Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-06-01
The N. Y. Herald and the Administration.

The N. Y. Herald and the Administration.
No paper in the country contributed so largely
to the success of the Democratic ticket in the late
Presidential canvass as the New York Herald
at has, therefore, (says the Richmond Times) a
good right 10 complain, if it thinks fit of the way
in which affairs are managed at Washington
This right it appears disposed to exercise with the
utmost freedom andunreserve. NOCTURNAL in this
country watches the manifestations ofpublic SEN
timent with keener sagacity than the Herald, or
is more prompt to follow its currents, and when
we hear that paper giving utterance to such dis
tnct notes of dissatisfaction and complaint as those
in which it now INDUCES, we may rest assured
that it feels itself backed by popular opinion"
After speaking of the favorable auspices under
which Gen. PIERCE entered upon his office, and
the disappointment experienced on account of his
selections for the cabinet, the Herald says:
Still the Union party uttered no complaint
They regretted that the first official act of the
President should have fallen short of their expec-
tations; but their regret was endured in silence.
That the administration was neither strong nor IL
nited they felt convinced, and they feared that it
would not prove Union administration.
| 1t had never entered their minds that Cabinet,
called to power by vote that might almost be
| called unanimous, would have been composed in
nearly equal proportions of men who had given the
public proof Of their right to the position, and
men whose antecedents were hardly in their favor.
A Southern secessionist-a Northern freesoiler-
an untravelled soft shell-a converted Wing
We're not preciselyithe materials out Of which the
Union party fancied the new administration would
have been composed. Still. for all slips of the
President they found a ready consolation in the
sanguine confidence they had never ceased to en-
terrain in his wisdom. New men might prove
true; the damaging antecedents of others might
be efaced by noble deeds. Mr.. M'Clelland, they
said, might atone for his vote on the Wimot pro-
viso by course of unflinchng fidelity to the I'm
ion Mr.. DAVIS might obliterate the recollection
of his career as Southern secessionst by similar
proofs of his, amendment; MIR. Gushing might
serve the Democrats more truly than he had serv
ed the Wings. and even Mr.. Marcy might give
symptoms of dsinterested patriotism.
Reasoning in this wise, and abandoning the E.
quivocal pleasures of memory for the unalloyed
pleasures of hope, the Union party forbore to in
terrupt the universal pean with which General
Pierce's administration was inaugurated Not
sigh betrayed the misgivings of their hearts,
Where all was rejoicing and gadness, and proud
exultation. they schooled their face into radiance,
and forced themselves to participate in transports
that private approximations sadly belied The flu
ture, indeed, was yet before them. heavily mort
gagged with the expectations they had formed, the
hopes they had raised. the pledges they had given:
and to that future they looked for warrant for
their present demonstrations ofjoy,
OF that future ten weeks have now elapsed
What have they brough forth.
Mr. Marcy has appointed all his friends and rel
atives to handsome offices. and has beguied the
time by disputng the public plumber with the
President and his colleagues. Nothing more
Mr.. Davis has organized three expeditions to dis
cover route for the railroad TO the Pacific. Mr..
Dohbin has carried out Mr.. Kennedy's plan for the
Ringgold exploring expedition. Mr.. Guthrie has
commenced the work Of examining the government
contracts Mr.. Campbell has effected reform
in our foreign postal arrangements, and is shortly
expected to turn his attention to our domestic post
offices. To Mr.. M'Clelland and Mr.. Gushing we
can trace the performance Of no task worth men
tioninr.