The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-02-15

The Two SPRISGs-MoUNTAINs OF WISp-THE
Policy OF THE CABINET AND OF Mr.. CLAY.-Msny
years ago, distinguished traveller, in pushing his
way through the far West, arrived In that part
of the immense range of the Rocky Mountains,
known the Mountains of Wind. Attracted by
the charms of nature and the cosmcsl truths every
where unfolding themselves, he explored not only
the base Of the Rocky Mountains. bat the great
basin, divided from the Pacific by barrier OF
lofty peaks crowned with snow While thus en-
gagged, he discovered two small springs-one on
this side of the range, extending north and south,
and the other on the western side, within the grea
basin itself On this side, was sulphur spring,
and on the other side soda spring, as will be
seen by glance at any authentic map. With" de-
lighted eyes," the traveller paused to admire the
pecuhares of each of these little springs, they
dubbed and spsrkled in the SUM- and sent out little
rills from their pebbly reservoirs and, conecturng
that they performed some important part in the
willing economy of nature, he determined to trace
each iivuet to its ultimate embouchure The re-
suit of that decision furnished truths for geo
graphical and photographed science the sui
phur spring was found to be the source of the Mis-
souri, river, whose swelling food Is now one of
the great aquatic highways ofhsppiness, of COM
merce and civilizations while the soda spring ter
minated in that Great Salt Lake, described in Colo
mel FremOnt's recent report, whose waters are
estate, fiat and Improbable"
Now, the observer of the policy, respectively, Of
the cabinet and of Mr. Cay, on the slavery ques-
ton, at Washington, cannot but be interested in
the prominent characteristics of the great polt cal
basln-of the numerous sources of error, confu-
sion, and intellgence-and of the fried and almost
impossible barriers of prejudice, passion and igno-
rance, which mark our public councils Two lines
OF policy, TWO streams Of intelligence, have been
perceived One is small and ridicuousy unim-
portant-the other brilliant and generously inviting
That of President Tayor's fimsy cabinet Is weak,
dwelling and sluggish, terminating and embow
cling itself in mlserably useless sea, only to be
looked upon with strange forebodiDgs or disgust
while that Of Mr.. Clay is strong liquid, lively,
energetic and bold, well calculated to fertiiize and
refresh the whole pee pie.
Whatever may be the aspect of the mountains Of
wind at Washing'on-and they are many, long
winded, short w,oded and side-wnded-it is GER
tam that the spring whence Mr.. Clays policy pro-
ceeds is of that true, purifying and medicinal
character, suited to the viruence of the complaint
in the body polite, and very far from being brought
mo humble comparison with that source of
intelligence derived from the cabinet, which began
in sods and could only end in something
still more flat, Insipid or distasteful.
Dropping the illustration, the inquiry is forced
upon US, and would ask If, because our terrlto-
rial acquisitions are becoming widely extended
as those which marked the regns from Augustus
to Constantine the imbecle cabinet intend to make
their policy conform to that which characterized
the Roman emperors Are our territories to be-
come mere prefectures and procoDsuar ieaitles to
be elevated, In the place of pure, wholesome and
liberal government Are great questions of public
interest to be sumbered through, in the reign of
Caudius, and such men as Paas and Callistus to
hold the keys Of the exchequer, while only one or
two patriotic men exert themselves to save the
ship of state from a wreck Indeed, 1t would
seem as if, because our President has been mill
tary man. his incumbency were to be marked by
attempts at the ancient style OF government, long
ago exploded, and which, IN these days, must be
regarded as the narrowest possible policy for the
administration Of public affairs. However, we |
have yet hopes that the President will not be sacri-
feed by the imbecility of his advisers-we yet .
have hopes that the sincerity Of his purpose and
for the good Of the country, whose best interests
he has at heart, he will be strengthened at all
points, TO carry out that system of government
which will best subserve the desires of the coun-
try, and contribute to freshen and perpetuate his
already well earned laurels. Waiting with these
anticpatIons, we shall be agreeably surprised, if
any thing from the mountains Of wind at Washing
ton be furnished that may be worthy Of special |
mention, as settling, tending TO settle, the diff
Guilty so ably met and so nobly expounded and
theoretically dispersed by the genius OF Mr.. Clay.