The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-05

When James Buchanan was elected Presi-
dent in 1856 those who took more than
surface view of the event could see that it
only suspended, instead of solving, the vexed
problem of the day. The apprehended
catastrophe was not averted, but doomed more
plainly than ever in the imminent future.
The election of Mr. Buchanan was an expir-
ing effort to bridge over and close up, by con-
stitutional forms and political compromises,
the great sectional fissure which threatened
the engulfment of constitutional government,
as the only alternative of the permanent dis
ruption of the Union. His administration
had the hue and the seal of death upon it
from the first, as the last of presidential
line representing peaceful Union of free
and equal States. His term could have no
other significance than that of melancholy
prologue to fearful tragedy could have no
other effect than that of temporary break
water against an approaching deluge. The
tide rose apace; its prophetic roar resounded
in our ears, drowning all common clamors;
the pale, passionate cheek of expectation
was wet with the spray of the pillows break
ing over the unstable barrier. The sequel it
is needless to relate, further than to say that
where the deluge has swept no Ararat is seen
supporting an ark of political safety.
Eight years pass, and Gen. Grant is elected
President The two presidential terms of the
interim comprise the events of a revolution
and measure a period of transition. But, if
the administration of Mr.. Buchanan marked
the extinction of an old presidential line, the
election of Gen. Grant, depend upon it, may
be taken as the announcement of another po-
htical era as different from that which ended
in 1860 as the empire of the Caesars was diff
ferent from the complex government of sena-
torial, consular and tribunitial authorities
which that empire superseded
Let us not be deceived by the perpetuation
of empty forms Rome was still republican
in namelunder Julius and Augustus Cesar,
under Tiberius and Claudius. Long after the
spirit of liberty had fed, its skeleton was
decked out in the rags of the old republic,
and ostentatiously paraded, to tickle popular
vanity and impose upon ignorant credulity.
And let us not believe that Grant, through
self abnegation or self depreciation, will fail
to construe his election up to the full height
of its possible import. He will see in it an
expression of popular iupatience and weari-
ness with the slow, but safe and salutary work.
ing of the complicated machinery of the old
constitutional government. He will see in it
an indication, if not anlexplicit confession, by
the Northern masses who call him to the
presidency. of that species of political lassi-
tude which is incompatible with the vigilance
and vigor requisite to the preservation of free
institutions, and which has SO often been, first
the harbinger, and next the basis of despot-
ism.
Nor does it follow, because Grant was NOM
mated as forlorn choice by desperate fac
ton of Radical politicians, that he will be |
prepared to pursue. to any extremity, a rigor-
GUS line of Radical policy. All his utteran-
ces regarding the question of policy have
been as delphic as brief. He would have no |
policy, he has said, to set up against the will |
of the people; nor would he pledge himself |
to unalterable adherence to any policy in adj
vance of contingent events and possible
changes. And, moreover, the canvass on his |
behalf has been conducted with studious
avoidance of the more distinctive Radical |
issues, and with emphatic reputation by a
large number of his supporters of Radical
extremists, such as Phillips, Butler, Wade
and Ashley. 1t would be difficult, indeed,
for him to discover in the exhibition of the
popular will at the North any requirement to
hamper his discretion except in one point
and that relates to the South. In this regard
his election signifies, not that the majority of
the Northern people unqualifedly approve the
reconstruction scheme of Congress not that
they devoutly believe in the righteousness and
beauty of carpet-baggery and scalawaggery
not that they ardently desire that the South
shall be barbarized and ruined by negro
but that they have not yet
exchanged suspicion and hostility for conf
dence and generosity towards the South, and
desire that Southerners should remain for
IN indefinite period as a conquered people,
lnder some form and degree of military
coercion. 1t will not be singular instance
n history, if in due time it shall be recorded
hat, in choosing master for others, they
llso chose their own.