The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-04

General Plerce's Cabinet.
II is very generally supposed that General
Pierce's cabinet is yet to be appointed-that
the declination OF the State Department by Mr..
Senator Hunter and the startling symptoms Of
instruction excited at Washington and Albany
at the announcement that General Dix was to be
the New York nomination, had go far broken up
the whole programme that it would demand an
entire reconstruction de nOro, from the Premier
to the Attorney General And it has been sup
posed. and is still the prevailing idea, that so
disastrous was the explosion Of the original
machinery, that General Pierce would require
all the intervening time to the 4th Of March
to recover from the shock. The dclusive idea
prevails perhaps, this very morning, that in
the reorganization Of his ministry, the Presi-
dent elect feels the imperative necessity in con-
sulting his own safety. Of casting about him
with extreme caution and deliberation, and of
holding every man under the reservation Of
possible substitute, until he shall have satisfied
the wire-workers at Washington of the ex-
pediency or prncticablity Of every appoint
ment.
Now, we should not be in the least degree
surprised If these lugubrious views Of the posi-
ton of the President elect, on the cabinet cues
ton, were absolutely and entirely erroneous
Strange as it may appear, and presumptuous as
the Washington cabinet-nakers may regard it,
it is not improbable that Gen. Pierce has been
industriously employed, on his own account,
and upon his own deliberate judgment, in the
selection of his cabinet advisers just as if the re-
cent disturbances growing out Of the declination
Of Mr.. Hunter, and the conspiracy against Mr.
Dix and the counter-conspiracy against Mr.. Dick
inson, were trifes unworthy g moments serious
embarrassment. In word, and to terminate
the suspense Of the anxious expectants Of the
spells, as far as our present opinions may be
concerned, we should not be taken by surprise
if it were authoritatively announced from Con-
cord, to-day, that Gen. Pierce has determined
upon his cabinet-every man Of them; and that
he is resolved, if any one Of them is to be sup
planted, it shall be by vote Of the Senate Of
the United States.
IT is by no means to be inferred that because
nothing has been divulged concerning the new
cabinet, nothing has been done. 1t may appear, in
the sequel that there is nothing further to be done
in this important work; and that the mining and
countermining and wire-working Of the various
cliques and factions Of the turbulent and hun
cry democracy, are all waste of ammunition
At all events, before another mission is under
taken to Concord, from Albany, or elsewhere,
for or against any particular individual, it
would be well TO ascertain first, whether the
books are still open or resolnteiy closed We
will hazard the conjecture. though it may be
wide of the mark, that it is highly probable
Gen. Pierce may have definitely resolved upon
bis cabinet. We do not assume to speak either
az an oracle or as an organ but we ehrewdly
suspect that the busy intriguers at Washington
are all fOundering about and perplexing them
selves and worrying zach other, in the dark.
We admonish all concerned, in this view OF
the subject. ard especially the "old fogiee.'
whoever they may be, to keep as quiet as pos
sible. and remain perfectly cool. The time is
rapidly approaching when all the doubts. all
the misgivings, and all the existing mysteries
connected with the new cabinet, will be made
as clear as the light Of day. Even if the all
important secret is not divulged till the even
ing Of the third Of March or the morning of the
fourth, we shall not have long to wait For
cur part looking to the integrity of the Union
as the only sure and steadfast platform Of
General Pierce and to the cabinet ss unit
upon the Union question, and regarding these
things az Of the first and last Importance. we
shall not be much alarmed even if officially in
formed to-day, or tomorrow, or next week, that
the new cabinet is appointed and has been for
some eight or ten days past.
Gen. Pierce has shown himself, thus far, to be
a man Of prudence aud discretion his past his
tory il that Of man Of broad national, patrio.
tic principles, comprehending the full intent Of
the concessions to the South and the obi ga
tions assumed by the North in the compromises
Of the constitution, and the great healing sd-
Justment OF 1850. Upon such antecedents we
arc not disposed to entertain any extraordinary
anxiety or impotence to know what the new
cabinet is, Of what materials il is composed
nor who arc the fortunate or unfortunate asni
rants whose claims, superior or inferior. have
thus been crowned with success We are in no
particular hurry on the subject not being iden.
tilted with the interests Of any clique or the
cabinet Of any clique whatsoever. Whatever
the official revelation Of the new ministry may
develoce, we have but TO stand upon the plat
form of tic Union and the compromises Of tie
constitution.
We pause for further information. But let the
"old fogies, in the meantime, North and South
prepare for the worst They viii be sure Of
&c disappointment, whsteseT msy Gene to rass.