The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-16
TO TIE EDITOR OF THE NATIONAL WIG
CABINET SKETCHES.
THE pApEas OF ArTIeus.-No. VIEW sEnlEs.


CABINET SKETCHES.
! THE PAPERS OF ATTicus.-so. v.-sEw sERIEs.
Secretary Ewing.
No cabinet officer has been exposed TO more I'M
measured abuse from the opposition journals, than
the subject Of this sketch and in point Of view,
no one deserved 1t more. Men who stand highest,
are the fairest targets. Men who discharge their
duties most promptly and boldly, those who, for
the greater part are most violently assailed by adj
political gadiators. The tame, The submissive,
the inefficient, passed by with Indifference, as
they excite neither terror nor hostility; but the
prompt, the decided and the firm can neither be dis
regarded, norcontemned. These principles, which are
daily manifested In the controversy OF rival factions,
or parties, satisfactorily explain how IL Is that Mr..
EWING has always been viewed with inyidous eyes
by his enemies and cherished by the warmest conf
dence Of his friends That which is most objectionable
TO the one, being ever most comnlendlbe with the
other.
Whatever faults may be imputed TO Mr.. Secre-
tary Ewing, certainly want of frankRess is not Of
| the number do not mean 10 say that he wears
his heart upon his sleeve for ddns to peck at but
that he never pursues hypocritical or circuitous
or involved policy. He Is no imitator of the Castle
reagh taclcs-but mes directly 10 the point, and
| unsuspiciousy acts out his inmost thoughts A
man Of undoubted ability, Of ine xible honesty he
moves onward 10 his object, either with strength
adequate TO Its attainment At least that conscious
ness of rectitude which ohsoes deieat-should de-
feat ensue.
| His stalwart frame-his Republican planness aud
simplicity of manners| are The true outward denote.
ments Of the character OF his mind. This is not all,
there is obviously nice equality between his moral
and intellectual powers that gives full assurance that
the one will not be neglected in the exercise Of the
| ether.
When he once assumes his ground though firm,
he is not immovable, though he is only TO be moved
by being convinced Of his error. Selfshness exer-
clses no influence upon his Judgment. Truth, JUS
tice, and patriotism in public councils his tutear
divinities.
With such qualities, isit remarkable that he should
be called to the present administration? Is he not in
exact keeping with all its constituents? All the in
tegra parts Of the government are not only admirable
In themselves, but most harmonious in their comibina
tion-and reflect the highest honor upon the Execu-
tive. All these suggestions therefore, of dissatsfac-
ton, dscord, or disrupture among them, are clearly
not only unfounded, but malicious. Springing it is
to be feared from the Of party feeling, reck
less Of every thing but its own qualification. But
little more than three months have elapsed since
the presen; administration came into power. It is
still in its initiate state. No time, no opportunity
has been afforded for the development Of It's prnci-
pies or its energies. The CHAOS enailed upon the
government by incompetent national functionaries,
has hardly yet been ed to ORDER and yet every
yelpng adverse partisan abuses the ear of his cour-
try with fretful and causeless clamor against some
of tho best and most distinguished men of the
naion-merely, forsootl, because they hold, and
hold deservedy its highest posts. II would remind
us Of Pheton reproying PhTbus, for his manage
ment or guidance of the Chariot Of the Sun.
Permit me to ask, what is the objection to the
measures of The administration Is it the DISPENSE
ton of offices l have heard of no other. Why our
antagonists say, they do not complain for themselves
they erpected no Offices! They only complain for
the Taylor Democrats How kind and considerate
What extraordinary sympathyi How sincerely they
lope their enemies !! How wonderfully they have
subdued their own selfish propenslties Actually
"thus wasting their sweetness on the desert air. -"
Why all this affected compassion? Shall | ask
where is the cause? Have not Democrats been ap-
pointed? will they not still be Not in the cabinet
certainly; not public official opponents Of national
policy, for that would resemble the introduction Of
the Grecian horse into Troy and result in the sub.
ugaurc Of the best and dearest interests of the peo-
pie. ATrlCuS.
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