The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-11-24

What is to be done?
In the name Of the Holy Trinity, the people, and
the constitution. Amen!
From cottage window on gentle hill over
looking the little hamlet Of Hastings, and fronting
the basaltic walls of the Palisades across the Hud
son, we look out upon the setting sun. In the
sheltered places the hills are sprinkled with snow
the sky is overcast and lowering, and the north
wind is shaking the burrs from the old chestnut
tree near the door. The editor of the Herald, with
large Newfoundland dog at his feet, is looking
over the election returns, while he smokes his
afternoon segar. Strains OF music and lntermin-
gled voIces, dispersed throughout the house, give
lite and animation to the scene within, while the
landscape without wears the aspect of a most cold
and wlntIy desolatlon. Returned from several
thousand miles travel, and having disposed OF the
dutles Of the campaign, let us look tor moment
at the prospects of the revolution which has just
been accomplished, and the difficulties which
confront the President elect on the threshold OF
his administration.
Your correspondent, to whom was detailed
series of political journeys, pending the late cam
paign Presidential, mainly. with view OF ascer-
tanning as far as practicable, IN advance OF the
recent October and November elections, the DRIFT
of public sentiment in the great States OF Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio, having returned from his last ex-
petition to the West, asks leave respectfully to
state that while the general result over the Union
has COMPOUNDED the democrats, electrified the
wings, and astonshed everybody, as tar as ascer-
tanned il tales precisely with your reporters des-
patch fom Wheeling, OF the second of November,
though there were several States therein regarded
certain for Cass, which are yet undetermined
from the returns. Your reporter, aware that many
persons might regard his opinions as a guaranty
for hazards upon the result, was actuated by a
saving caution in his dispatches, which would
exempt him. in this respect, from any serious re-
sponslbihty. Hence, while carefully adherlng to
n Al elxr IAA
any unqualified judgment upon them.
Fresh from Buena Vista--fresh from Baton
Rouse-fresh from the peopla-Zachary Taylor,
In his check shirt and brown surtout, has been
elected resident of this republic over one OF the
most distinguished diplomatsts apd politicians OF
the age. Nobody expects that at,once he can &C.
| commodate himself to the French bedsteads of
| the White House For the first few nights 1t may
be that the new President will establish his head.
quarters in his tent, on the lawn, and, by gradual
approaches, at length ascend to those luxurious
| apartments up stairs, which look tar down the
Potomac and over the hills of Virginia, and
which are consecrated to felicity, from the reco-
lectlons OF the Presidential honeymoon OF Captain
vouacked for years among the cane brakes OF
| the Mississippi, the everglades OF Florida, and
the Mexican chaparals, the acclimauon to the
soft appliances of the executive palace, will be an
inconvenience calling for the public sympathy /;
but it will be an Insignificant difficulty to the am
phibious constitution of old Rough and Ready,
compared with the stern obstacles he will have to
| confront In the organization OF his ministerial
family. According to the polnte d prediction OF
a locoioco, yesterday, on Change" He will
have hell OF time with the politicians; and the
best of il is, the most difficult task is the first
thing TO be done" This Is true; everything de-
Ponds upon the judic.ous selection OF cabinet.
Let him appoint one of the right staple, harmoni-
Gus, enterprisng, sagacious, and bold to vindlcae
our position before the world, firm and nexlble in
the purpose to settle the question OF impressmen,
| with John Bull, and the rest OF the programme is
as easy as riding mule into Monterey, after the
capitulatlon.
A continuation of diverse elements effect.
ed the late revolution. The wing party, of itself,
fore, Is an equitable division of the proceeds ofthe
victory; and the organization of the cabinet will
determine the distribution of the Executive "a
tons, and communication Of subsistence.
Most conspicuous ofall the candidates for the
new ministry, is MIR. Crittenden, of Kentucky.
His services at Washington, last winter, were in
valuable in the attainment OF the wing nomna-
tons. His high position In the wing party did
more, perhaps, to break down the power of Henry
Clay over the wing leaders, and the rank anc
file, than the influence OF any othe. man In Con
gress. Fiji understood, too, that It'll to his ad
vice and sagacity. that the successful party are
indebted for, at least. the skeleton OF the firs
Allison letter-the impregnable Taylor plat
foim of the campaign. Mr.. Crittenden, there
fore, has but to ask, and he will receive. They,
however, who are supposed to be initiated into the
L
den will not ask the Department of State, in defe-
renee 10 the claims OF Mr.. Clayton; but that he
will be content with the Office of Attorney General
which he occupied for the one month of Gen. Har-
duties OF this office, it will allow the incumbent
wide margin for profitable practice IN the Su
preme Court-a consideration which it is proba
BILE would not be lightly set aside by Mr. Critten
| den.
Mr. John M. Clayton, in this view of the sub
ject, appears to be the most probable man for the
Department of State. His capabilities are estab
hshed, from a reputation which has been signally
his services on the stump throughout the late cam
palgn. He presents himself in a particularly ia
vorable attitude as a mediator between the NORTH
and the South, on the slavery question, however
committee of the Senate. There are indications
too, that compromise of this ugly question vii
be the policy of Gen. Taylor and whether sue
cessiu or defeated, the man to counsel the expert
Delaware. The Stale itself standing upon the neutra
| ground between the North and the South, pre-
sents the strongest of all claims, in view Of the
pacifcation OF the proviso controversy.
| The tariff interest having been made an lmpor
tant feature in Pennsylvania and the North, in the
late contest, II Is expected that The Secretary o
the Treasury will be selected from this section o
the Union. Mr.. Abbott Lawrence, the princpa
cotton lord--the dispenser OF thousands In philan
thropc acknowledgements name precedent anC
superior to all others on the question of protection
and having the further merit OF timely identity
with the fortunes Of Gen. Taylor Mr.. Geo Evans
on the score of financial abilities, and experience
in the routine and details of the department, is,
doubtless. the first and best disciplined man in
the WING ranks but he is suspected of that Web
steran injection which may prove as conclusive
against It's object, as suspicion of the honor o.
Mrs. julius Cesar.
Mr.. Webster is out Of the question. The de-
fiction OF Massachusetts Is am account current
against him, which will involve the remotest re
tainer. The late GOODNESS Of the Nep York Cou
,1cr, and the indignant hostility OF Mr.. Lawrence
however ungrateful and amusing, pretty clearly
show that the expounder has been left high anc
dry as the clans at low water at Patchogue.-
Mr. Webster, notwithstanding, is not to be tam
peied with, or he may give some trouble to the
advice and consent OF the Senate
Mr.. Andrew Stewart, OF Pennsylvania, one o.
the first movers in the House, in support OF
General Taylor, and one OF the most active in the
campaign in PtDnsy lvania. is also understood tC
be on tie look out for the control of the finances