The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-01-19

The SOnAplainantS against Buchanan.
War, and threats Of war, certainly do
release from Obscurity some Of the brav-
est qualities. If this fact lacks evidence
to support its aged existence, it may turn
to the opponents Of the Presidential Ad-
ministration of james Buchanan, and find
n countless many who are exhibiting the
most profound executive, military, leeis-
lative, decisive and prophetic powers which
have had natural but imperceptible devel-
Opment, yet have been ungenerouSIy re-
strained from action to any extent further
than wOrdy and frothy expression in the
newspapers. The Black Republican writ
ers, in alliance with mulatto Democrats y
are now more determined than ever to
write Mr.. Buchanan into vast eternity
Of infamy. They see far more clearly
that the difficulties Of the country are in
dividualized in him, that he is alone re-
spOnsible for the cause Of every national
danger and perplcxity; that he is the chieI
of sinners, the worst of traitors, the weak
est Of Presidents. Having thus described
him they assume to know exactly how he
might have commanded their praise; how
he could have averted all that which they
consider as tending to calamity. Upon
the matter of dissolution of the Union,
they are intensely comprehensive and pa
triotic, and laboriously assured that moth.
ing but malignant imbecility in the Pres
ident prevents the suppression Of State
secessionism. These same fierce confu-
sionists are the ones who have charged
the Democratic party with desire ia
centralize the government by investing
the President with powers which might
interfere with the liberties Of the people
but now they do not observe the bounds
by which the authority Of the President
is limited, but they malign him for not
assuming extraordinary powers, such as
would directly interfere with the liberties
Of the people and the sovereignty Of States.
This example Of the inconsistency Of such
as have DANGEROUSLY opposed the Admin
istratior', may be Joined by others equally
as complete at every point where CON-
plant has centered upon the government
since the Inauguration Of Mr.. Buchanan,
What can be q more efTectual violation Of
the great principle Of popular sover.
eighty" which has embarrassed this
Administration and Ngitatcd the country,
than an armed attempt Of the Federal
Government to force South Carolina to
remain in the Union? What can be a
more absolute contradiction Of the North
ern expression that the Republican party
do not propose to practically interfere
with Southern rights and institutions,
than the advocacy Of warlike demonstra.
tons on the Southern States which now
distinguishes large portion Of Black Re-
publican leadership in print? These are
irresistible interrOgatOrics they cncom-
pass the theories, and professions, and &C.
tons of Black Republicanism and popular
sovereignty too closely to give history no
opportunity Of logically and fully vindi-
eating the course Of the Administration
Of President Buchanan; aud history will
deliberately show that the parties who vim
dictively constituted themselves the COM
plainants Of the trial Of that AdministIa-
ton, were the instiSators Of every dis
turbance Of the fraternity Of the people
Of the Union; and history will show that
the attitude Of the Administration toward
the peaceful withdrawal of South Carroll.
ma was wise, and that the condition Of
public sentiment was actually such thai
any extraordinary military display Of
Federal authority would have produced
the most dreadful Of calamities-civil war,
to avoid which was the right policy, and
the personal privilege, and the patriotic
duty Of the President.