The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-06


tSons or 10 decree new ooes-he 10 merely the frst
clerk In the department. subject TO the Same review
and superintendenee ne the lowest tide wsieer in
tho Office at New York. Nor 10 it . matter Of any
moment to the public what able lawysr 10 spponted
70 exercise the funcs;sos Of Attorney General, and
thrust into his brsecke. pocket $4,000 year, ap.
propriated for that -edice They are all mere nom
entities 50 far the politics Of the United States
are concerned. They enter upon tie discharge of
their duties, and endesvor to follow, Is closely Is
they can, the line Of policy pursued by their pre-
in all matters Of doubt to the
opinion Of him by whom they were raised 70 power,
and at whose will they held it. To the people at
large their private opinions are a matter Of very
slight moment indeed; the country would be a.
prosperous, and the world would perceive no out.
ward change in our condition, if these several
Offices were filed by the Chief Clerks To de-
duce the future policy Of General Pierce from
the well known sentiments Of his Postmaster
General, or his Secretary Of the Interior, would
be o speculation as hazardous as if We were to
attribute future policy as regards Cuba to
the private views Of the keeper of the archives
in the State Department; or to expect new system
of internal improvements because the recording
clerk in the Department, Of the Interior had ex-
presscd decided opinions on the subject.
The only two Offices, to our thinking, the name of
whose incumbents is really matter of some mo-
ment to the public-as q guarantee for the good
government Of our country just now and for the
next four years-are the Departments of State
and Of the Navy. On the statesman who may
be summoned to fill the former deyolve duties uu-
der which of inferior intellect would infallibly
succumb. 1t will need the most comprehensive
mental powers, great energy, cool foresight, and
vast decision Of character, to perform the onerous
task imposed on the new Secretary Of State. Both
the honor and the welfare of the country are in his
hands. He must be a man Of strict probity in his
public dealings with nations he must not, for the
sake of gaining an evanescent popularity, tarnish
the fair fame Of the United States by interfering
with the undoubted rights of weak nations nor
must he, the other hand, suffer the United States
flag to be insulted, or our citizens to be molestsd
with impunity. His intellect must enable him to
cope with the willy politicians of Europe and, deal
ing with of the highest stamp, he must be ever
the alert to take advantage of their errors with
out Offering them similar opportunity by errors of
his own. He must possess, for the credit of the
country, undoubted literary ability and legal know.
ledge; Calhoun and Webster's dispatches must ever
not to fall and above which he must 60 if pos
sible. To his lot will it fall to satisfy the pub
lie on the all absorbing Cuba question-to steer
An undertaking course between the requirements
of the country in a commercial and military point
of yiew on the one hand, and the paramount
necessity OF preserving our national character free
from stain on the other. He will need to call forth
all his energies for the strict enforcement of tho
Monroe doctrine; and must have such confidence in
himself and his native land, that he will not fear
should occasion require it, to assert resolutey the
determination of the United States to maintain her
principles, even at the cost Of with the whole
world. On him will it devolve to concilate the de-
mands of those who would receive Mexico with
open arms with the sectional fears of the party who
look with terror the ace uistion of territory
In short-for we must needs be brief-duties so
eminently important, so complicated, and requiring
such combination Of the highest mental
qualities, as will devolve the new Secretary of
State, rel der it matter OF the highest moment to
the country that the choice Of the President. should
be q fit one. We can understand the intense ankle
ty which prevails on this subject
Nor can We look with Indifference on the appoint
ment of Secretary of the Navy. For the last
twenty twenty five years. it is notorious that this
department has been the most inefficient of the
whole public service-an absolute disgrace to the
country. We have had literary men, novetsts, his.
torians, and lawyers, at the head of the navy
Graham, whose forensic reputation was, of course,
guarantee Of his naval knowledge-a Pauldng,
admirably qualified tor experimenting deck yard
BY his experience IN writing magazine stories, and
his apprenticeship as sub editor of the Saln,agundi
under Washington Irving-a Bancroft, who, excel
lent though his history be, was hardly fitted
to be the Aenophon Of America Kennedy, whose
"Horse Shoe Robinson is, ~ everybody will acknow
ledge, irefragabe proof of his intimate aoquaint
ance with naval matters; but We must add the best
Secretary the wings ever had-an excellent one
except in one very important point, embracing the
follies of the heads of the several bureaus. 1t
would seem rs though the belief had been generally
received, that q man who could write the pure
Saxon possessed all the requisites for Secretary
of the Navy-that the talent of .ketchng light
readable novelties was the main thing needful
for the incumbent of the most practical ofica
in the gift Of the President. What has been the
result! Need refer to the wastetul sxpond-
ture, the wretched management, the tortoise. like
movements of the Nav, Department? To the vast
sums Of money squandered on new steamships which
will do nything but sail or stand FIRE To the Ms
sssipp, the Missouri, the Saranac, the San Jacints
all, comparatively speaking, almost unfit for SCR
vice Need We compare with these wretched vessels
the magnificent vessels which private individuals
have built and are building-ths Collins steamers,
for instance, which outstrp the eetest craft in Eng
land and would prove servieeabl in peace
The public knew the difference but too we'll Nor
is the source Of all these evils secret for any one
The Secretaries Of the Navy have been oil, vo be-
lieve, worthy men in their proper spheres-Mr Ken
nedy IS q novelist; Mr.. Graham a. lawyer; Mr..
Bancroft as historian; Mr. Paulding as . clever
magazine writsr-but they were sadly displaced in
office They fsl-as they could not help falling
blind folded into the hands Of clique Of old
naval officers at Washington, hard handed,
and We fear, hard headed old skippers, who
were prosecuted by the idea that the world
f.o+ a,L