The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-09-06
MYMLlGMcE BY TUT NAILS,


SSS-7rsarwy-In Interval Lmprovements-Fw as~
Policy, &c, &c.
IL may not be embarrassing, in the present pos.
lure Of affairs, to take brief retrospective view
OF the position OF the administration, and pro.r
peclve glance at Its future policy, cleaned for
evidences OF sufficiently striking character as to
resolve themselves into certainues. Much has
been said against the administration during the
bnef penOd it has been in office changes have
been made, which, if true, would coasgn il 10
utter contempt In word, d system If opposition
has been organized, which, tor unscup ulous de-
nuncatiop, and personal malgnity, finds no paral-
lei in our history.
We believe that one of the greatest safeguards
Of free government is the presence Of a strong
opposition we regard II as mauer Of even vital
Importance that two great parties should exist
But when the opposition to an administration con-
slsts in AN endeavor 10 Witty, aud personally
abuse the existing government when every effort
is made to bring into contempt, and create distrust
IN the chief magistrate and his cabinet, we think
II ceases to be the opposition Of party,
and becomes the mere bilngsgate OF a set OF dema-
gogues, bowling over the spois OF office, which have
been wrested from them We believe that all ad.
illustrations, established by the popular will,
should be regarded in their incplenl state, at all
events with feelings ot respect, aud atom
10 give them lar experimental test, with full be-
lief the integrity OF motive OF each member OF the
cabinet. Such feelings must ln.rvaae the mind Of
every man not tied down 10 the narrow llinits of
party; and the present administration, from the
character OF the noble old man at It's nedd we'll
as from the composition of the cabinet, Is emf
nently entitled to our sympathles and support,
until II has committed some act deserving OF Gen.
sure. The President was elected under peculiar
circumstances. A man wholly unconnected with
nj nd n. ftapa
to attain his present elevated position, ne WAS
chosen by the people for his oong moral cha-
racterstics, and IN consequence OF his OF repeat-
ed declarations that he considered exIeIae party
as the great curse of the country But 1t cannot
be denied that he also, from the trsl, declared hln-
self TO be moderate wing These propositions
were made sufficiently clear to the people previous
to last November, and II was upon these principles
that the present administration Was elevMnA to
power. Here, then, We have clue To The lead
ing features of the policy which the county mas a
right to expect from General Taylor aad ms cabi-
net, ard In default of which, II will have good
and sufficient cause to consider itself egregiousy
duped.
The Leading features of the policy OF the adj
ministra,lon will, therefore, be stability aud mode
ration neither rushing mddly into either extreme,
but preserving progressive conservative c0urs-,
and endeavoTng to carry out measures Tor the
good OF the country, without reference to what
party such measures may have sprung from Some
OF the most important questions OF the present day
have been turned into mere party platforms, with
of the measures themselves--tne great consldera-
ton being that one party was bound To oppose what
the other supported.
Among the questions which have been kicked
and bufleted about by politicians, the tariff stands
prominently forward. There has, IN consequence,
always been want OF stability in the Legislation
upon this important subject which would have
proved fatal, we believe, TO any other nation or
any people than our own; and our success, under
all the disadvantages Of this tnkerng process, BUT
proves how much greater and more prosperous
tins country NIGH. haze been, ni s some psr%a,
first. We hold that stability, above all things, is
necessary for ths proper development Of the re-
sources and genius OF country, and from the
Presidents declarations and the avowed oplnlons
of the Secretary Of the Treasury, it is apparent
they are not inssnsible the importance OF bring
ing about such state OF affairs. The present adj
minlsraion does not intend TO startle the country
by the introduction Of any new theorles or Eighty
experiments; but II val calmly investigate, aud
point out the abuses Of our present ystein. That
the present tariff has not answered the expectations,
even OF its friends, cannot be controversial; and
that II has been ruinous 10 some OF the most inn
p0rtsnt interests Of the Union, let the closed manu.
factories and bankrupt manufacturers OF Western
Pennsylvania answer. One great defect In collect
ing the revenue under the present system, exists
In the establishment OF I'D paIorem instead OF spe-
cifc duties; and this is IN fact the whole spirit and
essence of the tariff Of 1916. IL 10 a system open
70 Frauds it increases the duties In proportion an
the value OF an article may increase IN foreign
market, thus taxing our citizens the most when
they least able to bear Il; l. e. waea foreign
goods are dear; and doing away with almost all
needed, when foreign goods are cheap IL precise
ly reverses the true policy OF the government, and
is OF service TO no one but tue foreigner VINO
ports the goods. Specific duties WILL therefore,
be recommended, and the eminent gentleman at
the head Of the Treasury Department, will, doubt
less, clearly and lucidly, at the proper tune, point
out the disadvantages Of The present system, and
the beneficial results which change would bsing
about. Besides this, there some articles which
require somewhat increased protection, aud we
believe that the interest OF no class ot the comn-
nifty will be overlooked: tariff, neither too nigh
nor too low; which neither Expresses the consumer
or the MANUFACTURER, Ia what we want and we
feel convinced that such tariff, neither ultra
protective on the one hand, nor rulnously low
upon the other calculating nicely the growth OF
the country and ITS increase in wealth and strength,
will be recommended, and an endeavor mide TO
set at rect this exciting and disturbing ''policL
platform"
We do not believe any attempt will be made 70
abolish the subtreasury law. Ga the contrary, It's
provisions will be faithfully earned out. There
will be no more "depleiions' OF the suo-treasury.
II will be strictly "iDdependent" Time, how
ever has developed certain defects IN it, working,
and these Will be investigated and the remedy point
ed out. That the present system Of transfer rs
cumbersome, expensive, and unsatisfactory, can
not be denied and II II probable some remedy will
be devised which will promote the public laterest
lyon the subject Of internal improvements"
which has been made a sort OF bastard party ques-
ton, public opinion has wildly into extremes.
One class desired system Of internal improve
ments when would at once render nxvrgabIe every
stream, build docks at every point, aad make har-
bors in all directions, without rerrrncs either to
the resources OF the county, or the absolute
cesslty Of the works Themselves. Another class
denounced improvements II all kinds. and would
have the people believe that, although revenues
might be collected in our inland ports. they Hnst
be expended wholly upon the sesbosrd that whilst
IL right and proper 10 build lighthouses to point
out a sunken rock or dangerous shoai, II was un-
constitutional to expend dollar IN the removal Of
those obstacles We believe there ~ almost as
much sbsurdiiy in pesliion the other, and II
affords but another proof how little caicuat tied .x-
IRENE party is TO enable men TO Judge calmly aud
properly, ts TO what Is most advantageous 20 the
country. The administration u IN favor ef inter-
nal improvements, but we are much mistaken n II
will recommend a system OF heedleap, headlong
expenditure VI public money. There are cut two
methods, that we can perceive. Of carrying out the