The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-03-10

whom are at their posts, except Mr.. Craw-
ford, who is expected to-day-cpened their
budget, and despatched the public business
that had accumulated on their tables in the
interval just elapsed. The promptitudc ex-
hibited by them in the discharge of their
duties, and the frankness Of their bearing,
are themes Of appreciation among all the
subordinate officials. If they could make
so favorable an impression in SO brief a
time, we predict for them brilliant career,
for they are all gentlemen, capable not only
Of beginning well, but Of ending well. We
will venture to say, that more legitimate
business was transacted in the departments
yesterday, than has been done for years past
in week; and the reason is, that the pur-
pose Of the Administration is, to execute the
laws and to do justice; and men who are
intent upon these objects can get through
an immense amount of business in a sho.t
period.
The country has long wanted business
Executive-an Executive who will do his
duty fearlessly and without favor, and
whose snbordinates will follow his example.
We believe that il has such an Executive
in Zachary Taylor and lis Cabinet If
there be any subordinates who shall not be
imbued with this spirit OF industry, and who
shall not possess the most ample capacity
for the discharge Of their duties, they may
be assured that they will be obliged to give
way to others more fortunate in the possess
sion Of these qualities. This will be work
ing, not a talking Administration. 1t will
be doing, not promising Administration.
The attainment Of private ends will be none
Of its objects. Its primary object will be to
secure just and speedy execution Of tie
laws. The new Secretaries are every one
Of them, men capable, willing, and deter
mined to unite with the President in accom-
plishing this proper object, and care viii be
taken that the whole official body shall lend
its entire aid efficiently and promptly to this
achievement.
The Administrations Of the last twenty
years had about them the odor OF seli-ag-
grandizement, rather than that Of the public
aggrandizement Their chiefs and snbor-
dinates acted as though the offices they filed
were private property, and not public trusts.
Their members treated the citizens as infe-
riors, and deported themselves more like
masters than servants. Official insolcnce
was the general characteristic Of the last
twenty years administrations All this is
changed now, and will be still further
changed. The President is a man faction
Ia man Of duty. The Cabinet is composed
Of men Of action-of men Of duty. The
subordinate officials, too, must be men Of
action, must be men Of duty; If they are
not, they will be made to be so. Already
an air Of duty, Of a regard to the public in
terests, Of activity, Of official Difference to
the citizen, Of accessibility, begins to per-
wade the purlieus Of the public departments.
These are important results, and if the
country gains nothing more by the advent
Of the new Administration, il will gain
much.
Reforms, TOO, are being introduced into
the administration Of public affairs--very
important reforms. There was room for
their introduction, and there is still more
room for the introduction Of Others. No
vice, no abuse, will be left upbanisbed, up-
removed There is one reform that has
been introduced, which deserves universal
applause, for the reason that il RENTS the
Executive and the Cabinet to their ronsti.
tutional dignity and rights Iii, the resto-
ration Of the old Washington rule, which
requires that all the public business shsil 90
through its constitutional and legal channels
We predicted from the beginning, thnt il
General Taylor should be elected, such
would be the case II is not The only pre-
diction we have made that has been verified.
To illustrate the rule: A wants to be APP
pointed to vacancy in given office In
stead Of Fostering and annoying the Presi-
dent with his application and testimonials,
he files his papers in the department TO which
the Office sought for belongs When the
time comes for the Executive to consider
whom he shall appoint 10 the given vacancy,
the Department to which the vacated office
pertains, lays before the Executive all the
Information il possesses in relation to the APP
plicant or applicants for it, and thus the
Executive is enabled to act understanding
=, and without prejudice 10 any ofthe par
les.
The value Of this reform cannot be. too