The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-22
The Lnte Cabinet.

We may now speak without restraint, and
free from all imputatiOn of indelcacy OF suspi-
cion of improper motives, of the Cabinet which,
coming in with General TAYLOR, on Saturday
last retired from office-the gentlemen compos-
ing it having all rendered their designations i'm
mediately after the decease of their honored and
reverend head. 1t is too early to do them full
Justice; but the time will come when the coun-
try, Gained from the excitement of the hour
and redeemed from the agitation which vexes
it, will duly appreciate the industry, ability,
courage, and patriotism which they devoted to
its service. We know that they have been the
subjects of ceaseless and unmeasured abuse and
vituperation, by opposition speakers and the
opposition press. What Wing cabinet could
or can hope to escape that infliction We
know, also, that they failed to give entire
satisfaction TO their own party--that, in truth,
they at times made Mistakes particularly in
regard to appointments to office. But could
any amount of human sagacity and wisdom
have preserved them from the commission of
errors, or enabled them so to discharge their
duties in regard 10 appointments to office as 10
avoid giving much offence to Wings in all sec
tons Of the Union, there being in all sections
numerous applicants for almost every office Is
it not highly probable that any Cabinet, com
ing into office under the circumstances in which
they did, would have met the same abuse from
political opponents, and given about the same
amount of dissatisfaction to political friends
The discomfort inevitably arising from the
exercise of the appointing power, TO the extent
TO which 1t was necessary it should be exer-
cised, and the absorbing interest of one question
upon which section or party could fully
agree, has probably had the effect to make
many blind or Indifferent to much which, UNI
der other circumstances, they would have seen
to commend, in the official conduct of these
gentlemen. This much will even now be ac-
corded 10 them.
The policy which they recommended and pur-
sued was eminently Wing and national. Cir
cumstances which could not be controlled have
diverted the attention of Congress- and the peo-
pie from the discussion of those great measures
Of common interest TO the whole nation upon
which parties divide. The consequence is, that
neither the annual message Of the late PREsI-
DENT, nor the reports from a single Depart
ment has received that attention and scrutiny
which would exhibit the merits Of administra-
ton in the past or of recommendation for the
future. Yet the machinery Of Government has
been in constant though noiseless motion. and
has exacted the untirng diligence Of all Of the
heads Of Departments. There has been a
world Of business TO do, and that Of the
greatest importance, requiring all the energy
which each could bring to his particular branch
Of duty, and demanding the utmost rapidity Of
decision and of movement in all the operations
Of Government. II the details of employment
could be spread before the people, they would
readily award the tribute which was due to the
industry and ability which accomplished so
much and have excited so little attention Our
history for the past sixteen months has been
one of stirring incidents of Executive admins
tration, while its legislative annals are practi-
cally blank. That partisan opposition should
| have found so little, in all that has been done.
which with any plausibility it could condemn,
and been unable to point to any thing left un-
done which ought to have been done, is the
highest evidence that the administrative duties
Of the late Cabinet have been discharged with
industry, fidelity and ability.
! Of the merits Of the late Cabinet in the ca
pacity of Executive council, it is enough TO
say that it accorded heartily with the policy of
its chef--a policy Of which his death has
wrung the acknowledgment from every section
Of the country, from almost every organ of pub
lie opinion, that in him it was the offspring Of
the Purest integrity and the most unselfsh pa
triotlsm.
We conclude these brief remarks with the
expression Of our sincere, belief, that these gen
tlemen have justly entitled themselves TO the
respect and commendation Of the country for