Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-03-15
From Foraey's Press.
An open Letter to James Ruehanan

Four years ago this day you entered the Presi-
dental chair the Chief Magistrate of the happiest
and freest people on the earth. The contest from
which you emerged conqueror, although distin-
guished 10y unexdmped animation and acrimony
was followed by expressions, on the part of friend
and foe, of complete confidence in your personal
integrity. Those who had opposed your election
profuse in announcing their disposition to give
your Administration the forrest trial. The prn-
ciples which prevailed in your triumph had been
anticipated in your speeches before Your negniuas
nil, endorsed in yaar letter accepting it, affirm ed
In your Inaugural address, and Teafirnled ia your
letter to Governor Walker, under date of Juiv H.
1857 and where 50 plain, so self-eyiieat, and so
conyinclngly right, that the American people were
ready to han in you the august successor ard rep
resentative OF those great men who laid the foun-
daticn of the Government. In the choice Of your
Cabinet you were supposed to be singularly sue
cessful. From the aged statesman the head of
your constitutional advisers, down to your Attor
ney General, there was no name that had not at one
or at another time been associated with high aud
honorable position. These gentlemen, selected
from both sections of the Confederacy, each type
of his people, were known cordially to sanction
aud heartily to cooperate with you ia The policy
to which you had been committed in the previous
campaign. Every department of the Federal
Government was in your hands. Both branches of
Congress were controlled by q majority OF your
supporters. The Supreme Court Of the United
States was known to sympathze with you. Our
commerce with all the world was in the most
fourishing condition. internal trade in its manifold
ramifcatiops was prosperous beyond all example
sectional strife had terminated in a national victory
thus giving guarantees for the preservation OF
Union which at that time seemed held together
by bonds alike sacred and indissolube
This inspiring prospect should have elevated you
above all unworthy passions and uuholy ambition.
When you mounted the Presidential chair yo u
were not according to your own account, quite
sixty-Ave years of age. Too old to undertake the
q
enough to make it more potent at home an1 more
honored abroad. Your enemies for more than
forty years had imputed TO you many questionable
qualities of head and heart but your friends
lied upon your administration to repel this inlpu-
tation. The first accused you of selishness, in
gratitude, and arstocracy the second claimed for
you the highest attributes OF private character
The first had frequently predicted that, ii ever
clothed with the almost imperial power Of the
Presidency, you would devote yourself to the
overthrow of the party to which your fortieth
year you attached your political fortunes the
second contended that by your moderation and
consistency You would not only inmortaiize your
SELF but so consolidate the Democracy as at the
close of your Administration to leave it without
respectable adversary. How you fulfilled the pro-
phecies of the one, and how you disappointed the
hopes OF the others, the impartial historian will re-
cord on bis imperishable tablets.
Ii would be superhuous to recaptuiate the thrice
told tale of the downfall Of yourself, your party
y
friends, while those friends rejoicing over your
election, were shocked at the manuer in which
you prosecuted and bounded the men who, daring
many years of minority, had carried your cause
upon their shoulders, until finally they placed you
in the Presidential chair. No such spectacle has
ever been presented in any country. You struck
the most fatal blows at those who had rendered you
the most devoted service There was
and a cruelty In your treatment OF these men that
no imagination could have anticipated, and no
logician defend. Even these who attempted to
maintain their usual kind relations to your person
were repelled with hauty and freezing Indifference,
or subjected to your will by being made the slaves
Of your caprices, and the echoes OF your treach-
cries. In proportion as you conducted this un-
provoked warfare upon these citizens you took
into your confidence men who had never treated
you save as an object of hatred and of scorn.
PosteTty takes little note of the treatment ex-
tended by public man to lifelong supporters
1t is not tolerant, however, when such turpitude
is accompanied and succeeded by persistent at
tempts to distract and demoralize a happy and
united people. Had you but served the Republic
had you maintained your plighted faith to geur
PRINCIPLES had you displayed wise, comprehen-
sive, and practical craftsmanship; had you insis-
ted upon economy and integrity in your Admins
tration-the Judgment of the people would have
rewarded you. and your Tecreancy to your friends
would have been forgotten in the stern in2artiaiity
and justice of your policy. The ruler OF ciVal-
zed and Christian people may, IN a moment of rash
impulse nhct incalculahe injury upon his country.
But You have impulses. That which at nrst
seemed to be the madness oi the moment sooa as
sumed the shape of settled malignity When you
consented to trample upon holy and sn undyIng
truth, il is how evident that you bad made up your
mind to persevere to the end. No entreatieS could