The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-22


The Sew Administration.
The President elect will probably be IN Wash
ingtOn tomorrow next day. The selection OF a
cabinet, the adoption OF measures and the general
arrangement of The adm nlstration. are going on
with considerable activity We have received
the fist intima,ions of the formation OF the cabne,
through the electric telegraph. Mr.. Clayton, OF
Delaware, is to be Secretary of State, and other
distinguished men are mentioned In lump in
connection with the other departments, who are
generally of the same stamp in politics They are
all whigs-moderate whigs--whigs of the pre-.
sent generation (; and are not OF that antique de-
scription of wings who contended so maniully,
but SO unfortunately, throughout the whole admi-
nistration of General Jackson. The old wings
Clay, Webster, ct id 0nrne genus-are pushed aside'
to make way for class of men, who have
heretofore borne only secondary place the
political move merits OF the last quarter OF a Gen.
turv. Thus we go.
General Taylor's election to the presidency was
a great revolution, and the formation Of his
cabinet and the adoption of his measures will
give the nation some mixing OF what we may ex-
pect for the future In the letters and speeches of
General Taylor, heretofore promulgated, that DIS
tipguished man alludes forclbly to the first
Preside ns 10 lead the public to believe that he
intends to follow the example of Washington,
more particularly in the line of his public conduct
than any OF our former chief magistrates have
done. This Is very natural feeling to be enter
tanned by a pure-mlnded man, untalnted with
politics, and one who has been elevated from a
different sphere OF action, and placed at the head
OF great republic, by spontaneous expression
OF public opinion. General Tay lor comes into
the Presidency fresh from the battlefield, full
OF patriotism, httle known to partizans, and with
little party feeling. In these respects he goe
into that high Office In much the same way
that General Washington did. The career of the
father OF his country during the seven years re-
evolutionary war, was one OF hard work, OF great
privation and oil the exercise Of mighty qualities.
Itwas not career of political lntrgues here, o
caucus there; and he did not reach the highest
office in the public git by variety OF tricks. 1t
was career of patriotism, and his election was
the unanimous voice OF the American people.
But although the previous lite of Washington
and Taylor may present some traits In common,
the men with whom the former had to act IN
managing the affairs OF government were altogether
different from those with whom General Taylor
will be associated at the pres day. Washing
ton had with HIM the men OF the revolution as his
associates, undlvid, by personal local, or parti-
ian feelings; but men who passed through long
war; when stimulated the gene raj feelings OF pa
triotism within them. General Taylor, on the
contrary, comes to Washington in the midst OF the
present generation OF politicians who are altogether
different from The patriots Of the revolutionwhose
me des OF action and moral principles are as oppo
site the poles and who nave risen to power and
pre.eminence by the lltte patry acts of politicians
and political intrigue n 10 doubt the men whom
he will select for h,s cablnet ike the leading men
of the two parties are sound, talented and worthy,
according TO the Specification OF those terms IN the
present day but they belong to diRere mt era from
hat OF w Washington, and will occupy held OF ac-
zion entirely diverse from that which pure
minded man, like General Taylor, would expect,
coming from the scenes with which he has been
associated, and lmbued with the principles which
have heretofore guided him.
Looking back at those antecedents We cannot
help foreseelng that as General Taylor's
cabinet shall have been Installed-no matter who
will be the other men, IN addition TO those who are
nentoned-th will commence quiet struggle
between the pohc4 Al principles OF the present age,
ana those grand moral pnnclples with which Ge-
neral Taylor himself has been associated, and
ington than those OF the present time. The cab-
net will be made the tulcrum OF all the politicians
throughout the country who want office, or to give
particular dire elton TO the action Of the govern
ment. General Taylor WI | be the great national
conservative power OF the government, acting
from different principles and looking to different
results from hose OF the members of the cabinet
and their advisers This position Of affairs will,
no doubt create difficulties that are not yet anci-
pated In regard to measures as well as men.
In another point Of view, the accession OF Gene
raj TAYLOR is most remarkable revolution in the
political history o. the country, and deserves a
calm and candid consideration before the mind
can come 10 an accurate conclusion as to Its con-
sequences.
1t was during the administration OF General
Washington that the clemens Of the two parties
which have since agltated and governed tn: ceun
Try, were developed, aud went into separate and
iviDg action General Washlngton's cabinet
was composed Of both OF those original et-
meBts; and hence the difficulties with which he
had TO contend privately during both HIS terms for
eight years One OF those elements succeeded IN
the election Of John Adams; aud then commenced
the open contest between the two palttes which
agitattd this country 10 the present day From
that period down to the time OF John Quincy
Adams, the democratic element ruled In the
general government and Throughout the country
With the defeat VI John Z nncy Adims, aud the
election OF Gen Jackson, commenced phase
OF the same political acuon which characterized
the republic. Parties were again divided, with a
modified name, but with the same princ piles, and