The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-05-19
The President and the Cabinet.

In the present alarming crisis with Mexico, il, is
deplorable to sec spirit of bitterness and COM
plant, amour ting to opposition towards the Ex-
ecutve, manifssting itself, not so much in the
ranks of the regular opposition Of the wings, as
among has own special friends and partizans, the
democrats. We confess tho sin of helping the
movements which elected Mr.. Polk to the Pres-
dency but we have repented of our transgression
IN this respect, and hope to be forgiven, as we for
give them that sin against US. Lie certainly is not
the man we took him for. The first year of his
administration exhibited nothing but mixture, in
equal proportions, of clustering, bravado and va
ciLation. He has not developed those elements
of greatness and magnanimity of mind which we
expected of him but We are willing TO forget and
overlook all these, in order TO put him in position
TO bring the country gloriously out of the present
crisis with Mexico
Under these impressions, we will give the 60
vernment and all its branches the most energetic
support and regret deeply to see symptoms of
opposition from his own friends. We are inform
cd that the appointment of General Scott to con-
duct the campaign against the Mexicans, has
created a great deal of bad feeling among the
loading partiznns Of the President at Washington,
under the belief that if this distinguished soldier
should be successful in bringing this war to glo-
rious termination, it would give him chance to
be President hereafter. Such motive Of opposi-
ton is contemplate. Why should not General
Scott, if he conduct this campaign to successful
close, be entitled to the gratitude of the country
Why should not an ambitious, patriotic spirit mix
and blend with this movement for the honor and
greatness Of the United States But we think the
man who is to bring this war to successful issue
1u~ 49, i L -
OF. The American camp at Matamoras, and the
garrison at Point Isabel, and the whole field of
operations, seem to have been prosecuted without
Judgment or discretion, in some quarter and the
apprehensions created in the public mind as to
the result Of these operations, are covered with
dependency. The sluggishness of tho military
spirit in Now Orleans has astonished us. Accord
ing to all appearances, it will take some time to
raise the spirit Of practical patriotism to its proper
pitch. This is not the time for nero political
resolutions, Boosting speeches, empty declara-
tons, or frothy pretensions. 1t is men Of deeds,
not words, that are now wanted
In the meantime, we learn that the deepest
approximations entertained in Washington, in
the councils of the Executive, relative to the ef-
feet which this war will have on our European
relations. Fresh instructions, of the most impor-
tant character, ars about being transmitted to the
American ministers in Europe. Mr. Clendenning,
bearer ofdespatches left this city yesterday in the
Havre packet, with voluminous instructions, of an
important character, to our minister at Paris
Major Donelson, the new minister to Prussia, has
been called to Washington to receive additional
instructions. What the nature of these instruc-
Cons IRE, we can only conjecture. The appre-
hension is, that Mexico, in her movements on the
Rio Grande, has been instigated, not so much by
her own feelings, as by European intrigue, of some
kind. The singular diplomatic interference of
the governments Of France and England in the
negotiations for the annexation Of Texas, leads
the mind to believe that some similar interference
10 at the bottom of the recent Mexican move
ments. The present movements Of the American
government may be to declare to the govern
ments of Europe, the purpose which we have in
view in prosecuting this war with Mexico, and
that it is not calculated to alarm any foreign 90
vemment as to the ambition OF our rulers, or the
desire Of conquest. We think that our govern
ment should take possession of California as soon
as practicable, and keep it, at all hazards. Now
is tho time to run our boundary on the South, so
as to render any difficulty with England, on the
Oregon question, matter Of no particular mo-
ment. 1--we can got st. Francisco, we will care
less for the whole of the Oregon territory.
RELIGIOUS MovEMKNrs.-We have published
very important edition of the Weekly Herald, con-
tanning full reports Of all the recent religious ami
versaries that have taken place in this city The
speeches, reports, and other documents presented
to these assemblies, exhibit a progress Of reli-
gion in this country, that must be highly gratifying
to those engaged in the work Of God. Money,
converts, salvation, parsons and saints, have all
increased since last year to a considerable
amount. 1t is believed that the amount of funds
collected by all these societies. during the las year.
10 several hundred thousand dollars more than
tho sum collected the year previous. The aggre-
gate amount must reach something like two mil
lions Of dollars The number Of saints are best
known in Heavens chancery.
There il one feature, however, which has
marked the tone of the speeches and sentiments
during these anniversaries, that ought not to pass
without notice and that is, the spirit and feeling
shown towards tho Catholics, which seems to
have been more violent than on any former occa-
sion. special society has been organized 70,
the purpose of converting the Pope, and of revo
lutonizing Italy. Indeed, the bitterness of feeling
manifested towards His Holiness and the Catho
lies, amounts, in hostility, to feeling equal to thai
exhibited by those reverend speakers towards the
devil and all his imps, who nhabt the glorious
and gloomy regions Of hell. They seem to think
that the devil is something Of good fellow, com.
pared to the Popc-that he has some sense and
discernment, and even has some feelings OF hu.
mainly about him while the Pope has not the
slightest particle of any good in this world about
him-at all, at all.
This spirit of extreme bitterness, displayed in
the recent anniversaries, mixed, as it was, with
morality and piety, is to be deplored. 1t does net
help tho cause OF Christianity-it does not accom-.
plish its own purpose, but is rather beneficial to
the Catholics-for we perceive by what has been
developed in the Catholic Convention at Balti.
more, last week, that the Catholics have been,
during the last year, moro prosperous, more sue
~~~~R,I ,ho 500, ,thar Chr,stior cb,x.L