Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-05-26

| worth and we'll known principles. lney scOuteo
the idea that men assuming Office with such bril-
| liant advantages would allow a week to elapse
without giving to tile country some evidence of
| their ability, at least some earnest of their
patriotic Intentions.
The appointments, it must be confessed, took
most people by surprise. The names of Guthrie,
Dobbin aud Campbell were new to the public;
but the Presidents choice was some guarantee for
their character. Mr.. Davis had opposed the
Compromise Union measures, aud advocated
Southern secession aud Mr.. McClelland had
made Free Soil speeches, and vcted for the
Wimot proyiso; but the surprise which their Sc
lection created was overcome, and all thoughts of
the past were forgotten, in anticipations of the
future. Mr.. Marcy was hardly the man the
Union party expected to succeed MIR. Everett
and Mr. Webster The limited opportunities
he had enjoyed tor gaining practical knowledge
OF foreign affairs ne qualification for the
posi- of Secretary of State; and however servicea-
BILE his dictum, ''to the victors belong the
spoils," proved to the Democrats, the Union par
ty could not help wishing that they had been rep
resented in the highest office OF State by one
whose notions of politics were not those of a
huckster. They had hoped, moreover. that
when the whole country had pronounced in ia.
vor of their doctrines the control OF so important
an office as the Department. of State would not
have been entrusted to one whom they reg arded
as deserter from their ranks. Similar reasons
contributed largely to the feeling ofregret with
which many behed Mr.. Cushiugs appointment
to the office of Attorney General. He was un>
doubtedy a man of considerable information, tai.
ent and experience, and brought to the Cabinet
the resources of a we'll cultivated mind. But
these advantages were more than counterbalanced,
in the opinion of many Union men, by the
satlty with which he had shifted his support
from the Wings to Mr.. Tyler. from Mr.. Tyler
to the coalitionists, and from the latter to Gen.
Pierce.
Still the Union party uttered no complaint
They regretted thai the first official act of
the President should have fallen short of their ex-
pectations but their regret was endured in ST.
| lence. That the administration was neither
strong nor united they felt convinced, and they
feared that it would not prove Union admins
| traitor.
! 1t had never entered their minds that Cabi-
net, called to power by vote that might almos.
! be called unanimous, would have been composed
10 nearly equal proportions of men who had CIV
en- the public no proof their right to the posi-
tion, and men whose antecedents were hardly
in their favor. A Southern secessionist--a
| NorUhern free soier-an untravelled soft shell-a
converted Whig-were not precisely the maeri~
ais 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 entertain in his wisdom. New
men might prove true; the damaging antecedents
Of others might be effaced by noble deeds. MIR.
M'Clelland, they said, might atone for his vote on
the Wilmot proviso by course of unfinching
fidelity to the Union; Mr.. Davis might obliterate
the recollection OF his career Southern So
cessionist by similar proofs of his amendment
| Mr.. Gushing might the Democrats more
truly than he had served the Wings and even
Mr.. Marcy might give symptoms of disinterested
patriotism.
Reasoning in this wise, and abandoning the
equivocn pleasures Of memory for the unalloyed
pleasures of hope, the Union party forbore to in-
terrupt the universal pean with which General
Pierces administration was inaugurated. Nota
sigh betrayed the misgiyings of their hearts
Where all was rejoicing and gladness, aud proud
exultation they schooed their face into radiance,
and forced themselves to participate in transports
that private apprehensions sadly belied The
future, indeed, was yet before them, heavily
mortgaged with the expectations they had form
ed, the hopes they had raised, the pledges they
had given: and to that future they looked for
warrant for their present demonstrations of
JOY.
Of that future ten weeks have now elapsed
What have they brought FORTH
Mr.. Marcy has appointed all his friends and
relatives to handsome Offices, and has begued
the time by disputing the public plumber with
the President and his colleagues. Nothing more.
| Mr.. Davis has organized three expeditions to
discover route for the railroad to the Pacific
Mr.. Dobbn has carried out Mr. Kennedys 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 arrange
ments, and is shortly expected to turn his atten-
tion to our domestic post offices. To Mr.. M'Clel-
land and Mr.. Gushing we can trace the perfor-
nance of no task worth mentioning.
THE LATE FOREIGN NEws.-Owing to an
interruption to the wires, we have little or moth
ing to add to the meagre Geographic account of
the news by the Europa at Halifax, published
yesterday.
In Liverpool On the 4th inst, Cotton had
slightly mproved-fair grades Id. and middling
descriptions 1>16d Flour had advanced Cd. per
Dbl. and wheat 1 d. per bushel.
The price of silver had declined in London
The voluntary conversion of ConsoIs and the
reduced three per cents proceeds slowy-the
amount converted being less than ef1,000,-
| 900.
In France the Council of State have agreed
upon the propriety of re enacting the death pen.
atty for political crimes.
| The Russian Minister at the Court of the
Sublime Porte has, it is reported, induced the
Sultan to acknowledge the independence of
Montenegro.
Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe was magnif-
Gently welcomed at the Stafford house on the
18th inst, by the Duke of Sutherland, where, 10
the midst of an assembly Of rank aristocracy.
&c, she stood for the champion of abolitionism.
large number of public men were in atten-
dance, and she was formally presented, iu a long
speech and address from the women of England,
which was replied to by Mr.. Beecher.
- Slaves are now commanding enormously
i1rin thra,1 nhoIlt Ia, tharr Gtato