The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-06-21
The Cabinet Is the President.


Some days since we cited various facts and crcum-
stances, all tending the conclusion that Gen Taylor
from his ncapaciy exercise the functions of his Office
resulting from want of experience in the science OF
government, and lack of the necessary knowledge OF
men, had virtually delegated the powers of his office TO
his cabinet and that the cabinet was, fact the Prest
dent. In support of this conclusion, referred to the
long military life of General Taylor, which spent
upon the frontiers, away from the OF politics and
craftsmanship; his reputation of the veto power and
his pledge alleged by his friends not to interfere with
the legislation of Congress- thus relieving himself from his
constitutional obligation to dissent from approve acts
passed by that body his judgment might dictate his alb
dcaon of the appointing power to his cabinet thus placing
under the control OF concave who not responsible
to the people, the power of appointments and virtually the
entire direction of the administration and, finally, the
fatal which he made in conserving to reduce him
self equality with the members of his cabinet, con-
shutting that body oetemprae, himself retaining but
single vote, equal with the of each OF the other
bers. And. in support of general conclusions we
cited the admissions made by General Taylor
himself in various conversations with others, in which
he, with the simplicity and aressness of man not much
skilled in public affairs the knowledge of human ma
tue admitted that he was voted down in the cabinet and
which he designed for Them and gave his vote in favor
of their having We also CITED the fact, that, in justif
cation of the practices which he had permitted be
adopted in the cabinet he had expressed the belief that
was like courmarlial in which each member had an
equal voice. And, additional support of our con-
illusions, referred to the fact that all applications for
office, petitions, &C., were refused by the President,
and required be presented through his Secrea
If DrOhabIy reaching him and
thus, virtually the right of petition denied We
also referred declarations of the wing papers
and letter writers, in which these facts admitted
and put forth deences against the complaints of those
who had been disappointed by the cabinet in their expec
tatons of office
Every day multpes these evidences OF the fact that
Gen Taylor reality the President and that the
cabinet They appear in the wing press in almost
every direction Everywhere the cabinet is looked
upon by the whig press and party the power which
controls the administration and dspenses Offices and pat
ronage and not Gen. Taylor. Omtng the many admis
sons of this fact which almost daily occurring in the
wing press ourselves for the present with the
following from the Boston Atlas marking such words in
italics to which we would direct attention.:
correspondent of the New York Express says that the
cabinet the beginning of their adopted rule, at
the suggestion OF Governor Crtenden that clerk should
removed from of the departments unless for specific
cause, made and filed Consequently removals have
been made, although the various departments contain
locos whig Notwithstanding the favor
shown, the administration has been abused and Wilt
fled by every ocooco press the country and especially
by the Washington Union The writer that the
this rule has become apparent, and majority
the cabinet in favor of resembling it, and it will be-
escnded. Under all the circumstances we glad OF IT,
The administration like the old in the fable, have
tried grass would do and they will try what
tue there is in stones
The Atlas, adopting the statements of the correspond
ent of The New York Express, says the cabinet, at
the beginning OF their career, adopted rule" &c., in
relation the removal of clerks; which rule il alleges
ga majority Of the cabinet" in favor of resembling
Now these admissions that the cabinet control
all relating to the administration, and not General
Taylor The cabinet" adopted the rule referred to,
says the Express correspondent copied and adopted by
the Atlas, and the cabinet" about to rescnd it.
Now with these admissions the part of two of the
leading organs OF the wing party we longer permitted
to doubt that the cabinet the allcontrong power in the
government, and that Gen. Taylor is nonentty
And has the government of the United States thus be-
come virtually reuolutionsed? Where is the authority in
The constitution which authorizes the President 10 dele
gate the execution OF his high functions to the
whom he is authorized TO select for the adminstra-
ton of the several departments, and for his advisers
merely, and his conrollersl 1t cannot be found.
And hesitate not to say that this proceeding involves
directly the integrity OF the constitution, and in its
ultimate consequences the rights and liberties of the
American people 1t is fact OF such momentous import
as command the attention Of Congress, and should
be thoroughly inquired into by that body when it shall
. again assemble in the Capitol.
We would not harshly assal General Taylor. He has
served his country well in capacity for which he
qualified His conduct a general in the with
Mexico approved and sustained by the party which
he is now prescribing while the men whom he has taken
to his bosom and confidence his opponents and the
enemies of the glorious which made him President.
denouncing him as a "hred murderer" and invoking
the vengeiul foe against whom he contendng to
butcher himself and the brave under his command
But the facts which have cited show that The willy and
INSCRIPTIONS by whom he is now surrounded have
imposed upon his unsuspicous and ingenious nature
and persuaded him to relieve himself of the abors OF
his Office and shelter himself from its grave and weghty
responsibilities by surrenderng his power TO them. and
thus placing in their keeping his future reputation and
good name If General Tayl did not consider himself
equal to the great duties and immense responsibilities Of
the presidency as he frequently admitted before the cleo
ton he should not have consented 10 be candidate but
should have contented himself with the military glory
which he had so nobly won, and which the whole world
was content that he should enjoy In conserving to be