Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-11-24
From the N. Y. Post.
"AdmInIstration Innuence.'

LUG NV PAb>6AebSAy PASSSSo "A+SA ~
main in the tree states complain frequently
tn at Mr.. Lincoln does not favor slavery,
but liberty-that the tendency of his ad-
ministration is to support, strengthen, de-
fehd and spread free labor-just as the
tendency of some previous administrations
was to support, strengthen, defend and
spread slavery. n+t
We do not see what right they have to
complain of this. The President and his
constitutional advisers are bound by the
constitutions; but under, that, or within the
limits it establishes, there is no doubt that
any President, if he be man of decided
principles or of strong prejudices, will
inevitably sway the nation in some special
direction. If the President of the United
States is free trader, it is pretty certain
that he will, under the constitution, so
administer. the governmentas to bring into
practice, as far as possible, his theory of
commerce. If he is 8 protectionist, we
may expect him to lean, in like manner, to
the side of protective tariff. If he favors
internal Improvements, it is not unlikely
that q system of internal Improvements
will be devised during the four years of a
Presidential term. If he is opposed to
internal improvements, it is quite likely
that the advocates of this policy will feel
the weight of his influence against them.
So, too, of the slavery question. MIR.
Lincoln's immediate predecessors, Bu-
ehanan and Pierce, were, by conviction
and by political association, favorable to
slavery. The result was that they used
all the power which the constitution and
our political habits give the President, to
advance the Interests of slavery. They
gave political rewards to those who
proved themselves especially active in the
defence and propagation of the slave sys-
| TEN; they condemned and used their Off
cisl influence to "crush out" the oppo-
| nents of slavery. This is notorious; it was
not concealed or secretly done; it was
policy openly proclaimed, SO that every
man in the land might know that to please
the President the best and surest way
was to uphold and defend and support the
slave system.
AS an instance ofhow plainly and open
ly the pro-slsVery Presidents used their
inf1u euce to favor the slsveholders, and
how decided were the measures by which
they thus sought to give tendency to
the national life in accordance with their
preiudices or convictions, we quote below
latter written in 1853, by Mr.. Caleb
Cushing, then Attorney General in the
Cabinet Of President Pierce, to citizen
of Boston:
''rHAsH1NGroH, October 20, 1853.
Dear Sir: II there be any PurpOse more
h1sd than another In the mind of the President and
those with whom he is accustomed 70 conSultJ IL Is
that the-daugerous element OF Aboitionism. under
whatever gulse or form II may present ttseii shall
be eruSbed out, 80 far As his admi9stTat9n Is con
addres.-tbis he has declared ever since, at all times
and in all pae where he had occasion TO SPEAK on
| the subject. While he does not presume 70 judge
OF the hearts of men who publicly avow sound Prin-
eples he only needs overt acts 70 show where they
s5e IN order That his settled policy in conducting
Afa,r 1F fha
ocalIy manifest. Those whohave apprehended halt
ing or hesitation the part Of the President, In
treadinR any path which truth and patriotism open
70 him msy depend upon 1t, NO matter what conse-
| auenSes may impend over him. be will never allow
it TO be ahAEen by out VII ~ NJ l!os
HRainSt lefthAnded Objections which may embarrass
| the onward progress Of the republic
| &C. OUaHH0, Attorney. g enerAl
aHon. r. PruthinghAIU, Boston, MAEa!"
4 Here we find Mr.. Pierce, President
friendly to slavery, aud bound 1by many
ties to the slRyehoIders, determined to
crush out, $50 far as his naturalization is
concerned" )" the opponents of slavery. He
| acted in strict accordance with this letter
of Mr. Gushing. We believe that he did
the country q great iDjury-ot course not
by refusing office to his political oPpo-
| ueuts-but by the tendency towards sla-
very, and against free labor, winch ne was
/
But fortunately, in republic all evils
correct themselves, if only free discussion
| obtaius. Though Mr. Pierce, therefore, for
| four years threw all his influence IN favor
| of slavery, and though he was suecesded
| bv Mr.. Buchanan, man quite as decided
| II the enemy OF free labor and the sup
norter of slavery, atlast the people aWoke
| 70 the evil effects of this tendency given to
| their affairs, and chose for President
1 citizen known to be favorable to free labor,
and opposed to slavery: Mr.. Lincoln has
3nrins his administration OF affairs, favor
led liberty, perhaps mot as decidedly as
fPiet etccA and Buchanan favored slavery, be-
cause. he is q more cautious man, and acts
/ more carefully within the limits of the
constitution he is not capable of forcing
lconstitution upon the people of state, as
Mt. Buchanan endeaVored 70 force slave
leoustitntion, fraudulently and violently,
upon the people of Kansas. But ii is bis
duty TO do ali that he lawfully can to pro
mote the cause of free labor, and-to quote
Nj. Cushing letter explaining Ar.Pierce''
ldeteFminatioH-to ''crush out the danger
Gus spirit" of slavery.
1 Mr. Lincoln was somewhat reluctant q
Iuse allsthe great Influence the extraordi-
mary circumstances of the country and the
Iorime and folly Of the slaveholders gav'
i him, during the last three years. he fel
that he had been chosen President at
thine when it was not expeeted by any on'
Ethat he would hsV6suoh power and sucl
Influence as the war necessarily gave him
plHe has therefore acted cautiously, evel
j IhrI,;tatiuDIyl- Rnk the voice of the nRtioI