Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-03-05
The arm Day OF March, 1861.

This will be a memorable day In American
History. 1t marked the close OF an Admin
istration placed in power by party, which
has almost exclusively governed the country
since the adoption of the Constitution,-an
administration which fcund the federal trea-
sury full to repletion, and peace, happiness
and prosperity pervading the whole coun-
try, but which closes its career. after having
bankrupted the treasury, and inaugurated
an era OF fraud, corruption and treason, such
as the history of few governments presents
for the condemnation of mankind. If Mr..
BUcHANAS's accession to the Presidency, was
in the midst of honor and applause, his sur
render of the seals of Office, was in the
midst of shame and disgrace, which will
follow him whilst he lives, and render bis
name a Kissing and a by word so long as the
memory of his administration survives in the
annals of time. No man is responsible for
greater share of the mischievous causes which
resulted in the choice of sectional candi-
date for the Presidency as his successor, and
had he possessed but 1.-THE of the honesty
patriotism and firmness, necessary to the
high position he debased, the greater portion
of the evils which have followed that choice,
might have been escaped. But, he permit
ted Cabinet officers to use the government to
sustain The cause of treason, and has suffered
traitors to badger and bully the govern
ment, until it is losing the respect of the
world, and becoming the laughing stock of
all who bate free institutions. And all this,
we believe, because the chief leaders amongst
the traitors, and the great mass of the led,
belonged to the party which had SO long
held possession of the government, and de-
sired to perpetuate their rule under new
they hazard the lives and happiness of the
people, and free government itself
But, not for these things alone will the
4th of March, 1861, be memorable. 1t does
not mark only the exit of an administration
covered with fraud, corruption, and shame.
1t was also the day on which the first sec
tioual President was inaugurated-a Presi-
dent with whom an entire section of the
Union have no sympathy, and, for the most
part, regard as an enemy. 1t begins
state of things against which WASHINGTON, in
his Farewell Address, warned his country
men and which, if pursued, must result in
the destruction of the Government in which
he took so much pride, and for which be
would have laid down his life-a state of
things the prospect of which has given the
disunionists of the South power to precipitate
the revolution they have long desired, and
which threatens to go on until the whole of
the slave States are involved and separated
from the Union. With this dark prospect be-
fore him. and having the power, by single
word, to dispel all fears and apprehensions,
the Sectional President has preferred to en-
ter upon his duties, with the people of the
South either in revolt. or sullen and discon-
tented, awaiting but signal to join the revo-
luton. He has appeard to regard his own
personal consistency, and the platform of bis
party, as of more importance than the preser-
walton of the Union, and the restoI alton of
the sections to the embraces of amity and af
lection. For the Inauguration of such
character, the 4th of March, 1861, will be ever
memorable and, We fear, as the turning
point of the progress of our country as the
point from which it began to descend, and
continued to descend until lost in anarchy.