Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-08-15
National Politics.

The influence of the Executive head of an
public policy to be pursued. depends. in a
great measure, upon the talent, craftsmanship,
or political sagacity welded by the Chief Mag
isiratc.
Nearly all of the earlier Presidents were men
who stamped the characters of their admins
tration with an impress of their own views
The public policy to be carried out by their ad-
ministrators was as surely indicated by the po-
litical characters of the men as is any mathe.
NAUTICAL problem dcmonstrable by figures.
How true was this Of the administration of
Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Jackson and Polk.
And how incontrovertibly the Contrary was
the case of the administration that las just
been brought to close by the unti.s,ely de-
mise of its head. The last Presidential cleo
ton, turning upon ro particular political issue,
the administration commenced with no settled
Or avowed policy to be carried out. True, the
candidate of party, that ~eks presumed to be
based upon some principle. was elected-but
he was elected strictly upon no patty grounds.
The ,celfare Of the people was the specious issue
made, and as the avowed President Of the people,
General Taylor entered upon his official duties.
The selection, however, of whig cabinet, as
executive advisers, gave ,ch,g character to
the administration. Still, as ,chig principles
were then somewhat undefnable, the people
were Just as much in the dark as to the policy
which was to be pursued. They looked in
vain for enlightenment, to the press, which
only gave birth to mass of speculatioas. In
this state of uncertainty, the wisest awaited the
Inaugural Message eff the President, for en-
lightenment. But when this anxionsly looked
for document arrived, darkness was made more
strikingly uisible. But reiteration of the no
partyisms of the President comprised the whole
paper. The administration, of little over six
teen months duration, is now suddenly
brought to close, and in casting RETROSPECT
tive glance at its results-its policy-we would
disclaim all intentions of aspersing the fame of
him, whose decease, we, in common with our
fellow citizens, mourn.
The late administration, with the desire,
doubtless, to inspire confidence in the people,
and to redeem it from the doubts that had gain
ed ground as to the genuineness of its ,chiggery,
commenced reckless course of political pro-
scription. This was intended to propitiate the
whigs, to whom, more particularly, the admin
istration owed its being-but, as if to compen-
safe for this, many true Blue or Clay wings,
were superseded by Independent or Taylor
wings. This only widened the then existing
breach and reduced the chances Of any agree
ment.
Upon the all absorbing question of slavery,
the Administration did venture to submit "a
plan,' which was noted only for its mastery
''inactivity' policy.
In the deceasc of the President, we doubt
not that the Presidents plan, as it is called,
will also die. Different counsels, we incline to
the opinion, will hereafter prevail. The indi-
cations are that Compromise Cabinet has been
formed. The publishing of official documents
has been changed from the Republic to the
National TntelIigencer--by no means an insig-
nifcant fact.
But our design is not to anticipate the poll
cy of the new administration. 1t will soon
enough be officially spread before us.