The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-25


canals, but whether they will amount to anything
more than fanfaronade is somewhat doubtful. The
only way to settle the question s to submit it to the
people-nothing else will do.
By telegraph from Boston, we are enabled to lay
before our readers the letter Of Gen. Pierce declining
to accept the Inequalities of that city while on his
way the seat of government The letter is replete
with truly patriotic sentiments and evinces full de-
termination to administer the government upon
purely national principles. Sectonasm will receive
no special favors from him.
1t is supposed that the Michigan Legislature win
liquor law of less stringent character than that Of
Maine.
A meeting of prominent and influential citizens Of
New York convened last evening" in the Astor
House, to organize some plan for relieving the dis
tressed condition of the islanders of Madeira, suffer
ing from the blight of the grapes their staple source
Of livelihood. Mayor Westervet presided, and q
committee of thirty gentlemen was appointed to
carry out the objects of the meeting. We give Q
report elsewhere.
Last evening, Joel Parker Ii. D., delivered q
lecture, at the New York Medical College, on med-
cal Jurisprudence in which he pointed ont the ne
cessity that existed for medical men to possess q
knowledge of the law of evidence.
The Collins steamship Arctic is now about due,
with four days later news from Europe.
Our inside pages contain letters from London,
Paris, and Mayence, from which may be CLEANED
complete history of passing events in Europe; aso
the Policy of the new Foreign Minister Of England;
The Progress of Reform in that country; poetical
contribution, entitled The Amazons in the New
York Legislature" Counter Statement concerning
the Trouble in Tammany Hall; New Hampshire Cor
respondence; Commercial Reports, &c.
The New Administrafion-The Cabinet
Question.
General Pierces cabinet is still the most per-
picking the most important the most difficult,
and the most mysterious problem of the day.
Among all factions, Of all parties, it is the para
mount and all-absorbing question. And yet
the wire-workers at Washington, and the cabi-
net thinkers of Albany. and the sachems Of the
''coal holer of Tammany Hall, and the pilgrims
to Concord with all their intrigues and inge-
NOUS devices to settle the business for the Pre-
sident elect, are doubtless now as much in the
dark and deeper in the mire than they were q
month ago. The cabinet is still in nubibus
and the cabinet makers are necessarily involved
in the fog We like the cool selfpossession and
discretion thus far evinced by General Pierce;
and notwithstanding we are in q state of sus-
pense which is fast becoming painful we trust
he will keep his own counsels, pursue his
own course, and wait till the proper time for
the PRONUNCIATION of his own cabinet.
The declination of Mr. Hunter, of Virginia,
of the State Department, which, 1t is well I'M
derstood, had been definitely resolved upon, has
made an entire reconstruction of the cabinet
from the beginning imperatively necessary. 1t
is said, however, Hunters refusal to accept the
post of premier is but o contingent refusal
that he declines with proviso that he may &C
cept should General Pierce exclude from his
ministerial family General Dix, and all others
of the Buffalo free-soil platform of 1s4s. We
apprehend, however, that local jealousies among
the Virginia chivairy have more to do with the
determination ofMr. Hunter than any fastidious
objections to Northern free soilers He has,
also, comfortable berth Of six years before him
in the Senate, where, as Chairman on Finance,
he may share the honors Of the new administra-
ton without directly involving himself in its
IeIpIcSllies anu responsibilities ana Delng,
moreover, retiring and amiable gentleman,
we are rather disposed to conclude that his
declination is final, and that General Pierce
must consequently look elsewhere for the cor
ner-stone OF his cabinet
Setting out from this point, the Washington
cabinet makers have bounced upon General
Dix az the man next in the line of promotion;
and there has been quite tempest in the teapot
concerning the enorrnity Of putting Buffalo
free soilcr at the very head of the new ministry
And this outburst Of Indignation has been az
navatedb the current rumor. among the cliaues
Of Congress. that not only is this free soiler to
he at the head of the cabinet, but that one of
the rankest Of the secessonists Of the extreme
South IL to be the tail. This placing of General
Pierce between the Buffalo platform of l8i8and
the Na&hyille disunionists OF 1850. is certainly
acuriOus thing in the chapter of political acct
dents. We do not wonder at it that the alarm
has been sounded and that the old lmnkers of
the national school Of the democracy have raj
lied TO resist this extraordinary experiment Of
political amalgamaton.
But still more remarkable curiosity. in the
present existing cliques and combinations Of
the democrats, is the manifest disposition to