The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-28

the full advice Of Mr. Webster, that pointed out the
way to save the pieces. The pieces were saveA.
thank God, and the Union was saved ; and the adj
ministration, from having nobly itself into the
breach, rose at once into the most advantageous
position before the country.
Such was the attitude Of Mr.. Fillmore, Mr..
webster and the administration, the last day OF
September, 1850, when Congress, having made
clear work of the slavery dispute, adjourned amidst
public celebrations and Examinations. What is
their position now What have they done What
have they omitted What has been the tendency
Of the policy they have pursued Let US briefly
consider these things.
The administration has justly received the entire
appreciation Of the country for its correspondence
with the Austrian Minister. In the scorching letter
Of Mr.. Webster to the Chevalier Hulsemann, the
cabinet Of Vienna will have acquired u more def
mite impression Of what the United States are, and
of their institutions, inclinaons and of their neu
trial. yet fearless and independent, foreign policy
But apart from this, and the correspondence for the
relief Of kossuth and his companions, the admins
tration-nether in its foreign or domestic policy
has accomplished nothing; not that there was
nothing further to be done after the passage OF the
compromise bills that they should rest upon their
oars-not that peace, and concord, and good feel
ing, and good faith, had put down the spirit OF
treason, abolition and notification. Nor has it
been because foreign relations all as smooth
as oil and regular clockwork. But, whatever
the causes, the administration has not kept up to
the flu standard of public expectation in all cases
very important case, in which the apparent indif-
ference of the President to the escape Of the fugitive
naturally resulted in good deal Of distrust in
the South, was the case Of the fugitive Crafts.
The prompt dismissal of the unfaithful commits
soner, and of every public officer implicated, was
the only course. But the temporizing aad tanta-
lzing policy pursued was calculated to excite sus-
ricions in the South of sympathy, if not OF con-
niyance with the abolition nullifers. In the subse-
quent case of Shadrach the course of Mr.. Fillmore
was nearer the mark, though trenchng upon the
opposite extreme and from his appeal to Congress-,
giving evidence of alarm when there was no ncces-
sity for it. and in matter where no Congressional
aid was needed, or could be expected. Here is a
falling off from the bold energetic and positive po-
Icy indicated at the outset The public expected
something more decisive in the Of Crafts, and
more action and less noise in the case Of Shadrach.
But. again. What is the occasion-what the ne
cessity of all this mystery, all this perpexity, all
this delay, in the settlement Of the Mosquito ques-
ton Ii seems to be as difficult to dethrone the
King of the Mosquitoes as it is to get Billy Bow
legs out of Florida. Does the Clayton treaty mean
ANYTHING, or is it a nullityi There is good deal
of anxiety, Suspicion and apprehension on this SUBJ
ject Mr.. Pakenham, late British Minister to this
country, has, before an examining committee OF
Parliament, declared that good dinners are an in
dispensabe element to successful diplomacy even at
Washington. Have the good dinners OF Sir Henry
Buwer made Mr.. Webster sleepy, while Chatheld
and his copper colored King Of Mosquito are lord
ing it over Central America This business, to
say the best Of it, is very mysterious, and looks very
much like gradual craw-fshing out ofthe lsthmus.
We might also complain that absolute good faith
called for more particular attention to Lopez, than
that enterprizing individual has ever received. If
he had been promptly made an example of, any
future apprehensions Of similar adventures to the
late Cardenas expedition might have been pre-
vented.
The greatest Of all drawbacks, however, to the
administration, has been its apparent tampering and
temporzing with Seward and his abolition allies in
New York This transparent policy of keeping the
whig party together, by concessions to antslavery
factions only result in evil to the administration,
and in mischief to the country. Justice, however,
requires to state that while the Presidents or
gans have endorsed the election Of Mr.. Fish, the
candidate Of the Seward clique, several Of the higher
law ofice-holdcrs in the western part Of the State
have been justly condemned and beheaded, and
Union put in their places. IL is also said that,
at dinner which is shortly to be given to Mr. Fish,
at the Astor House, he is expected to come out in
favor Of the compromises from the Texas bill to the
Fugitive Slave law. All this is very well, as far
il goes. Ii may DC the commencement Of a great
reform and purging out Of the New York whg party.
But there has been too much dallying with Seward
and he party, heretofore, to justify any extravagant
hopes. We rather fear that the late removals were
from n spasmodic effort Of which Mr.. Fillmore will
feel sorry, and fall back into the arms Of
Seward as the quietest way Of getting along, even
while his horde Of incendisres sapping the foua
dations Of the confederaey.
Such, as we understand IT, Is the present position
fthc administration. A negative policy has
perscded positive policy-ncgatiyc in our foreign
and domestic affairs and II IL remarkable that
even Ia the Annapolis speech Of Mr.. Webster, which
threatens to South Carolina n summary chastise-
neni in the event Of her attempting to seccde from
the MON, a very modified alarm and detcstation OF
the Rbominabc abolition traitors in the Nsrth Is
expressed. A far more brilliant hit might have been
made, ringing throughout the country the death
knell IL shg abolitions1n, had Mr.. Webster, with
the Of the President declared that hcnceforth
the administration had rcpudiaied Seward. and
washed rs hands Of the unelcan thing Union
sIecch Ike that would have told like thunder
bolt upon the agtaters, and would have efcctually
broken w their unhoy alliance against the south.
We bare no disposition to deal har.hly with Mr..
Webster or the President. Quite the contrary.
We have various letters (amcuntins to dszens)
from varsous sources at Washington, attacking or
r,buking them, upon raricus pre,cnccs and aocssa-
tons lat we decline their publication. because
they evidently originse with disappointed Office
seekers, 90 from men with some sehsh schemes in
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