The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-04

Pos'tio~ and Prospecfs
month has elapsed eince the lnstaIIat,.>n Of tk1
new dynasty and now that the smoke of MS In
cense Offered on the occasion has cleared .xysv.
aad that the Peallpg OF the anthems IN pr.,s. "a
General Taylor has subsidized into low wn.o.,.
the question occurs, can the admin,s,rat,oc s..
tain iself Hcar the cabinet, as now constituted
hold together and What will be the result Of IN.
present experiment of the conservative interest Il
| govern tie country!
Three Subjects of grave import were presented .
General Taylor on his election to the Presidency.
namely:-the constitution OF his cabinet, the bo-
stowal of excessive patronage; and the internal and
foreign policy to be pursued by him during his
term of office. On the first rwo the Generals opl-
mons were knowa before his election. He had
protested himself moderate wing, and he would
naturally choose moderate wings as his conssits-.
Nonal advisers; he was for administering tho
government on the principles adopted BY the
hrot Presidents OF the confederation, and there
!ore ne would not be Proscrpuve. But on the
thiTd and most important subject namely -
the foreign and internal policy OF the govern,
ment--his sentiments were not known, because
ms opinions were not as yet substantially formed
and matured. Thus, then, when the President
elect set out from Baton Rouge on his way to tho
capital, he had two settled resolves-first, TO sur.
round himself with moderate wings as his coasti-'
)
p,oscrp,i policy In the distribution Of office.
He had gone further. He had partially decided
upon the men whom he wished to tOrR his cab-
net, and the chief OF those was Mr. Criuendsn, il
whose counsel he had the utmost confidence but
Mr.. Crltte nden decLaed office and, up'n Gene
al Taylor's arrval here, he found such state of
things existing as indueed him to materially alter
the programme Of his cabinet. He was bes'eged
by the friends Of the various candidates for Office,
received from every quarter most contradictory
statements and suggesrlons and, at length, time
ressed, was compelled to oupe together a very
heterogeneous cabinet, every member of VIII Cd
had been personally unknown to himself, (the
Dames OF some OF them he had never heard, aud
most Of whom were unknown to each other. The
majority are moderate wings but two of them
Mr. Ewing and Mr.. Collamer-are known to be-
long TO the most ultra section of the party. Of tho
Secretary of War, (Mr Crawford,) very little 10
known, no mention having been made Of that
gentleman before his elevation to his preseat
Office.
Mr.. Clayton, the Secretary OF State, has been,
until within the last two years, identified very
closely with the most ultra policy OF the wing W
| ty; but he became very early advocate Of the
nomination OF General Taylor. II Is ga I'd he en-
| terains design to build upa republican party,
which shall supersede the present organic atlon.
and shall be based on principles more IN cOnso-
nance with the advancing spirit OF the age Mr..
Clay ten name has often been mentioned, during
the last four years, IN connection with the presi-
deDcy, and II IS not improbable he may, his pro-
sent position, cherish ultefior views and aspra-
tons. Ii has been stated to the President that he
has lien on the Philadelphia N,rfh Amsr.oaW
newspaper for a sum OF ighteen Thousand dollars,
Should this be that paper will doubtless be his Or
gan Mr.. Clayton is an able man, OF popular man
ners, and has great political experience, which,
together with his former position in the Senate,
VIII give HIM very decided weight In the CABLE
net
| Mr.. Meredith possesses more talent than any
other member OF the present administration, aud
there is every to believe he will be the
| = aao n
clear, and vigorous intellect a most Ease mating
address, and freshness OF character which very
few can preserve who are long connected with
party politics. He has all those attributes Ot mind
and manner, calculate. d to give hun an asc .ndaa-
| cy in the cabinet His present duties are novel 70
MN, and he Is studying them as he would bret,
and with every prospect OF completely mistenay
| Them by next winter, the time when he Is to make
| his first report
Mr. Crawford and Mr.. Preston arc men Of
whom very little IS known. The latter gentle
man, have no doubt, will make good Secretary
ct the Navy. The claims ct Mr.. Thomas Butler
King, OF Georgia, for the Navy Department, were
strongly urged upon the President; but there was.
| smorg the Southern wings, an overwhelming OPP
position to his selection, which faalIy crushed
him and elevated Mr.. Crawford, Of the Same
Stale, to the Department of War. Mr. Pfestoe
was a very respectable member OF the House Of
| Repre- natives in the last Congress.
| Mr. Ewing is too well known to need descriP-
ton: He is man Of the strongest party ties, very
lniolersnt, and decided advocate Of prose nptloa.
|
Postmaster General, who Is Vermont wing.
strongly mbued with the spirit of party.
Mr. Johnson, the Attorney General, is a very
sharp, shrtwd lawyer, and nothing else. He was
wholly cut cf place In the Senate, out will do very
well IN his pre- sent position EIe is rather mode
rate ID hs political opinions.
1t will be seen that OF the Cabinet, only two,
Clayton and Mereduh, are moderate men, and
have future before Them; two, Crawford and
Preston, are almost unk known; two others, Ewing
and Collamer, are very decided u'tras aud tho
seventh, johnson, except in matters OF law, not
much better than a cipher. OF such DESCENDANT
elements Is the cabinet composed. IL Is clear
| that General Taylor himself, avOwedy possess
Ing little knowledge OF public affairs, 10 yet tho
main sire DgtA OF the administration. There 10
no cohe sion IN Its parts-no accord IN Its senti-
| mtbts; and without his controlling influence. 1t
could not exist for one month; Will even the
prestige OF his name keep it soldered together tor
| a Nv clvemonth
The TACT is, the Cabinet is between two fires.
| II the proscriptlve policy be pursued, General
Taylor violates his pledges. II 1t be not, then a
very strong and clamorons portion OF the whie
party Is alienated As have advised YOU, On
former occasion, the cabinet discussed this sub
jet formally IN council, and the strong men pre-
vailed against proscript.on-the President himself
coinclding, IN the most decided manner, with the
majority But will the President and HIS Cabine
have nerve to carry out this resolve? The ex
ternal pressure ID very great. Has the cab'ne
strength sufficient to rests, it United, II might
and Mr.. Meredih, for instance, on this question:
are dlsneuically opposite. Can this divided
house stand against the whole force OF
TIE ofiice-seekers, backed by nlne-tenths d
come necessary for General Taylor to change:
his cabinet or at least such portion Of 1t as VII
not sustain him In carrying out his pledges? Mr..
Clayton and Mr. Meredith AS nave said before,
have future, and may therefore stand by tho
President, who must unquestlonably triumph 10
any collision with his cabinet. One thing II IL
quite safe to predict, that General Taylor will not
violate his pledges. and in carrying them out. he
will have the support of the country. All this 10
however, yet to be determined. The policy o.
the administration is suil undeveloped; what hal
already taken place Chords indication OF its fu
ture course. The removals that have been m .de
during the past month are in6aitessimal conpar
ed with those that took place during the FRS
month Of General Harrisoh's administration and
compared with those made during the first month