The New York herald., 1849-05-10
Our Washington Correspondence.

WASHINGTON, May z, 1919.
The Neat Congress-Mr. Clay, MIR. Webster, and
the Cabinet-Rumored Changes IN the Trelsl4ry
Department-Ihe NeW York aud Phil meiph,a
Appointments Conduct of Office Seekers, &c.
From present appearances, the next session of
Congress will be stormy one. The fanatics of
the North and the fanatics of the South are carry
ing everything before them. Political questions
are fast emerging into the more important subjects
of wool and free soil. Where all this will end it
is impossible to say. Patriotism, love of country
even high or low tariff, everything, in fact, but
love of office, are forgotten. The one great ques-
tion u.s. the ulrta aboltionsm of the North and the
ultra fanaticism of the South 1t can hardly be
that the valor Of our revolutionary sires the enter
prise and industry which has since raised the
United States to the highest place among nations,
is all to be thrown away upon distractions; that
this glorious country, after whipping the e, British
and the MeXicans the Seminoles and the Flat Feet,
is to be conquered at last by aboitlonlsts and mig
gers. Oh, ignoble fate-miserable destiny
A good deal of speculation is indulged as to the
course which will be pursued by Mr.. Clay towards
the administration during the coming session. By
many it is believed he will head party IN opposi-
ton, or if not absolutely in opposition, will be far
from yielding that cordial support which his emf
nent position would render so advantageous to the
cabinet. All such fears, we think, are groundless
We have no doubt Mr. Clay will be as firm friend
to General Taylor as any man in the Senate At
the present moment, his attitude Is, privately and
politically, OF the most friendly nature and there
is no reason to believe that any circumstances will
arse to change that position. MIR. Webster, 1t is
well known, is also on the best terms with the
binet. Everything, therefore, leads to the con-
cusion that the whig leaders will be united
in their support of the present administration.
Whether it will be sufficient to give them
majority IN either branch of Congress, is another
and n much more uncertain matter.
abundantly displayed than in the few weeks which
have elapsed since the Inauguration of General
Taylor. Day after day unfods some new mystery
some direful rumor-some fact, with reference to
removals, changes, and appointments; and yet
scarcely have they time to- cool before it is dis
covered they are mere castles In the air. The So
luton Of all this is apparent There are hundreds
Of expecants of office Throughout the country, more
than there are offices. The competition is there
fore brisk, and as everything Is fair in war, all
sorts of stories fabricated, in order to try and
check mate, or bluff off, opposition. Nine-tenths,
if not more, of the rumors are news to the cabinet,
Just much as they are to the public.
For some time rumcr has been busy with the Trea-
sury department 1t is asserted that Mr.. Penrose,
the assistant Secretary of the Treasury is to be ap-
pointed Sollcitor, and that the present Solicitor
(Mr. Gillett, barnburner of New York } is to get
the first Comprollership, vacant by the resignation
of Mr.. Mccullough; and as climax, that Mr.;
McCllntock Young, very worthy democrat, and
who has recently resigned that Office is to be the
assistant Secretary of the Treasury. One would
imagine that the absurdity of all this sufficiently
apparent. The present administration is doubtless
opposed to prescription, but it can scarcely be be-
lieved that it is willing to give two, OF the most
prominent Offices in the Treasury department to
their opponents. Fudge! The truth is, the diff
ferent Secretaries have been SO busy in arranging
more pressing business, that they have not had
time to think of changes in their bureaus yet.
The New York and Philadelphia appointments
with the exception of Mr.. Tallmadge) have not
yet been taken up. There are many applicants,
nS probabe the % IS disposed % to wait
patiently, investigate the claims carefully, and, in
the end perhaps appoint persons who, although not
so clamorous as the present applicants, are fully as
worthy 1t is not probable, at all events, that any
tota want of selfrespect, paid by the clamorous
applicants, has not tended to raise their characters
very highly in the estimation Of either the Presi-
dent or his cabinet. OMEGA.