The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-23


foreign policy OF the United States that frankness
dignity, ana moderation, which marked, in so fa
.yorsble nanner, Lis ioImer administration o.
that department.
| The period OF about two years and a half on
which Mir Fillmore and his wing ministers are
now entering, Will Prove decisive 10 the future
interests OF Their party Ia spite of the undoubed
superiority of the American wings, in ability and
Character, 10 their olTosenis, the democrats, the
tide cf universal suffrage runs strongly against
them they have scarcely been IN prwt for twenty
! stAls, aid even now They owe Iheir return 10 of
hce, unferered by any compromise, TO fortuitous
| occurrence. II remains 10 be tred whether the
ssceI darcy ut hen genius rs so great 10 defy
| rLOe oLyitrs passiCls with which democracy as
sails al suitnoliir, and seeks 20 osifacse her
| 5ltst bislng. They msy have 10 control people
vi, M utlsih Iaiier; and hey must !, stat those
| ChsICely ard unjust impulses by which lower
cHfs IL loiici6ns vill setk 10 WIN their way back
10 POWER For Ihe honor at the federal party, for
Ie We Here OF the United States, and for the credit
Of modt IN instiunons, We here their success may
he hot orl greet, but llsrlg; yet, if we could
ta2tld a protection as 10 their fate, IL would be
that they viii leave, like the founders OF their par
~, meme honoied in the annals OF their country;
but that they will fail, like those earlier states
men OF America, 10 prolong or TO perpetuate their
power.
From the London Chronicle. Aug OF
The cabinet, which President Fillmore has lost
no Time ia ioiniBg. will, ON the whole, command
The sympabies and the hopes of Eugtand. AL
though certain incidents in the more recent pou-
some degree, the almost universal respect which
was al time felt for his character, they have
ly no means destroyed altogether the interest
hch attaches, this side of The Atlantic, to the
American politician whose craftsmanship English
men can appreciate, whose eloqueDce commends
itself, by liz simplicity, 10 English taste, and whose
name is connected with the adjustment of one of
The most difficult controversies that ever menaced
the two great Anglo-Saxon families with bloody
and exhausting war. The gentlemen who follow
Mr.. Webster in the list OF the new ministry, though
Inferior TO him III socal force, ard in the lustre
OF public life, which has become almost historical,
are supposed 10 be nearly his equals in point OF
administrative capacity. American conservatism
has always possessed attractions which have
secured it than its share of the available
talent in the Union and il is one reason, among
several, for welcoming the advent 10 power OF the
party protesting its principles, that the succession
Of inediGcrties who, with short intervals, have
governed the United States during more than
twenty years, is at length broken through.
The American wbigs-who now, for the first
time since The ell ecton Of General Jackson, have
been installed in Office without compromise and
with fair prospect OF permanence-are not 10 be
altogether judged by the particular side which they
may happen 10 take on one or two great questions.
Then TILE 10 our esteem rests much less on the
measures which they advocate, than on the pnnci.
pies Of policy which have descended to them from
the founders Of their party, and which they apply
IN practice almost nstinctlyely. Very much of the
creed which was skerched out by Alexander
Hamilton, under the auspices of Washington, has
gone out OF fashion ard out OF use, has been re-
placed by articles that are many declarations Of
heTesy But there still survives the respect for
practical craftsmanship, and for government, as an
art, which the early federalists inculcated The
wings sull think worth while 10 sustain their do
mestc position by Lbt dence 10 the common rules
Of morality, and 10 regulate their attitude towards
foreign nations by the ordinary maxims of public
law. Their disposition 10 exait the importance and
The perogatives of the central authority at Wash
reion, although IN other respects II produces e "
Practical results, is nevertheless TO some extent
Influences
American politicians, when in power, to forget
their responsibilities representatives of nation,
and to shape Their whole policy ia accordance with
The convenience OF party, or with local and sec
tioDal interests. These very qualifications for ex-
CO Hence in administration are, however, rather
closely connec with the faults into which the
Anne ncan wings have recently fallen. Out of
Office, they have been out Of their element
and, as is usual in such cases, they have made
far greater mistakes than their antagonists
would have done under similar circumstances.
During their long exclusion from power. they have
felt acuely their want OF some claims popular ia
vor more tangible and more readily appreciabe tn an
their general rtspectabllity of character. In an
evil hour, they lighted upon the of protection
10 domestic industry, and adopted il as their own.
Antecedeniy, they had no bias whatever towards
commercial exclusion. Their leading men had re-
pudiaied IL, and Mr.. Webster in partic ulars had
figure among the most enlightened expositors Of
free trade principles. But their connection with
New England, at once the stronghold Of whiglsm
and The seat OF American manufacture, and the
the great State of Pennsy lvania, induced them to
ideDiIfy Themselves with demands W hich, under the
peculiar circums ances OF the American Union, are
nj ifhtr more nor less than an outrage on common
sense. In the bulk OF the party, this movement
may be set down as an error OF judgment, but in
MIR. Wsbster's case IL was thing worse; ADD il
has already cost that gentleman more than one hui
initiating exposure.
The cabinet commences its existence embarrass-
ed by the opinions to which its members are COM
mitted, both on the subject of protection and on
al .t Ak ii k...lr IL
taking the initiative on the latter head, it may,
probably, be enabled TO diseHgage itself The
measures relating to the disposal ct public moneys
and TO the currency, which General Jackson origi-
mated in one of his famous fits of obstnacy, have
been so sienaly successful, that the hottest
Of their former opponents will probably refrain
from urging the cabinet 10 assat them Another
and sul stronger reason for leaving the legisla-
tion OF the democrats untouched, is The immense
change which the annexation Of California has
effected IN the monetary question under all its
aspects. But OF the pledges which Mr.. Webster
and his friends have given TO the pfoeclionst
ironmasters and manufacturers they will not 30
easily get rid. Ifany freak Of fortune had placed
the Legislature, as well as the executive, at the
disposaI Of the American wings, the President
and his ministers could hardly have done otherwise
than demand the enactment Of a high protective
tariff at the hands Of friendly majority. There
can be no doubt that such measure would ulti-
maiely have resulted In their iuetrievable ruin.
But, fortunately, the Congress assembled at
Washington, betitating and uncertain as II has
shown itself on some points, IL thoroughly decided
the subject OF FREE trade. is notorious that the
precious report which Mr.. Meredith, the late pro-
tectonist Secretary OF the Treasury, had the as
surspce TO issue at the beginning OF the year, was
received at Washington with marked disfavor; nor
has any attempt been made since the session COM
menced, nor is any likely 10 be made rs long as II
continues, TO gather from among the scattered
fragments OF party respectable muster in favor OF
protection. To judge firm appearances, the Uni
hts of q Wig executive. without the counterbal-
sIcing disadvantage Of protectionist majority In
either branch Of the legislature. There Is no rea-
son to believe that the two powers, albeit antaso-
nistc on points Of commercial policy, will merely
neuTsllze each other On any less question than
that of slavery matters rarely come to deadlock
In America; and, In spite Of it's generally demo
Congress ~ allow that, barring constant watchful-
and little occasional obstruction, IL nantes
ted no symptom OF hostility to the late President
and his advisers: