The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-20
INTELLIGENCE By THE MAILS,
WASHINGTON, Feb. IL, 1870.

1he Cabinet, aud Cabinet Prospecfs.
n stake or two Is planted a point or two il
achieved. Mr.. Crttenden perer ptorIv declio..
a place IN the cabinet. The examples ot b,sto,v
are full OF saviag instruction. Mr.. CLAW II va.
who elected John Quincy Adams in '2i. Mr. c,.v
It was who accepted the department Of State under
that administration; and the public mind wa.
visited with the ineradlcable suspicion, however
unjust, that this arrangement was the result of a
bargain and sale-ot the man for the office, and
the office for the patronage Of the man. In 1913.
almost simultaneously with the coming forward OF
Mr.. Cnttenden to the support of Gen, Taylor, it
was understood that, In the event OF the election
OF the hero of Monterey, Mr. Crttenden was
10 take the place Of Secretary OF State This was
natural conclusion. from the selfevident fitness
OF the man tor the office but we apprehend that
MI CIittenden declines the office, or any Office IN
the Cabinet from the warning consequences of tho
example OF his "ilustrious predecessor" 1t re-
.ureo no extraordinary sagacity in Mr.. Crittenden
90 ioiesee mat Gen. Taylor could be elected, and
Ihat any otheI wing Candidate would, probably, be
defeated; and upon this conclusion. il was quito
natural that he Should exert himself to supe rsede
Mr.. Clay by the nomination OF Gen. Taylor De-
slrous OF the success OF the wing candidate, as tho
only prospect OF the success OF wing measures II
was natural that he should seize upon that man of
whose success ne ieit an unqualified assurance.
And upon this ground alone, it quite sufficient
for the defence OF Mr. Crlttenden to place his
.',is OF zen. Taylor ana MS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS VI Mr'
Clay.
Thus far, then, Mr.. Crlttenden stands ACQUITTED.
But the bar OF public opinion admits OF testimony
not admissible upon the records. Ii admits of the
testimony OF suspicion; and had Mr.. Crittenden
accepted place IN General Taylor's cabinet, the
suspicion would inevitably follow, that his support
OF General Taylor looked TO his own advancement.
and that his abandonment OF Henry Clay was not
upon the altar Of wing principles but tor the selfish
object OF his own personal elevation, even at the
has<l NJ Lo.t
over his fallen body: This suspicion, we say,
would have attached itself to Mr.. Crttenden, had
he accepted place In General Taylor's cabinet
and It Is fair to presume that he had the sagacity
to perceive 1t, and the discretion to decline
General Taylor could do no less than invite him
to his ministerial circle, whatever may have been
the motives OF Mr. Crlttende in the Important SER
vices which he had rendered 10 secure the nomi-
nation OF the most popular man OF the day, as the
only man tor the wings In declining, Mr. Crit
tenden has redeemed himself and his motives, aud
has done much to give the promise OF harmony to
the administration and lts supporters In Congress !;
for with Mr.. Crttenden In the cabinet, aud Mr.
Clay in the Senate, It would have been extremely
difficult to reconcile the c0unses of the one with
the course 1t the other. Mr.. Crlttenden would
have felt himself under obligations to Mr.. Clay,
and Mr. Clay would have scorned to play the part Of
secondary agent to the advice OF Mr.. Crlttenden.
Between these two men would have been establish
ed the greatest stumbling block to the harmony of
the co operate action at the cabinet and of Con-
gress. Though modified by circumstances aud by
age, the passions OF men are the same, aud The
prircipe OF revenge is the same the mind of the
statesman as In the heart of the fisherman. Reta-
laton, in both cases, the law, when the opportu-
nly IL given; and II Is often question whether he
that suffers the wrong he that inflict0i it feels
most the sense and the justification OF enforcing
redress.
We presume that If not definitely determined,
some such misgivlngs as these ac,uated Mr.. Crit
tenden IN declining berth IN the cabinet OF the
man OF the people. He perhaps, tell that not only
would suspicious of ambition pursue him, but that
personal differences, ineligible to explanations,
would produce dstrust and adverse sentiments
among the supporters ct the administration, were
he TO take the place VI the prominent man among
them; tor, whatever situation he might have taken,
he would have been regarded the prominent man.
We respect, therefore, the decinatlon OF Mr..
Crittenden, as decision discreet for hmsel judi
cfous for the administration, and just to the public.
Meantime, II Is unde Isood that Mr. Clayton has
be en- advised by telegraph that he wanted In the
State department; and We have no doubt OF his ac-
cepance, tor his previous relations with Mr.. Clay,
as compared with his in the campaign Of
49, were such as to leave him entirely exempt from
any EMBELLISHMENTS OF personal dissatisfaction.
He stands IN the easy attitude CT good relations
with all men and oil factions OF the wing party.
and free from any perpexlties OF constructive IN
gratitude.
The other places In the cabinet are yet undster-
mined.
For the Post Office Department, Ex-Governor
Lecher, 'of Kentucky, Hon. CADET b. Smith, of In
diana, Hon. Truman Smith, OF Connecticut, and
,thefS are named.
For the Treasury, Hon. William c.. Rives, of
Virginia, Hon. George Evans, OF Maine, Hon.
Abbott Lawrence, of Massachusetts. Hon. Andrew
Stewart, OF Pennsylvania, and Hon. Thomas
Ewing, o. OHIO, are mentioned, severslly, as likely
TO succeed. Ii ID suggested, however, that tariff
man irom the South will be the most expe-
dent man for the post.
Mr. Mangum, Of North Carolina, desires nothing,
and will accept nothing.
For the War department, Hon. Mr. Gentry, of
Tenne ssee, and Col Baker, Of Illinois. seem now
TO be IN the ascendant.
For the Navy, Hon T. Butler King, OF Georgia,
has claims entitled to attention.
For Attorney General, Hon. Reverdy Johnson,
ofMary land, Hon. Mr.. Badger, OF North Carolina,
Governor Johnston, of Pennsylvania, and others,
are included as among those from whom the Sc
lection is TO be made.
Certainly, General Taylor has abundance of
and from the deliberate manner in which
he goes to work, doubt not he will make
judic,ous selection of his advisers The Treasury
department. is the great post OF patronage and
responsibility, demanding capable head and a
disntcresteG politician, as dispenser OF the offices
more than any other department., Next to it Is the
Post Office department. Let these two de part
men,s be well filed, and the others may be occu-
OF laundering In the dark, the State department
being already provided tor, with capable and sub
staniial man. w.
WASHINGTON, Feb Is, 1919.
The Cabinet-- Odds and E,.ds-hswe of Stock
The Reciprocity Bill, &c. ~
We have at last something definite as to at least
one of the dramatis persona of General Taylor's
cabinet. Mr.. Clayton received, yesterday, tele-
graph. despatch, offering him the State Depart
n L