The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-07
THE EXECUTIVE.

We have now been one week IN Washington,
and we have had some opportunity of seeing the
machinery of executive power. Ii is rash to judge
positively from first impressions; and Lord Chatham
says, that confidence is plant Of slow growth in
an aged BOSOM" But we have seen much in the
short time that we have been in Washington; and
coseness Of observation has, in measure, sup
piled the place of more enlarged experience. We
do not hesitate to say then, as our first impressions,
that they decidedly favorable as to the efficiency,
energy and capacities Of the present administration.
1t is not our business hater the grea-nor is it
peasure--nor, dare to hope, is it our charac
ter. We have some little opinion -four own--some
little respect for ourselves and we have too much
gard to the people, to ater the vanity oyercoorth
services Of their executive servants The editor is
old, he hopes in that sense Of the term, to exchange
his habit of independence for the livery of parasite
He has been too long freeman among fieemen, to
shift his character at his time of lfe and the mo-
ment when he finds that his business at Washing
ton and his independence incompatible with each
other, he will attempt to rerace his steps, recross
the Potomac, and seek once more the land of free
men.
Let no man in Washington, therefore, mistake
oar position. Let no one suppose that we are now
writing puff upon the men in power and that, in
giving our first impressions Of the Executive, we are
currying their favor or counting their patronage.
Much as we may value their good opinion, we place
much higher value upon o,cn selfrepect.
We do not hesitate, therefore, to say, fearless of
all misconstructions that the present Executive APP
pear to us to be both qualified and anxious, in no
common degree, to discharge their duties and
promote the public service. We have seen
much more of them, and Of their depart
ments, than we have been able to see Of WASH
ington and her citizens. We, too, have been
closely engaged in preparing for the task we have
undertaken, in acquiring more information on ma
tional politics, and in adjusting the arrangements
which may be necessary to make the people bet
ter acquainted with the acts of their own officers
and with the condition Of other countries. Our
present position enables us to collect both these
species of information; and we intend TO profit Of
Them so as to make 'lhe Union" the "Brief Abstract
and Chronicle of the times" We mean to do so,
at least, far as il may be proper to publish the
movements of the government without injury to
the public service and so far its agents will ena-
Bile us to collect the information And we must say,
that, so far, we have met with every courtesy and
every facility in the several departments. These
arrangements have, of course, given us some in
sight INTO the characters Of the men, and into
the habits of their Office; though, of course,
there is large portion Of the machinery, which, as
yet has escaped our observation. But we are sure
we express their opninon as well as our own,
~ ~ he fov
in flee government. We find the President, then,
early and late at his post, devotng himself cooly,
assduously and anxiously to his duties; and, far
as we can Judge Of him, making good the character
which his neighbors in Tennessee say he brought
up with him, viz: clear in his views firm in his pur-
poses, and vigant in the discharge of his duties He
is organizing the machinery of his administra-
ton, and getting through that important, that most
delicate and most difficult office of revising the
qualifications Of the officers who are 10 cooperate
with him inthe public service. This task, pain
full to every man of sensibity, yet 80 important
in itself, in substituting those who in Office by
those whom he may deem better qualified or better
entitled to serve the country, is going on with
all the circumspection which his own reflection and
the advice of his cabinet can enable him to exert
Much of the work is accomplished; and though some
mistakes are inevitable, where SO many inducements
exist out Of doors to misead the judgment Of the ex
ecutive, yet the appointments seem to have been, r
almost every case, wise and acceptable.
His secretaries are faithfully engaged in their bu
sness. II far deserves the name, literally, Of Q
,corking cabinet. They have all very important du
ties to discharge and they are all laboriously dis
charging them. But the Secretary Of State espe
cially, is met at once by various and complicated
questions, connected with foreign relations
Texas, Mexico, the Oregon, Brazil Peru, &C., each
presents an occasion for displaying his vigilance
and tasking all his powers. He has, in fact, grea
Opportunity Gas Decatur called it. in the presence
of one of his officers, at public dinner given him
in Philadelphia, after one Of his splendid Victories
to distinguish himself; and we doubt not Mr.. Blu
chanans ability and anxiety to turn il to the best
count. He will at the same time best consult his
own reputation and the glory of his country.
The Secretary of the Treasury is proverbial fol
his industry, and marked for his sagacity He, too
is constant in the execution of his duties and i
gives US more pleasure to state, than we can wei
express, that he is actively engaged in collecting
from all parts Of the country every information that
may be necessary to assist him in the management
Of our finances We have no doubt that he will be
prepared to lay before Congress large body of the
most useful statistics, to enable them, without
loss of time and with the aid of the best materials
to proceed in forming the BEST and wisest, and
most nearly equal system Of revenue that can be
adopted. We have little doubt that the secretary
will at least do his part in bringing the treasury back
to fair, equal, and just reremue standard, and in
equalizing the public burdens. The present tariff
can scarcely stand as the permanent system of this
great country. II is too unequal in tsef-too OPP
pressive upon some interests, too partial to others
too favorable to the rich, too burdensome to the
poorer classes Of the community. The sooner it is
reduced, the better for all II is better even for the
manufacturers themselves to understand on what
they are to calculate. Il is better for the rich CAPT.
aliss TO have moderate and stable duties than those
Il r., ,,d fhat g.