The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-29

Our Washington Cores pondence.

IA the Proscripfton-Coi Benton, Mr.
Jones and Col E}emont--7he California Qsses-
fiom, Sc, &c, &c.
We had supposed the absurd rumors of cabinet
dlssenslons, which were started almost before the
cabinet had been formed, would ere thus have
ceased to be current, or that, at all events, they
would only lind place in the columns of the Union
and lis conf, eres where random assertion is looked
upon as master stroke, and falsehood as the
acme of political discussion. These rumors have,
however, been again revived but, as in the 6rst
instance, without shadow of truth. There
has been no dissension IN the cabinet, of any kinds
there has been nothing approaching even unfriend-
| ly feeling or warmth, nor is it Contemplated to
make any changes whatever in the members of the
administration. The rumor that Mr.. Ewing is
going TO Russia, is upon face preposerous even
were he disposed TO go there, his private fortune is
not adequate to it. Bat he does not desire to
change his position, does the President wish
him to do so. The cabinet is bound together by
the strongest ties of personal friendship they re-
gard and respect each Other as they love and res
pect the noble old man at the head of the govern
ment, too well ever to do any act or permit anv
| feeling TO arise which would embarrass him. Ge-
neral Tay is professcdy no politician; but he Il
a well read, noble minded man, of enlarged and
liberal views, bat strong and Determined Will Even
did his cabinet desire II, they could not deprive him
OF one Jot of the functions which belong to hls
hgn and responsible position. Every act, since he
has occupied the Presidential CHAR, h been his
own-loTned perhaps, measurably by the advice of
his constitutional advisers, but only by appeals
10 his reason, hls wisdom aud his OF Justice
Ii ihcse acts are censuiabc, he u rrspuus ble and
as soon would he have, COW ri like, run from the
glorious field of Buen iAid, as atteupt TO shlrx
one iola oil that responsibility. The idea that nc
| Is IN The hands Of keepers, aud Is mere automa-
| ton, ~ pTeposterons. No m IA who ~ at all ac-
ianttd with Genefal Ia Tor person ally, could be-
'duccd TO believe that he ever acts otherwise
tan as his own sense OF duty dictates.
And what has the Executive done that shoulI
give cause for the charges that hc plays second fd
| die 10 his Cabinet! Has he falsiisd, in any par
tlcular, the platform he land down in the Allison
letter! "Oh, yes?' the opposition press replies ''he
has permitted his secretaries 10 carry on "a whole
sale system OF proscrpuon look at The Post Office
Department, Tor instance" We'll, look at IT. There
are some IL, 600 post-mas,ers, every one of them
being strong democrats-men who would and have,
doubtless, strained every nerve and used every
means to upset the administration and Of these
some fourteen hundred have been removed, and
| about The same number have resigned, making u
total OF less than three thousand out of The
teen thousand Is this prescription Is Their am
| honest man, no matter what his politics be.
| who would contend that even If several q .I
| more were removed, so as TO bring abou' ...|
division Of Offices among the sof boz rtles
| that anything but sheer justice had been q A
| reckless system Ct indlscimInatc proscrp. for
Cplnlons sake, had been carried on here 60. years
and the result was, that almost every office IN the
county was filled by party, to the exclu-
sion oil all others. General Taylor bound 10 put
an end to this unjust system is bound 10 dis
mss ircm Office all Incompetent dercllct subor-
dInates-he is bound by every principle of honor
and justice, TO let the people, who have for years
been prescribed have equal participation In the
oihces OF honor and emolnment; and feeling that
he rs thus situated knowing the utter absurdity of
endeavoring TO conduct n government, all the en-
Ploy ees OF which are OF one party in opposition to
hnm-be will act Justly and fearessy, needing
neither the fasehoods nor the threats of those who
wish to change his course. lie will do SO, aud he
will be upheld, not only by a consciousness Of tho
rocuude and purity OF his conduct, but also by the
macs Of the people Of the country, who despise the
tricks OF demasogues to impede and obstruct his
Another grave charge is, that the cabinet is en-
deavorlDg 10 buy up Colonel Bentons sapport-and
the proof is, that two OF his sons,in.law have b,en
IT true; How are the factsl Mr.. Jones was APP
pointed secretary TO the Mexican Commission
Board, eniirsy upon the suggestion Of the Board,
unlnnuered even by any hint from any members
OF the cabinet, and solely because OF his intimate
acquaintance with the Spanish language, an indis-
pensable requisite for the office; Mr.. Jones is, and
has always been, wing; and he was the most ca
pable person that could be procured. True, he
happened TO have demscratc fither-in-law: but
u was never dreamed that this fact should cause
his % prescription from position he was emf
ncnty qualified To FILL But, then, il is urged he
has now been gwen sort of reversionary COM
Hlsslon as boundary commissioner, IL ease Colonel
a
thought OF this " serious p" charge, when 1t ia
known that 50 far from Mr.. Jones having rever-
sionary interest in the Office alluded to- that he is
not even going to San Diego or California nor has
he been entrusted with any dispatches for Colonel
Fremont. MIR. Jones goes merely to Mexico upon
business purely. connected with the Board OF
Claims, OF which he secretary, and he has
been sent there because he understood the matter
thoroughly. The umor that he has gone to Cali
ionia ~ mere bar-room fabrication, concocted,
doubtless, nt billiards., over brandy smash.
"A Efe "a apn uf
surely reasons amply sufficient to account for it,
without reference to his having married Colonel
Benton's daughter. As mere matter Of policy to
gain over Colonel Benton, 1t would be poor one
giving a vees deal Of unnecessary trouble. Colonel
Weller IS connection Of Colonel Benton's, h wing
married his niece; and II families ties are supposed
to be 20 sllpowerful with " Old Bullion" il is
fair 10 suppose the removal OF relative IN the
person OF Colonel Weller, would neutraze the
obligation conferred in the appointment Of Colonel
Fremont. The simil. truth IL, that IT was deemed
necessary; tor reasons which, II the Senate de-
mands will doubtless be promptly furnished, TO re-
call Colonel Weller, and Colonel Fremonts name
naturally suggested itself TO I'LL the vacancy The
position requires man Of scientific ability and
knowledge of the country; neither OF these the
former incumbent possessed; whilst Colonel FREE
mont-son-ln-law though he Is Of Colonel Benton
possesses both. IL affords, IN our opinion, one Of
the very strongest evidences that General Taylor
and his cabinet are determined TO fill the Offices of
the country with the very highest order of ability.
II is also true the Pre- II tent has sent out nstruc-
tons to Gen. Smith, with full power to protect the
people Of California from the sssissin's knife and
the ncendiary's torch. lie has assumed the re-
sfonsibty of thIs act, and IL may be will bring
down upon himself the abuse OF the U~ios for 30
doing. lut will not the people OF the United States
support him in IL, Will not the wife whose hos-
hand Is in tina, distant r.gion, bcss hun for it,
Will not the hearts OF the mothers, the fathers the
sl.iers Of those hardy pioneers, throb with respon-
gratitude for the noble and humane course
which Gea. Taylor has adopted
80 long as mere assertion supplies the place of
argument, and falsehood off cts IN the opposition to
the present administration, II will sustain but little
injury. a few persons, perhaps, may he deceived
into belief that Gen. Taylor IL fool, and that his
cabinet IL compounded OF set Of conspirators; but
the great mass Of the peoJle are too well informed
to be thus led astray. They will look to the acts