is little or no confidence reposed
in it.
Two years of Mr.. Buchanan's term as
President have waned away. His worst
enemies in their most malicious moments
could not have wished for him more
disastrous career. How little of good and
how much of evil has he done. And now,
for the succeeding two years, after this
utter failure with Congress composed Of
majority of members elected upon the
same platform as himself, he must expect
to face body of adverse Representative
who will plunge down still deeper into the
mysteries of the meshes of corruption, ty
ranny, and political prostitution that
have been woven around him. The best
fate that he can hope for during that pc
riod is "mere oblivion" unless complete
and radical change in his mode of admin
istering the government is effected. As
it is, the little Tylerized band of cohorts
that surrounds him will afford no protec
ton from the fierce assaults he must natu
rally anticipate, after they have been in
voked by the arrogance, corruption, and
inefiiciency of his Administration.