The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-04-23
THE PEOPLE AND THE CABINET.

in which the present Administration is placed
towards a very considerable and respectable
portion of the people Of the Unon-we mean
those who are desiring employment from the Ge-
neral Government We have not however, been
arc the suggestions which we are about to
make to our friends here, anc throughout the
country, new or Of hasty adoption.
The people of this Republic have, during the
past few years, witnessed and suffered series
Of pecuniary revolutions and disasters, such as
have no parallel in the former history of this
Government. From oneo of the happiest and most
prosperous Nations Of the earth, we have, through
the gross msmanagement of those to whose
care and keeping the interests and welfare Of
thepeope were entrusted, become one ofthe most
embarrassed and unfortunate; and although the
busy and restless tide of life still flows on through
the veins and arteries Of the great body polite,
and its mighty pulsations still continue, yet its
wonted energy and health are gone, but not, we
hope, forever. The mightiest fortunes, the ac
foundations Of years of successful industry, as
well as the interests more humble, but not less
precious, Of those who were content with little,
have been carried away by the terrible blasts
which have lately swept, resistless, from one
end Of this fair land to the other, leaving de-
ISOLATION, ruin and distress in their relentless
course
The natural and direct consequence Of this is
seen, among other forms, in the fact that thou
sands of all classes, ages, sexes, and grades of
talent-people Of the most estimable characters
are deprived of their usual means of support
for themselves and those dependent upon them.
They have found, alas, that the laborer is mol
worthy Of his hire, or an honest will, securi-
ty against the threatcnings of grim poverty. 1t
is not strange, then, that men should look to the
Government to afford relief to suffering coun-
try. The whole people, and Of all parties, do
look with confidence to the present Administra-
ton to remedy, so far as III possible TO be done,
the effects of the errors Of the past.
Nor is it to be wondered at, that hundreds Of
all classes, ages and occupations who have been
engaged, earnestly, and from the purest motives,
in bringing about the late change Of Admins
traion, (and some, too, who have not,) should
be found earnestly appealing to the members of
the Cabinet for official employment, for the sup
port of their wives and families, of their aged
parents perhaps, which in better days they, by
their own unaided industry and talent, easily
secured in the usual avocatons of life
IL is not strange, we say, in the midst Of the
distress of the country, that large numbers Of
the worthiest and most estmable of men should
come up here seeking temporary protection from
the bitter blasts Of adversely.
L a. ~ r.. =
Der that, comparatively, few can be relieved di
rectiy by any action of the Executive branch Of
the Government. The number Of Offices, either
humble or elevated, to be filed, is small, very
small, compared with the number of those who
need, or of those who seek relief-for there are
many more than ten, and in some instances fifty,
applicants for every Office in the gift of the Go
vernment Many, and indeed most Of those
seeking these benefits, are worthly recommend
ed. Some are the scar-covered veterans Of the
last war. Many have labored earnestly in the
late political campaigns and others have for
years "borne the burden and the heat Of the day
in the great political battle-felds Of the country.
A great portion of these must be disappointed
in their expectations of relief from this source.
They must be content to await and partic pate
in THAT GENERAL RELIEF which was sought by
those who deposed the late Administration, and
which, through the aid of the able, resolute, and
patriotic men now al the head of affairs, and
with the action of Congress now about 10 as
semble, will, we trust, in Gods mercy, be brought
TO suffering people, shedding the sunshine OF
hope and Joy to millions of freemen.
And we would make this further suggestion :
Men must reflect that the members Of the
Cabinet, benevolent and generous as they all
are, hars not the poioer, hoperer strongly they
possess the tril, TO satisfy the wishes of ALL or
even to listen to verbal recital of the often too
touching and narrowing tale Of the sulierings
and wants OF the unfortunate, or the details of
the often meritorious services of others.
The gentlemen of the Cabinet are, each and
all, not only men of exalted abilities and patriot
ism, but they are men of peculiarly kind and
philanthropic feeling, and if any personal sacri-
flee of their own could enable them TO do SO,
they would send every man home happy and
contented But they have other and more I'M
portant duties to perform than the mere bestow-
ment of Office, and to these duties they have
brought not only great intellectual power and ex-
pcrience, but resolute determination, so far as
in them lies, to save the country from further
suffering. The members Of the Cabinet occupy
no enviable position, and great is the patriotism
which has induced them, al heavy sacrihce oil
property and Of domestic comfort, to assume the
responsible and herculean task OF restoring order
out Of chaos, and of bringing prosperity out oil