The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-11-17
The Cabinet a FaiIure-Its Incapa-
city to Administer the Govern


! mpnt.
, The present cabinet presents the unprece
: dented and anomalous spectacle ofhavina
: been defeated and broken down in the frs
six months of IFS career. ltcannot be de-
8 MED, if the elections Of the present season
afford any test of the popular voice, that
ii has lost the confidence of the country.
and been repudiated by the people. |,
stands before the country condemned, and
poweress so far as measures and policy
are concerned, and at the mercy of its
enemies. 1t therefore becomes matter
of curious interest 10 trace the causes
which have led to u result 80 strange. en-
traordinary, and novel in the history of
this republic.
What are the causes which have pro-
duced the defeat and overthrow of the
present administration! In order to ex-
! plain them fully. it will be necessary TO go
into brief history of the federal party
previous TO the election, as well as a review
of the acts and measures of the present
federal cabinet since it was installed in
power. From long experience the leaders
Of the federal party became convinced that
the principles and measures of public
policy which they advocated were odious
TO the people. and never would be adopted
by them from choice. They also came to
the conclusion that their old leaders too.
were obnoxious, and could never insra-
tate themselves into the favor and conf
dence of the people 10 sufficient extent
to secure their support. They therefore
saw in the future nothing but continued de-
feat and perpetual exile from office and
power; and hence they came 10 the bold
and profgate resolution of abandoning
their old measures and deserving their old
leaders. and adopting new measures under
the guidance OF new chietains who had
not been so much identified with the past
history Of federalism, and therefore had
not incurred so much Of popular diStrust
as Messrs. Clay and Webster. the former
idols ofthe whg party. Hence the scenes
Of the slaughter house convention al
Philadelphia. the deposition Of their old
and tried leaders, and the adoption of
new head in a man who had no protessed
principles. and no previous political hsto-
~, from which the people could judge OF
his fitness and capacity to administer the
concerns Of this vast contederacy Of SOW
ereign States.
The scheme worked well until the cleo
lion. By dint Of false promises and de-
ceptive pledges, made with deliberate in.
tentl0n to violate them, a. the sequel has
proved they succeeded in electing their
candidate and in getting possession orthe
Offices and power Of the goycrnment.-
Then came the time of trial. Then thew
were compelled to unmask themselves and
disclose their policy. They we're then
orccd tC have measures and to acknowl-
,dse, in their turn. tEeIr accountability 10 !
he people. They were then compelled s
0 show what were their principles, and to
Il thc people know whsthel or not they a
iessned to fulfil in good faith the promi- e
es and pledges which they made previous L
0 The election, and by the means of which n
hey obtained the confidence and sultrages c
# the people. Q
How did the cabinet 90 10 work to re-
eem their promises and pledges! They G
cyan by stultltying their President. and il
ersuading him virtually to abdcato his b
flee to their own conclaye. They per- Il
uaded him that the cabinet was the EX- a
cutiye. aud that he was but one of It's h
nembors, having only an equal voice in II
; deliberations and decisions with one of e.
lie was persuaded into the P
eiiet that he must place the powers and e'
uties Of his high Office within the control tr
the cabal by whom he was surrounded, OF
hose behests he was to sanction, however al
luch they might conflict with his own per- al
onal opinion and judgment. Thus have he
'ey, in effect, usurped the active powers or
the responsible Executive. and reduced W
lem to the control of an irresponsible as
)nclave unknown to the constitution. and m
ithout accountability to the people. ha
Their next step was to mark out and y
sineate a course Of foreign policy which u
as to be pursued by the cabinet. And
is was done in conformity to the true di
stncts and principles Of ancient and in for
,terate federalism. When the present Al
'bal came into power, nearly all Europe an
as cohvulsed with the throes of reyolu.
IN The struggling masses, down-trod- II
N and oppressed for centuries, were en- of
ged in mighty effort to assert and es- $
olish their just civil and political rights. {
ID to force from their oppressors recog- for
ion of their true position and import ins
ce as one OF the great subdivisions Of ho
, social community. In such state of wh
ngs. it might reasonably have been sup an
sed that the American cabinet, repre- BILE
lting the freest people on the earth, ne.
uld have sympathized with the strug- ula
ng nations Of Europe, and SO far allied wa
eit with their cause as to manifest by its mu
ions a desire that that cause should be har
'cessful. But such was not the policy of pre-
cabal that surrounded Gen. Taylor to
der The pretext Of maintaining the neu- ent
lity OF this government, which was not g
the least danger Of being violated, the to