White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-11-24
Frederick and Buchanan.

Too proud to make this deliberate per
sonal slight the basis of a war upon thu
Administration, no man in Washington
was more capable or willing to give &
disinterested and effective support to the
President. No man more gladly respon-
ded to his promise of fair play to the
people of Kansas, for no man had seen
the great principle Of Popular Sovereign
ty more triumphant, especially in its re-
suits in the organization of the State Of
California. But Mr.. Buchanan, almost
in a night, turned upon the right, denied
his pledges to principle, written as they
are, and were, all over the campaign OF
1856, and in nearly every public docu-
ment mp to certain period in 1856, and
when he attempted to make his own met
amorphosis test upon his purity, Mr..
Broderick was found among the protes-
tants. He raised his voice against this
guilty act. and declared his resolution
never to yield up his own honor at the
bidding of the Executive.
Then began crusade upon this man
unexampled, as we have said, in political
annals. The word was given to all the
organs of the Administration, to show
no mercy to the resolute "rebel." He
was singled out for disgrace and decapi
tation. His name was held up before the
people as Kissing and scorn. The
kennels were raked for epithets against
him. The most offensive fabrications
were published to discredit him. Every
personal attribute was denied to him.
The fact that he began life without the
advantages of education, was flung into
his teeth, coupled with inconceivable in
suit and ignominy. Upstairs TAINTED
him with his Glow birth and iron for
tune" He was in a sort of social quar-
antine. He was pointed at by the min
ions Of office as traitor, and more than
once threats of personal violence were
made, the ful6lment of which was only
prevented by the fact that those making
them knew they had to deal with spirit
as intrepid as the principle he held in his
hands was irresistible. The Departments
we're shut upon him. Although Sena-
tor from sovereign State, having rights
which could neither be limited nor les
senet: by party lines. he was as steadily
excluded from all participation in the af-
fairs of the Administration, as if he had
sat in the French Assembly. Nor was
his own course in this crisis marked by
violence or passion. 1t is to his credit,
that, while he stood almost isolated in
the Senate, he preserved a wonderful
and moderation of deport-
ment. No man would have more heart
iIy reioiced if the Administration had
retraced its 6rst false step, and regretted
its continuance in the path of wrong.
Hence. when Mr.. Broderick placed
himself under the flag of Popular Sover-
eighty and resistance to Executive dicta-
tion.which flag he found flying on his
arrival, ably supported by some of the
first intellects in California-the cry was
raised that he must be accommodated
that not only had be forfeited all claim
to nosition in the ranks of the Democra-
tic marty, but that his life toas forfeited.
Tn the ful6lment Of this purpose, their
first attempt was to engage him in per-
sonal quarrel. at the beginning of the
He declined the challenge in
a frank and explicit letter. leaving it to
be inferred that he would fight the battle
for the right bravely to the end, and then
would be able to act without compromi-
sing Others
What transpired in this campaigh is