The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-11-07
CITY OF WASHINGTON.



shs Government.
The present cabinet presents the unprecedented and
anomalous spectacle Of having been defeated and broken
down in the first six months Of its career II cannot be
denied il the elections OF the present season afford any
test Of the popular voice. that il has lost the confidence Of
the country and been repudated by the people II stands
before the country condemned, and poweress far
measures and policy concerned and at the mercy Of
its enemies il therefore becomes matter Of curious in
est TO trace the which have led TO result so
strange extraordinary. and novel in the history OF this
republic.
What are the causes which have produced the defeat
and overthrow Of the present administration In order to
explain them fully, will be necessary 10 60 into brief
history Of the federal party previous to the election as
well as review OF the acts and measures OF the present
federal cabinet since it was installed in power. From
long experience the leaders OF the federal party became
convinced that the principles and measures OF public
policy which they advocated Were odous to the people,
and never would be adopted by them from choice They
also came to the conclusion that their old leaders, too
were obnoxious and could ingraate themselves
into The favor and confidence Of the people sufficient
extent to secure their support They therefore in
the future nothing but continued defeat and perpetual
exile from Office and powers and hence they 10 the
bold and profgae resolution Of abandoning their old
measures and deserving their old leaders, and adopt
Ing new measures under the guidance Of new chief
tains, who had not been so much identified with the
mast history Of federalism and therefore had not incur
red so much Of popular dstrust as Messrs Clay and
Webster, the former idols Of the wing party Hence
the scenes Of the 'slaughterhouse" convention at Pha-
depha the deposition Of their old and tried leaders, and
the adoption Of new head in man who had no pro-
fessed principles, and previous political history, from
which the people could Judge Of his fitness and capacity
10 administer the concerns Of this vast confederacy of
sovereign States.
The scheme worked wen until the election By dint
Of false promises and deceptive pledges, made with
deliberate intention 10 violate them, the sequel has
proved they succeeded in eecng their candidate and in
getting possession of the offices and power OF the govern
ment Then came the time of trial Then they were
compelled 10 unmask themselves and disclose their pol
icy. They were then forced to have measures and to
acknowledge in their turn their accountability TO the peo-
pie They then compelled to show what their
principles, and to lei the people know whether or not
they designed to fulfil in good faith the promises and
pledges which they made previous 70 the election and by
the Of which they obtained the confidence and suf
frages Of the people.
How did the cabinet 60 to work to redeem their prom
Uses and pledgesi They began by stultfying their
President, and persusdng him virtually to abdcate his
Office to their conclave They persuaded him that the
cabinet the Executive and that be but one of its
MEMBERS having only equal voice in its deliberations
and decisions with one OF themselves. He was per-
suaded into the belief that he must place the powers and
duties Of his high Office within the control of the cabal by
whom be was surrounded. whose behests be was to
sanction. however much they might conflict with his
own personal opinion and judgment Thus have they
in effect usurped the active powers Of the responsible
Executive. and reduced them to the control of an ire
sponsible conclave unknown 10 the constitution and
without accountability to the people.
Their next step to mark out and deneaie course
Of foreign policy which was to be pursued by the cabinet
principles OF ancient and inveterae federalism When
the present cabal came into power nearly all Europe
eonvulsed with the hroes OF revolution The struggling
masses, downodden and oppressed for centuries,
engaged in mighty effort to assert and establish their
just civil and political rights, and force from their OPP
Pressors recognition Of their true position and import
Of the great subdivisions Of the social CON-
munity In such state Of things it might reasonably
have been supposed that the American cabinet repre-
senng the freest people on the EARTH would have SYM
pathized with the struggling nations OF Europe, and 50
Tar allied itself with their to manifest by IFS ac
tons desire that that should be successful But
sneh was not the policy Of the caba who surround Gen
Taylor Under the pretext OF maintaining the neutrality
Of this government. which not in the least danger Of
being violated the cabinet contributed all its influence
and power, 20 far as our own laws would permit TO
check and discourage the popular movements in other
eounines, and 10 encourage and aid the usurpen and
tyrants who were attempting TO reduce the victims OF
their tyranny to hopeless state Of servi,ude and
slavery Its first demonstration agansttbe popular cause
in Europe was the arrest Of the German steamship.
which every American knows was destined for the
service Of the eonfedeaied empire Of Germany. which.
had il succeeded would have ultimately terminated in
republic like own, and in securing permanent free
dom 10 the German people. Next. we find the cabinet
lending the whole power OF the government TO suppress
revolution in Cuba, and thus TO pepetuats the intoera
bic tyranny which scourges and depsses that beautiful
Island Then ], s,arles the country by an abrupt dis
missa Of the French minister, the only democratic rep
resenatve Of foreign power government; thus
playing directly into the hands OF Louis Napoleon the
wouldbe usuper OF he throne OF France TO whom that
minister was, Of course politically obnoxious In no in
stance have lis sympahies its active aid been given to
the patriots Of Europe in their late fearful and unforu-
nate struggles for freedom Such briefly have been the
outlines Of i,s foreign policy.
The domestic policy Of the cabinet has been alike de-
nj ,x.I IA