Weekly Trinity journal., 1863-05-16
The Compromising Spirit of Democracy

of policv laid down and advocated by its leaders,
and the wonderful workings Of that NATION sdring
and UNION -loring party, Let us not be under
stood. in the brief retrospect we shall take Of
this organization, as going back to the end
of the rope with which President Jackson
threatened to swing South Carolinas favorite
son, John C. Calhoun, bat only to the happy
days of the Pierce Administration, when Dcmoc-
racy and its distinguished spoilsmen felt most
iublant with success. Although the friends OF
this brave General from the Granite Hills of
New Hampshire, were deeply sensible Of his in
ability to stand the deadly smell OF gunpowder
on the field Of battle, having learned the sad
truths from the many and prostrating taInts
experienced by Gen. Pierce while in Mexico, yet
the hopes and expectations of the country we're
raised to a high pitch in his capacity to preside
in the Presidential Chair through a peaceful
term of his office, provided, in the selection of
his Cabinet, the right men were put in the right
places. In order to give President Picrc some
eclat in the commencement Of his Administra-
ton, the true Democrats of the South pressed the
name of Jefferson Davis, as the most proper per
son for Secretary Of War. Much dissatisfaction
was expressed in the North and West, at this APP
pointment some of Mr.. Douglas friends grumb
| ling a little at the willingness with which Pierce
compromised himself and yielded to the dictate
rial spirit aud demand of the friends of the
States rights leader and Mississippi repudiator,
in placing jeff. at the head of the War Depart.
ment. Though the partial course pursued by
Pierce, had the effect of raising obscure men to
a higher prominence than Douglas, and placing
dangerous men in positions, which demanded the
most unwaverng fidelity to the Government,
yet the spirit Of Democracy compromised the
difficulty, and Jefferson Davis-the very uncer-
tain President Of the more than uncertain
Confederate Government. composed, it may be,
at present, of Vicksburg, Richmond and Charles
ton-was invited to step forward and take under
his care the army Of the United States, and its
munitions Of war This was not all the able
General who fell so easy in the morning of his
campaign, under gunpowder, in Mexico surren-
dered without struggle, to all the demands OF
the Southern task masters, up to the making of
this appointment, feeling assured that the distn-
gnshed Democrats Of the South, would allow
him TO make the balance of his Cabinet appoint
menis agreeable to his own selection. But
alasl this was the most foolish deluson of
all. jeff Davis knew it was important to the
best interests Of the South to have some good
States rights Democrat take charge Of the Navy
Department. This position claimed for
distinguished Democrat of Ohio but after
brief protest on the part Of the free State De.
mocracy, the President reminded them of the
g spirit of compromise" which had always
governed the party in the distribution of the
loaves and fishes jeff Davis and his friends tri-
umphed once more, and JcG.'s particular friend,
j. G. Dobbin, of North Carolina took charge of
the ships Of war composing the Navy, dock
yards, navy-yards, ordnance, Nc, &c, belonging
to the United States. The balance of the Cabin
ct appointments were regarded by the South
with the most perfect Indifference because the
I ,l,t had oob;o
ing the entire control of the land and naval
forces of the Government by the unquestonable
and reliable Democrats of the South To say
even one kind word of this compromising Pres-
dent Of the Democracy, would I've to take issue
with the whole party organization as it existed
/ then, and to find one single act of his entire Ad
mnstration worthy Of praise, would be to do
! more than any member Of the Democratic party
be- -; """n he left the Presidential fih"i"
/ under Ilerce' Administ tItttOu, inc honest free
men of Kansas, suffered the most untold of hor-
rors from the aggressons Of the "Border Ruff
ans, y and the dishonesty OF the Federal appoint
ees by Pierce, in that disturbed Territory, done
more to break down the few guarantees the peO-
! pie of Kansas had right to expect from the
strong arm Of Government, than the reckless
maulauLer on the balot-box who wrote the tick.
cts with "Arkansas tooth picks" they wished the
settlers from the North and West to vote. To
afford the pioneers the privilege of voting at ALL
was another exhibition of the spirit of compro-
mise which has ever characterized the true and
high-toned Democracy Of the slave States 1t
would be useless and unnecessary task to fur
ther pursue the policy, or discriminate the aots
of Pierces Administration. Suffice it to saw
that but few men went into the Presidential
Chair with more eXhilerating prospects of success
and LETT 1t, IN every particular, so completely a
nonentity to every hope and anticipation of The
country, as Franklin Pierce. The inaugural and
first message of the President will live no doubt,
nd bo aaJ IH tbo cI r. 1
erations to come, and the lessons gained from
their study, will only serve to prove how lofty
and sublime the Democratic manifesto was made
to sound, and how hollow and imbecile the efforts
of its champions to fill it. Clubs, bowie knives.
and derringers, formed the controlling elements
which terminated the political and official course
of Pierce. The L. 5. Senate fell to the level of
a othOuse, and the lower House of Congress to
Front street free-lunch establishment. The
Cabinet closed out as =" bean poker" association,
ana lhe valiant General retired to the cold re.
cess OF the Granite Hills, with the anxious adieu
and unanimous consent Of thirty millions of dis
appointed people.
The glory OF Democracy, however, was to be
perpetuaIed through a more exalted channel for
the next four years. The cry of Democracy"
had then the charm which it has since lost
People were hurried on the popular current to
the phalanX OF the g" time honoredn institution
until the man who was said to emhody all the
political virtues, aud stood pledged to the conn.
try on the sacred principles of popular sover.
eighty, was installed into Office. If the history
OF the Man and the Party could have ceased with
the inaugural, the nation mi ght have been spared
the humlliating bushes of shame, and stood in
nocent Of the crime of drenching the country
i'll fraternal blood But the historian has already
assigned to James Buchapan place in the an.
nails of America, which must remain the most
prominent because the most wreched to be
found figuring in the affairs of the nation since
the organization of the Government This chief
of the heaven.born Democracy, was the last of
the " Hunker" Barons of the Democratic school,
from the North, whose spirit Of compromise lay
in the manner aud disgracelul willingness with
which he yielded to the demands of the drunken
chivalry Of the South, who had gained posses
sion of his Cabinet, and in his base compliance
to every proposition from the horles of con
spiratOrs who filled the avenues of the Capital
The first measure of this venerable father of De-
mocracy, was an abortive attempt to commit and
carry out one of the most fragrant acts of execu-