The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-12-30

CLAYTON AND HIS DIpLoMAcY.-If any new
proof were wanting TO show Mr.. Clayton how the
American people regard his heartless triling with
the cause of popular liberty in Europe, it has now
been furnished. This celebrated politician, who,
by some fatality, has been foisted into General
Taylors cabinet, to the exclusion Of many other
greater and better men, has, II is pretty generally
confessed, made sorry figure dipomatist.
He has, in Paul Pry style, been sure to mistake
the occasion and time for action. lie has become
equally notorious with that illustnous negotiator
for delivering his dispatches to the wrong persons
The despatch which he should have written TO the
English minister, for his bold and outrageous pre-
tensions TO Central America, he wrote, in fit Of
spleen, TO NJ. Poussn; and he found himself
in the mortfyIng predicsment of the second in the
duel who got up the fight with the wrong person.
Of the Irish secretary, the play, who put the love
letter TO his mistress in the envelope directed to the
banker, and sent the draft on the banker to his
mistress. To make this Irish diplomacy still more
complete, he sets all the machinery of the govern
ment into operation, 20 stop few adventurous
spirits from sailing TO Cuba, to aid IN the of
liberty against the rotten tyranny of Spain, hunt
Ing up, meantime, some obsolete law to Justify the
deed; while, true TO his sympahes with despotism,
remorseless tyranny Of the Car But this It's
sue of diplomatic bluaders and lollies must
have an end. Mr.. Clayton may lawn on MIR. Clay,
and ilatter Mr. Webster, and cover Seward, the
abotionst, with the soitest possible kind OF soap;
the game is not likely to prove successful. Much
as these men may respect General Taylor person.
ally they cannot be expected TO entertain much
regard for his Secretary. The old proverb, "Love
me, love my dog" will serve on many occasions,
bat il is not likely to hold good here. II Is asking
too much. The public acts Of the chief Secretary
must pass the review of the Senate as they have
of the nation; and they are sure to meet the most
unequiyocal condemnation. The republics Of
Rome and Hungary have gone down in blood and
gloom, when a corps of efficient representatives in
Europe, with proper Instructions, might have saved
them. But, instead OF this, we see a staggering
bully sent to Pay Mr. Clayton's compliments to the
butcher-in-chief of Austria and all the jus,ifica-
ton that be urged in the IL, that he is bet
ter qualified for that mission than any other man
IN North America. A man who has been saved
from the State Prison by the pardon of the Co
vernon, IS surely the ittost representative TO a
court, whose chief agent has, by his inhuman
buichories, curdled the blood of the civilized
world
But the chief Secretary OF the whig cabinet will
COON be stirred from bis torpor. lie has done what
be could TO wreck the popularity Of General Tay-
lsr and the honor Of the republic. 1t was sup
posed when the elections began, and one State
after another sent to Congress men who were
PLEDGED to vote against HIM and his acts, that he
would have tempered the ferocriy of his policy.
But he seems 10 care little for the opinions
Of his oouniymen, or Of mankind. lie has,
however, conceived species Of alarm at last
and we hear Of bis being out "late O. nights,
in Paying court to the veterans Of the wing party
lie hopes TO manufacture, in this way, capital
enough to|h-p hun through the first legislative
| crisis. 10, he will find II difficult matter. The
/ fret ten months of hs StcTotaryship has been a
reign Of terror. more merciless than that Of Robe
speirre. lie has, from all accounts sent some five
thousand heads rolling from the plank Of the gull
I lioine. lie must, within the next sixty days, ask
/ the Senate TO sanction The grand immolaticn. II
is very modest request, considcriag the quarter i
I comes from