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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
No. 2566 [1857, H? COBB? WASHINGTON, D. C.] GENERAL LAMAR'S OPINION UPON THE ADMINISTRATION. 3 ' Editorial. General Lamar's opinion. In a conversation with Genl. Lamar upon the interesting topics of the day, he was pleased to express himself in the following manner in reference to the Administration. Unwilling as he may be t~ intermeddle in our party quarrels during his temporary sojourn among us, we think he can have no objection to our repeating those sentiments - not uttered confidentially - which seem to us so ap- propriate to the times and well calculated [to] allay the discontent and apprehensions of a portion of our democratic friends. We will let the General speak as near as possible in his own language. "l\Iy Confi- dence" - said he - "in the present Administration may be plainly inferred from my determination to accept the appointment recently tendered me - a thing which I would most certainly not do, if I en- tertained the slightest distrust of the President or had any reason whatever to apprehend the possibility of any future dissatisfaction with respect to his policy or his principles. I regard l\Ir Buchanan as de- cidedly the most enlightened reliable and the safest Statesman now in the United States; and judging from his antecedents there is every reason to look forward with the utmost confidence and certainty to a wise, prudent and progressive Administration. 3 ~ It is to be hoped that the discontent of a portion of the Democratic party of the South, growing out of the Kansas affairs, will prove temporary in its charac- ter, and pass away without producing any serious mischief; for re- garding, as- I have always done, that party as the great Bulwark of the American Oonstitnlion, I cannot look upon its disruption but as fatal to the best hopes of this nation. The removal of Govr. Walker, can have no effect upon the destiny of Kansas; and I cannot of consequence perceive any practical utility in demanding his dismissal, or any neces- sity on the part of the President to take such a step. - vVhatever may be the different opinions with respect to the course of Govr. Walker, this is no time for dissention and strife among the Democrats; for upon their union and hearty cooperation depends the fate of the South as well as that of the whole Country." - Such are the senti- ments of a man who is perhaps as jealous of the rights of the South as any other person, and as ready to repel aggressions in the hour of actual danger. - "A. Df. of Lamar. ""Insert the following above: It is neither wise nor just to anticipate a dereliction which we have no reason to expect and of which the slightest indi- cation has not yet been given. [Note in document.]
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