The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-02-20
AFFAIRS IN WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Is, 1886.
IHs Portion of Things.

| w
WASHINGTON, Feb Is, 1886
| The Position of Things.
Il is sometimes refreshing to one holding an in.
dependent position among political parties, to re-
view occasionally their waywardness and leIgiver
sations, and 10 bring out bold relief for the in
struction as well as the contemplation Of mankind
the littieness OF the mere politician, as he is viewed
by him who never fawns, that thrift may follow.
No man has ever entered upon the al-importan,
duties Of the Executive chair of this great nation
under better auspices than its present incum.
bent; nor one whose prospects of support
from every section and grade Of his party,
augured more unanimity and concord upon all the
Leading questions with which his election was idea.
tilted, than his. Yet in the short space of only eleven
months, Mr.. Polk finds himself hemmed in on
all Sides by hostile factions in his party who are moi
only pulling him, but themselves to pieces; and IN
their efforts to rise above each other on the wide
ocean of popular turmoil and selfish intrigue, are
sinking the principles they would fan make us be-
l!eve they cherish, and which are ever and mns
always be centered in their Presidential head into
utter contempt and oblivion. l have recently refer
red to these factions and ciiguss, by naming the
chiefs IN whose wake they respectively follow; but
IN doing this, have not ostsgh OF the faults which
] appear upon the opposite Nde of the picture. The
! President himself, Is . President of compromise
He was selected tor the office he fills by the very
parties who are warning now upon his prncipa
i measures, IN order TO prevent this very war; and
secure union and harmony to all his political friends
vet, strange anomaly, we find the panacea for ali
these anticipated troubles, become the very poison
Tor that which was intended to cure, and cause
| sort OF dlarrhGa in the democratic body-potc.
which has weakened and parayzed it so, that no
prescription is now able to stopit. And what has
been the cause of this | will tell you what
| think 1t is. When Mr.. Polk came to Washing.
ton, knowing the circumstances under which
ne was elected, ne supposed, presume. that he
was under no special obligations to anv of the
petty. parties who had previously struggled to nomi.
| nate another for the same place at the Baltmore
Convention; necessity, and nothing else. was the
cause OF Mr.. Folks selection there as the candl-
date for the post he now fills. True but did that
event lessen the aggregate influence Of these small
DIVISIONS OF the one great party, at the head OF
which he stands, or render them as a whole less
potent for mischief, il inclined, after thew had
placed him in the Presidential chair? Certainly NOT
how foolish, therefore, has II not been for Mr. Polk
to eschew these men, as he evidently has done.
and shut them out entirely from his confidence and
his councils.
The Senate Of the United States is the true baro.
curious may gather the right indication of every an
preaching storm. There may be seen at this time
the ablest men OF the nation belonging 10 the Pre-
sdenrs party, In state Of utter lisessness and In
elements
OF strife that are rising up before their eyes, which
they cannot avert if they would There are Mr.
Benton, Mr.. Calhoun and others, together with the
TRENDS OF Mr.. Wright, all in a state of coventry
with the incumbents OF the White House, and even
those who are supposed sometimes TO reflect the
Presidents will upon the floor OF that chamber, are
not consulted upon, or even informed Of mapy of
the principal questions upon which they are expect
ed 10 pass judgment afterwards II surely is no
part OF wisdom, for the head of party TO wrap
himself up n The folds of his official dignity, and
there TO originate and decide upon important ma
uonal questions without seeking the advice OF those
who are equally, II not better, acquainted with their
nature than he IS. Ii 10 this unusual and vicious
reserve on the part Of the President in his inter-
course with those who ought TO be his friends ana
supporters that has given rise to all the trouble and
dlssension IN the ranks OF his party. and which
threatens to cause Its dissolution, unless change OF
policy on his part this respect be speedily adopted
WIN not now refer, IN connection with what hav-
above stated as the cause OF The Presidents trou-
bes TO the total alienation Of the Irish and Catho
lie party from his support, by the injudclous and
uncaled Tor attacks upon their creed In the columns
OF the government paper some months back, nor OF
the still more recent insult offered to the dop,ed
citizens OF every country, by the nomination. tor
one OF the highest Judicial stations of a Man who
was lar ahead OF the late native party In his op-
position to their right to acquire the privilege OF
citizenship OF the United States. Nor will I enter
into an investigation OF the discomfort that obtains
among the democratic friends OF the Tyler admins
traiion, who, while being Tyler men," were sil
ence went, in making up the sum OF that power that
secured tor tn democratic party a triumph over
their opponents All these different classes and
sections OF the Presidents party are disconnected
and dissatisfied with him; and every element of OBJ
position that they can set IN motion him. is M
vately and publicly at work to break him down In
Is 10 show him that such is the case that have
taken the trouble TO name them. When, to this
unfortunate state OF things, is to be added the ealou
sizes and dlssensons OF his own cabinet what won
der II that no definite or fixed rule OF action can
be hit upon by those In power, to please all the va
rlous interest which they have offended To reme-
dy this unruly crisis In State affairs the Pre-.
sldent ought 10 change his Cabinet forthwith, and
open his arms wide TO all the leading men of every
section In the administration ranks that feel es-
ranged from him. He should be lloeral 10 all alike,
aud confer special favors upon none. As he is con-
sidered not TO be a candidate for the succession
himself, II Is matter Of little consequence 10 him
whchof the asplrants Tor that office succeeds
provided the people elect him upon the broad and
comprehensive principles of his own party doc
trlne. IT, on the other hand, he desires TO run
again, the very line of policy he has adopted.
is that which would defeat BIN, and break
up the party organization, which il is his duty
TO sustain In asking his present Cabinet TO
retire, Tor the sake OF peace, he could cause them
no offence but If he should he has nothing 10 fear
from their opposition. Neither of them is a man OF
any great, political weight in the party and the
whole OF them put together could not blow up a s,-
gle State IN Presidential campaign. The demo-
crac party has never recognized either OF the gen.
uemen that compose the Presidents Cabinet as DO
lltcal leaders, that il removed from his councils
tor better advisers, they would only be restored TO
the ranks from which they were TAKEN and there
remain TO act their own private part the next grand
political drama.
/ do not charge the President with any wfu er-
rors in what have enumerated above believe
there is no man better disposed TO do right than he
and to satisfy every class and branch of his political
frlends; but that ne has committed the faults oil
which have written, none dare deny; and il il only
those who have proper respect for him that have
the courage TO tell him So
In the present alarming crisis of our national az
ets, lsglet 10 see TINS dlsunion IN any party hav-
ing the destines Of the country in their hands. for
while such is the case, the public interests suffer and
are carried out with that strength and ygor of pur
pose, which would otherwise be done, it union and
harmony prevailed in the governing power. The
wing party Is equally divided among themselves.
but notin so discordant manner as the democrats
Ths Is, however, of no consequence in a national
point oil view, as they have power to influence.
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