The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-10

promises to carry on the government on the good,
old-fashioned Washingtonan system, would be by !
them faithfully observed and carried out TO the let
ter. Having been a soldier from his youth, and |
having spent the greater portion of his life in the
camp, far distant from the abode of politics, they
trusted to his honesty, integrity, and determna- |
ton, TO fulfil the pledges which he made previous
to and after his election, in which il was expected
he would be aided and assisted by his cabinet.
How far those reasonable expectations have been
fulfilled lei the history and the doings, of the pre-
sent cabinet answer 1t is no more than proper
TO say, that SO far from the government of
this country, in IFS foreign well as its
domestic policy, being carried out in the man
| ner that was expected, it has been per-
verted from its legitimate purposes, and, instead
Of being conducted for the benefit of the American
people, il has been used and made subservient to
the private benefit of the members of the cabinet,
in spite of the honesty and good intentions of the
President, from their induction into Office till the
present time. Let as see if we are sustained by
facts in this allegation.
II is matter oftruth and history, that no sooner
were the cabinet warm in their seats, than they
commenced systematic plan of violating all of
General Taylor's pledges in regard to removals
and appointments. Within six or eight months
for opinions sake alone than ever occurred within
the same period of time, under any administration,
from the foundation of the government up to that
time, and that, too, in direct, palpable, open
and uablsshing violation of the very promises
of Gen Taylor, the giving of which, it cannot be
denied, assisted materially in his election. Thou
sands upon thousands of removals were made
within few months after their elevation to office,
on this ground alone and on no other. Was this
doing Justice to Gen. Taylor. Was this keeping
faith with the old General, or with the great inde-
pendent public who mainly contributed to elect
him? Let the results Of the elections which fol-
lowed this wholesale system OF removals, answer.
What next do We find the cabinet doing-in
what other respect do we find them carrying out
the pledges and promises made by General Taylor,
that he would conduct the government after tn
manner of theearler Presidents We find them
entering into ridiculous squabble with the French
minister at Washington, about few paltry bun
dies of tobacco, in which they strained every
10 bring that official into alteration, and after
wards to the influence of the government
to his discontinue and disgrace, If not to en-
broil us with the only republic in Europe
They talked and clustered about the dignity
of the government, to such extent, that,
like an overzeaous convert, their real motives
could not be concealed, and it eventually made
evident that il was their own aggrandizement
they were bent, more than on supporting the honor
Of the government And the cabinet were forth
nate that this dispute terminated easily; for, had
not France been republic at the time when il oe-
CURED, we doubt very much if they would have
got of as easily as they did in that matter.
We next find the finger of the cabinet in the
erection of California a State, well in that
territory itself, in the first regular message
which General Taylor delivered to Congress after
his election to the presidency. Can the most sub
servient or interested agent Of the cabinet deny
thst the administration plan, it is called, for the
settlement, OF rather for the nonsettlement of the
slavery question, in its connection with the new
territories, is not the work of the cabnetl To do
30, would be as much in vain as it would be to
attempt to wash a backamoor white, or to stop
the cataract Of Niagara with a hand.pike, for the
people, Of all parties, have long since seen it, 70 |
shtir sorrow and regret. I
But let us pass on, for we must not expend too !
much powder on an object 80 contemplate We
next find the cabinet at Washington passing claims
and paying them principal and interest, which had
been examined, passed upon, and rejected by pre-
vous administrations, a. utterly worthless and I'M
founded we find one member of the cabinet urg-
ing a claim in which he had large pecunary
interest; we find another giving legal opinion that
Il ought to be paid, principal and interest; we find
another paying IL, in contravention of law and pre-
cedent; and we find the whole batch of them |
mixed up with dividing the spoils in ruthless and |
reckless msnner that their own party even-and |
God knows party feeling goes far enough in these
desperate days-we find that even their own party
cannot justify il, and when il to trial, are
forced TO vote against il.
In the meantime, however, and no doubt for the
purpose Of concealipg their imbecility and eorup-
ton, another panic is created-there Is another
attempt made to create smoke, which il was 90
thought could not be penetrated by outsiders-the
people-ond under cover Of which, they might es-
cape from the public odium that awaited them. An
attempt is accordingly made to have breeze with
Portugal-a war panic, in fact-and another with
Spain. on account of the piratcal invasion Of the
island Of Cuba by Gen. Lopez, when il is well
known that the cabinet could be coguizant Of the
sailing of that expedition II they chose and could
have prevented il, If they chose-that is il they
had not counteBanced It in an underhand way.
But we are tired Of the unpleasant duty Of tracing
the toruous wndings Of the present cabinet, from
the time when they got into Office until the pre-
sent. We might refer to a great many more Of
their misdeeds, but the truth s the task is sicken-
ing. We could, u we were inclined, diate upon |
their successful efforts TO keep alive the agitation
Of the slavery question through personal motives, to
their last movements in New Mexico, and to several
other matters that reflect equal discredit them.
All we wished or intended to do in this article, to
"ponts moral, to show politicians statesmen that
when they prove hemseve. unfsithful to the trusts
rtposod in them-that " hen they attempt to use their
Offices and their official influence to their wnper-
nall nd ID IN tha ,rl
Of their country and in good faith towards those
who have confded in them, they will, sooner OF
later be found out, and that, later, retr